Got another piece of Mercedes AMG swag in the mail yesterday - got it from one of the Private Lounge contests. It's a Mercedes AMG Formula One mousepad. I thought it would be some cheapo flexible foam regular type mousepad - but was very pleasantly surprised to find it packed in a lovely little box, and it's all aluminum!

But fail - my mouse doesn't work very well on it. Fortunately, I think they've thought of that - there is provision on the back to mount it on the wall, so that's where it's going to go!

 

LOL I saw that AMG goody bit didn't apply as I thought I was too late. Never mind, after the missed calendar and pad, there sure will be another time to pounce on AMG

 

Spring is right around the corner. Thank goodness!

I'm figuring on taking a week off of work in May for a 'staycation' - and will do the engine swap during that time. Can't wait, should be fun!!

Meanwhile, I did also finally get the plastic panel referenced in other threads and by kowalski. I don't plan on installing any gauges soon, but I just wanted to get the piece so that I knew I would have it. The car is getting pretty old now, with the youngest 202...what, 13 years old? Better to have a hard to come by part now and never use it, then to try like hell to find one when I do want it!!

 

Okay, with any luck, within a week or so the 55 swap will finally be done on the car!!

Started today with the acquisition of some genuine Mercedes coolant and a lot of Fuchs ATF (some of this will be used in my C55 too). The shop I deal with can't get the Shell ATF anymore, so they've been using this stuff for a while now.

Tomorrow - I'll pick up the car from my parents' place and get it back to my garage. Hopefully will have the engine out Sunday, parts transferred over to the 55 motor Monday, then back into the car later in the week. We are taking some time off in between to head to Canmore in the mountains to chill out.

 

Sunbscribed and looking forward to your progress reports
Good going for Fuchs Titan ATF

Some reading and food for thought:

About Fuchs Titan ATF 4134 - Mercedes MB 236.14

Fuchs Titan ATF 4134 is an ultra high performance automatic transmission fluid meeting the Mercedes automatic transmission approval MB 236.14

ATF 4134 has been specially developed to optimise shifting performance of Mercedes automatic transmissions. It is particularly suitable for the new generation of Mercedes NAG2 automatic transmissions but is backwardly compatible with and provides improved performance over MB 236.12 automatic transmission fluids.

ATF 4134 is one of the few ATFs meeting the MB 236.14 approval. Other ATFs meeting this specification are the Mobil ATF 134 and Shell ATF134, but Fuchs TITAN ATF 4134 is factory filled in the latest generation of Mercedes Benz (NAG 2) 7-speed automatic gearboxes (Model designation 722.9), providing the required anti-wear and friction modifier additive systems to ensure proper function during the full lifetime of the gearbox.

TITAN ATF 4134 is backward compatible to products fulfilling the requirements of MB-Approval 236.12 and substitutes them in almost every application (refer to
manufacturer filling instructions or contact us for advice).

TITAN ATF 4134 is specially recommended for 5-speed transmissions with regulated torque converter lockup clutch for vehicles with rear wheel drive (model designation 722.6) for remarkable improvement of shifting quality.

TITAN ATF 4134 is also suitable for Chrysler Crossfire and other cars requiring TITAN ATF 4134 or a product in compliance with MB-Approval
236.14. TITAN ATF 4134 is also specified for the use in Ssang Yong vehicles equipped with Mercedes Benz transmissions.

Whilst ATF 4134 is miscible and compatible with conventional branded ATFs, a complete oil change is recommended when converting to TITAN ATF 4134 in order to exploit the product’s full benefits.

 

Couple pix for fun - worked late last night, so on the way home, stopped by the deserted Honda dealership near the office and took some snaps:

 

Soo nice, like the colour...,

Fantastic lowering either.....

ZAYED,,

 

Got the car back to the house last night, but on the way shot a few iPhone pictures:

 

Got the car home Friday night, butdidn't get started working on it until Saturday. Saturday jacked it up, drained fluids, disconnected wire harness, removed front grille and rad support.

My buddy came over Sunday and we got the motor out then, and removed all accessories and other bits that need to be transferred over. By Sunday evening I had swapped everything over to the 55 motor except for plugs, exhaust manifolds and hoses. We had planned to get the motor mated up to the trans, but on removing the torque converter to R&R the seal there, found some irregular wear on the torque converter's shaft. Consequently, my buddy is going to sort out a Speedi-Sleeve for it before we can get it back into the car. Also waiting on a new upper rad hose.

Going away for a few days to the mountains to chill out with the family and just to get out of town. With any luck, will have the 55 back into the car and running Saturday.

Some pix:

43 motor


55 motor nearly all dressed:


poor photo of the wear on the torque converter:


The Speedi-Sleeve solution:
http://www.skf.com/group/products/se...eve/index.html

Wondering what caused the wear on the torque converter. Ideas?

 

Update - exhaust manifolds and plugs back into the 55 motor, all ready to drop in. Speedi sleeve received, but upon closer inspection of the torque converter and the transmission oil pump, it appeared that a copper or brass bushing or something was worn away, thus leaving the copper coloured residue on the torque converter shaft. Found the same material on the inside of the transmission pump.

To be careful, going to remove the transmission and see what's what. The EPC only shows the transmission pump as a single part, doesn't really break it down more than that, so it needs more inspection and possibly a new pump. Yikes. More delays, unfortunately.

 

That a crappy discovery. Did you cut the filter open and look on the screen? Hope you find the culprit right away and it's not the very last bushing in the transmission to look at.

 

Haven't done a thing yet. Need to find some time to drop the trans first. Thankfully, it'll be slightly easier as the engine's out already.

Quoted about C$700 for the trans oil pump and perhaps 2-3 hours for install (with the trans delivered to the shop). Car's going to be laid up for a few more weeks yet...

 

What tires are those that you have on the car curious?

 

Got the trans out yesterday. Stupid - forgot to drain it before I took it out though. Pricing the trans pump now, hopefully will have it sorted out soon.

Tires are just Yokohama Envigor all seasons. My parents will just drive the car summers, so no biggie. I wanted something pretty durable and comfortable.

 

Oh dear, well at least you "oiled" the workshop floor

 

Pix, to show it happened!!







The trans mount was previously replaced, but the flex discs haven't been. The one on the trans is just started to show wear, so I'll go ahead and do it up.

 

That must be a big b*gger to get out. Did you do it from under or out the front?

 

The trans actually didn't weigh as much as I thought it would. That said, still too heavy to bench press. Whilst I can move it around on my own, I needed my neighbour's help to move it into the car.

I just jacked up the car as high as possible (probably a good 20"-22") and then lowered it down on two jacks.

Here's a pic of my 'MCT' C55, LOL.

 

Ha pretty sweet.. Something you wouldn't expect to see in the trunk of a killer AMG.

 

Carrying a spare transmission just in case.....

 

Well, I heard from the shop the other day, they figure it needs a front pump for sure. Hopefully nothing else. Front pump is on its way through my mechanic buddy's work - savings of about $200 for my end, which is a no brainer. Should have that tomorrow evening, so it'll get over to the shop next week - thing is they are quite busy, so I hope they will have a chance to get onto it sooner rather than later. I had planned to have this swap finished in early May!!

 

Better late than never...!

 

Got the new trans front pump. Lots of money for such a small-ish part!

Took some comparison photos for when the old one comes out, see what's what with the damage.

 

The trans is ready to go again! Here it is in the back of my C55, with brand new flex disc too.



On another note, check out my C55 road trip 'drive' story here.

 

With my friend's help, we got the transmission and engine back into the car yesterday. Much easier with two people!

For now, the engine is just mated up with about four bolts, and the torque converter to flexplate bolts are in.

I could have pushed on and gotten more done, but had to mow the lawn and relieve my wife for some child rearing duties. So baby and I went to the bookstore where I bought a mammoth book on the Porsche 911, detailed all technical aspects of the car's evolution over the past 50 years!

Tonight, I plan to get the balance of the engine to transmission bolts in. Just going to do a bit here and there over the next week, hopefully can fire it up next weekend.