It has begun
#1
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CLK W208
It has begun
Hey everyone, I purchased the last piece needed for the 320 to 55 transplant yesterday and the process has started. I will keep everyone posted as the process moves forward.
so far I have done all the retro fitting and re-wiring for the paddle shifters and the necessary modifications to the trans and the floor shifter.
fonal project results will be a full 55 AMG conversion but with lower ratio Diff gearing for much better off the line take off with paddle speed shifters and tru dual tank dual exhaust system.
so far I have done all the retro fitting and re-wiring for the paddle shifters and the necessary modifications to the trans and the floor shifter.
fonal project results will be a full 55 AMG conversion but with lower ratio Diff gearing for much better off the line take off with paddle speed shifters and tru dual tank dual exhaust system.
#2
Hey everyone, I purchased the last piece needed for the 320 to 55 transplant yesterday and the process has started. I will keep everyone posted as the process moves forward.
so far I have done all the retro fitting and re-wiring for the paddle shifters and the necessary modifications to the trans and the floor shifter.
fonal project results will be a full 55 AMG conversion but with lower ratio Diff gearing for much better off the line take off with paddle speed shifters and tru dual tank dual exhaust system.
so far I have done all the retro fitting and re-wiring for the paddle shifters and the necessary modifications to the trans and the floor shifter.
fonal project results will be a full 55 AMG conversion but with lower ratio Diff gearing for much better off the line take off with paddle speed shifters and tru dual tank dual exhaust system.
#4
PLEASE UPDATE!!!
I'm finally ending school and coming up on a job which will allow me to finally make my car as beautiful as it can be, my ULTIMATE goal is exactly what you are doing with a 320 to a 55 swap. I have a general good idea but can REALLY use your skills as a guide/mentor for this process, please update and explain along the way. I will PM you and we should keep in touch! Thanks so much man
#5
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SL 400
Hey everyone, I purchased the last piece needed for the 320 to 55 transplant yesterday and the process has started. I will keep everyone posted as the process moves forward.
so far I have done all the retro fitting and re-wiring for the paddle shifters and the necessary modifications to the trans and the floor shifter.
fonal project results will be a full 55 AMG conversion but with lower ratio Diff gearing for much better off the line take off with paddle speed shifters and tru dual tank dual exhaust system.
so far I have done all the retro fitting and re-wiring for the paddle shifters and the necessary modifications to the trans and the floor shifter.
fonal project results will be a full 55 AMG conversion but with lower ratio Diff gearing for much better off the line take off with paddle speed shifters and tru dual tank dual exhaust system.
#6
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To say the least its not for the light hearted. It's a lot of work an specially because I'm going from a none tiptronic clk 320 to a tiptronic/ speed paddle shift 55. This is the list of parts that I had to change:
Motor, engine harness, body harness, trans, diff, motor mounts, floor shifter, radiator, ac condenser, radiator hoses, ECU/ME, TCU, ESP module, matching ignition/EIS as the ME(same car , same vin), all four cats and I upgraded the complete exhaust to larger piping. So far it hasn't been as expensive as people make it sound like, it's defiantly has been cheaper than selling and buying a 55, WAY CHEAPER! I have posted many times before about this and I kept getting the same response "sell it and buy a 55" so I got sick of getting responses like that and decided to just do it. And I have to say if you have good sources for parts the above statement of "it's cheaper to buy a 55" is absolute BS! All it requires is a couple of grand and will and imagination to do it. Now keep in mind if your going from a fcelifted 320 to a 55 is much less work and parts and if you are going from a face lifted 430 to 55 it's is almost 1/5 the parts and work.
Last edited by VIPclk320; 07-01-2012 at 03:19 PM.
#7
Awesome man
Yeah I'm literally going from my current setup which is a bone stock 99 CLK-320 except for the minor details like intake, exhaust, and resonator delete with a 2.5" pipe--growl is just for the ladies lol. I'm dead serious though about this because it's about time this car gets the respect it deserves. Unfortunately, my car shop/parts/mechanic hook-ups are slim to none so I feel I have a TON of knowledge and stuff to learn, but i'm too eager. Spent the last 4 damn years getting my Neurobiology degree and I just graduated, finally can get this show running but PLEASE keep updating and if you don't mind, please take pix to help a fellow CLK-320'r out. Swapping would be my dream and by that i DON'T mean selling my car and buying one, F that I want to build mine just like you bro!!!
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#8
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Yeah I'm literally going from my current setup which is a bone stock 99 CLK-320 except for the minor details like intake, exhaust, and resonator delete with a 2.5" pipe--growl is just for the ladies lol. I'm dead serious though about this because it's about time this car gets the respect it deserves. Unfortunately, my car shop/parts/mechanic hook-ups are slim to none so I feel I have a TON of knowledge and stuff to learn, but i'm too eager. Spent the last 4 damn years getting my Neurobiology degree and I just graduated, finally can get this show running but PLEASE keep updating and if you don't mind, please take pix to help a fellow CLK-320'r out. Swapping would be my dream and by that i DON'T mean selling my car and buying one, F that I want to build mine just like you bro!!!
#11
Seriously I am VERY thankful for the SoCal aspect haha! Yeah man it definitely sounds like quite a mission to get done all together, but i would really appreciate you being able to guide me in the same direction. I still don't see new cars coming out nowadays that I consider better than my CLK, but just wish it was BEAST like a 55 for sure! I hope you don't mind me bugging you about the specifics soon because like i said this car is my effin' baby and all I want to do is this swap. Still have a couple of months before I moved back down to SoCal, but mos def i'm watching your build and progress as a template for my entire mod.
#12
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Are you doing the R&R at home, in a shop, or? ?? Pulling the engine and transmission together? I'm really looking forward to the photos. If you're inviting people down for a helping hand let me know.
#13
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CLK W208
Its going to be done at a shop by a friend of mine. but many of the final details such as speed and paddle shift is going to be done at home by myself. I will let you know if you like to join me. I will try to take many pics as well. You will probably be the first one to see the body mods as well.
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CLK W208
few pics of some of the parts thats being changed due to the transplant to the bigger motor, all parts are OEM and brand new so i will virtually have a new car
Radiator, vaccum hoses, floor shifter with the paddle shift retro(the white plug is for the paddle shifters, i did the wiring and retored that plug to make it sit and look like factory), 55 manifold, cats and exhaust piping, AUX fans, ECU/ME and matching EIS Ignition, TCU, ESP+BAS and much more that i havent had time to take picture yet but i will later:
Radiator, vaccum hoses, floor shifter with the paddle shift retro(the white plug is for the paddle shifters, i did the wiring and retored that plug to make it sit and look like factory), 55 manifold, cats and exhaust piping, AUX fans, ECU/ME and matching EIS Ignition, TCU, ESP+BAS and much more that i havent had time to take picture yet but i will later:
#19
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Man I can't wait to see the final product. I was also wondering the same thing, looks like a Ghost Manifold is in order too bad you couldn't make it out to Vegas but guess I'll be seeing you over here in a few months.
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CLK W208
Hey Will, sorry I couldn't make it to Vegas brother, it's been a busy few weeks at the office for me but I'll be in Japan in two months so I will see you there. The swap will hopefully be done before I head your way so I'll briny lots of pics and videos for you. Did you have a good time there?
#22
Yeah man as much I hate to ask just take pix whenever you get a chance man I would MADDD appreciate any help like I said! I'm following this post for sure and can't wait to see the progress and how you go about building it. So if i'm right, the only
CLK 55 parts I need are the:
1.) Engine
2.) ECU
3.) TCU
And I can use CLK 430
1.) Transmission
2.) Differential
3.) Axel
Am I missing anything? Sorry for being sounding and being the newb in this post but this project is my goal for sure too and once again can't wait to see yours!
CLK 55 parts I need are the:
1.) Engine
2.) ECU
3.) TCU
And I can use CLK 430
1.) Transmission
2.) Differential
3.) Axel
Am I missing anything? Sorry for being sounding and being the newb in this post but this project is my goal for sure too and once again can't wait to see yours!
#23
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CLK W208
Yeah man as much I hate to ask just take pix whenever you get a chance man I would MADDD appreciate any help like I said! I'm following this post for sure and can't wait to see the progress and how you go about building it. So if i'm right, the only
CLK 55 parts I need are the:
1.) Engine
2.) ECU
3.) TCU
And I can use CLK 430
1.) Transmission
2.) Differential
3.) Axel
Am I missing anything? Sorry for being sounding and being the newb in this post but this project is my goal for sure too and once again can't wait to see yours!
CLK 55 parts I need are the:
1.) Engine
2.) ECU
3.) TCU
And I can use CLK 430
1.) Transmission
2.) Differential
3.) Axel
Am I missing anything? Sorry for being sounding and being the newb in this post but this project is my goal for sure too and once again can't wait to see yours!
as for the rest of the parts you can use the same axels and the drive shaft as you have right now with the 430 trans and diff because they are the exact same betweek the 430 and 320, the 55s have a thicker 4 point drive shaft as well as thicker axels. but your 320 drive shaft and axels will work fine with the 430 trans and diff. upi also need the following parts:
radiator, ac condenser, dual auxilary fans, fan relay module, the fan module wiring harness, cataletic convertors, floor shifter, floor shifter harness.
#24
Thanks a ton man, where exactly are you progress wise when it comes to your build thus far, love to get a gauge of where you stand!
"radiator, ac condenser, dual auxilary fans, fan relay module, the fan module wiring harness, cataletic convertors, floor shifter, floor shifter harness."
Would I be able to use clk 430 parts for all these as well?
"radiator, ac condenser, dual auxilary fans, fan relay module, the fan module wiring harness, cataletic convertors, floor shifter, floor shifter harness."
Would I be able to use clk 430 parts for all these as well?
#25
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2001 CLK430, 1987 560 Sec
Those "regular parts" are no big deal but the engine? You're making it sound like 55 AMG engines are just sitting around all over the place. What's the deal there? I'm not doubting you and this sounds like fun but still, what did you have to do to find one and how much was it?
Bob
Bob