C43 engine into a 300E
Almost a Member!
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
I haven't had any expirience with swaping MB engines so I can't give you any specific information but there are some general things that may make it easier to figure out.
1. Will the other engine physically fit? I think it should fit, IIRC there was a W124 model that had the 4.3l in it. If it fits good, if not then you could make it fit. (modify the engine bay)
2. Are the engine mounts the same? I'd imagine not. inline 6 vs. V8. I'm sure that the mounts will be different. Once again I could be wrong I've never look at a MB V8. If they are not some thing could be done to make it work. Good work won't be cheap and cheap work won't be good. I've seen engines fall out of cars because of inadaquate support, it's funny when it someone else's car.
3. Will that engine bolt up to the transmission? You didn't mention if you would be switching transmissions. I'm assuming that you want to use the one currently in the car. If not you may be able to find some sort of adapter plate. Once again this won't be cheap, the adapters that the domestic guys use are usually made from billet alum, I'm thinking that for your purposes this would have to be a custom peice.......Ka ching.
4. Fuel injection/electronics. This is probaly the easiest thing listed here. It would be just a matter of removing the old ECU/harness and repalcing it with an updated one. If you don't want(or can't) go that route there are A LOT of aftermarket EFIs out there that are way more tunable than anything you'll find on a MB, but that wouldn't be excactly cheap either.
Wow that was a lot of typing. Glad your still with me.
What I would do is, BUY AN E430 AND CALL IT A DAY. If your board and like figure out a lot of problems then you could takle the job yourself which IMO would make you the coolest guy here. I've learned a lot from a (non MB) turbo install that's taken 6 months (so far). I've had to fabricate almost everything and I hate it...........
1. Will the other engine physically fit? I think it should fit, IIRC there was a W124 model that had the 4.3l in it. If it fits good, if not then you could make it fit. (modify the engine bay)
2. Are the engine mounts the same? I'd imagine not. inline 6 vs. V8. I'm sure that the mounts will be different. Once again I could be wrong I've never look at a MB V8. If they are not some thing could be done to make it work. Good work won't be cheap and cheap work won't be good. I've seen engines fall out of cars because of inadaquate support, it's funny when it someone else's car.
3. Will that engine bolt up to the transmission? You didn't mention if you would be switching transmissions. I'm assuming that you want to use the one currently in the car. If not you may be able to find some sort of adapter plate. Once again this won't be cheap, the adapters that the domestic guys use are usually made from billet alum, I'm thinking that for your purposes this would have to be a custom peice.......Ka ching.
4. Fuel injection/electronics. This is probaly the easiest thing listed here. It would be just a matter of removing the old ECU/harness and repalcing it with an updated one. If you don't want(or can't) go that route there are A LOT of aftermarket EFIs out there that are way more tunable than anything you'll find on a MB, but that wouldn't be excactly cheap either.
Wow that was a lot of typing. Glad your still with me.
What I would do is, BUY AN E430 AND CALL IT A DAY. If your board and like figure out a lot of problems then you could takle the job yourself which IMO would make you the coolest guy here. I've learned a lot from a (non MB) turbo install that's taken 6 months (so far). I've had to fabricate almost everything and I hate it...........
Thread Starter
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 13,489
Likes: 96
haters crazy
Thanks for the help. I already knew it was going to take alot of work, I was just wondering exactly how many things I would need to change. The ECU and tranny were no brainers, I was thinking about other things. Anyways, I've decided to sell my CLK430 and get a CLK55. Then maybe after a year get a kleemann supercharger. The 300E will just have to be my gangsta car.
