Was hoping some of you could clear something up for me.
My 99 C43 is about to cross the 300,000 mile mark, (big time timing chain rattle, oil leaks, but still runs very strong) and I'm getting ideas for possible engine swaps. I have two C43's, and one of them is getting the normal 5.4 AMG M113 swap at some point but those engines are getting hard to find.
I already know I can direct swap it into my C43 and it would be plug n play, for the most part.
My question is this. There's no replacement for displacement, but the 5.0 puts out almost the same power as my stock 4.3. We know the only difference in the AMG 4.3 is that AMG tweaked the heads and cams.
Can I put my 4.3 heads and cams onto the 5.0? Presumably I'd see about the same power increase as from a stock 4.3 to an AMG 4.3 (about 30 hp).
Of course, if I did this, I'd get them sent to the machine shop for cleaning and stuff. I could also look into better cams, too. There are multiple opportunities here.
Anyone got any info for me? Getting the wife a GLK 350 next year, so that's when I want to tear down my 99 and start driving my 98 (black one).
300 miles is getting up there man, I would be tempted to replace the engine rather than refresh, if done by the book a refresh is very expensive, more cost effective to to get a low miles M113!
I found out the increased displacement in the 5.0 is due to increased bore but not increased stroke. Strongly implying my 4.3 heads would work fine. But still more info is needed.
Either way I would do a lifter and valve job before anything went back in the car. I need to get the timing chain rattle sorted. New tensioner did nothing for it.
Fun fact, the timing chain tensioner from the c43 is the same one from the McLaren SLR.
I am sure the heads will work, but I would doubt they would gain any power, likely lose. Also the main difference with the 43 bump was the intake manifold and cams, I dont even know if there was any change in the heads at all. I would not mix and match these parts, you will very likely lose, you need more volume for more displacement and i am sure the 500 heads are as big or bigger than the 43 heads. plus they are newer so they have received any design improvement. the 500 might be rated same hp, but the torque is much much more and the car will be alot faster with a stock 500.
Also for the added cost of getting the heads worked on, you could just get a 55 engine.
All M113's using same intake manifolds, no difference,,
C43 using a unique different cams than CLK430/E430, anyone knows what a special thing about C43 cams..?!?
ZAYED,,
Really? I never compared part numbers but it was claimed at the time they came out that the difference from the 430 was from a higher flow intake and different cams. Maybe they meant the air box and not the manifold, although the manifold does say AMG on it. I never bothered to check.
I'm sure the cams have higher lift or more duration. The power comes noticeably higher than the 430.
These engines all share same intake manifold ... C43 is 944
C43 heads are common between M113 4.3 only.
I'd be careful with that feature. That just means that yes the same manifold is now available for all. It doesn't mean that is what was OE to the vehicle. Parts get superceded all the time.
I'd be careful with that feature. That just means that yes the same manifold is now available for all. It doesn't mean that is what was OE to the vehicle. Parts get superceded all the time.
There is a few superseded manifolds, I assume that if all update to the same number that they all once had the similar manifold? are you saying I should search on OE part numbers to be more accurate?.
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
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