Just an FYI to let you all know that I am currently installing a V8 from a CL500 into a Crossfire. Everything I am learning will also apply to the R170 SLK320 as the Crossfire is an R170 under the skin. I have also attached a picture of my stock engine bay so that you can all see the similarities to the SLK320

 

Are you documenting this swap on any other webpages? Any links? I'm interested to see how the swap progresses.

 

u leave hope for a underpowered car driver like myself... hahaha goodluck

 

Yes, I am documenting it here:

http://www.crossfireforum.org/forum/...ad.php?t=18481

I decided to mention it over here as I have been active on here with my ML and because everything would apply to an SLK engine swap. The Crossfire is the red headed step child of a failed marriage, but this is one of the best cars I have ever owned. I bought the Crossfire when I realized there aren't any Chrsler parts on the car.

I just received the engine last week, so I am fairly early into this swap. I have been doing the research for a few months now.

 

Thanks for the link. I will certainly be stalking the Crossfire forum for a while.

Just a little background......I've been a long time diehard Mopar fan and own a few Mopar musclecars. When Chrysler merged with Diamler I was disappointed. However it was the Crossfire that turned me on to Eurocars and convinced me to buy my Mercedes. I looked at buying a Crossfire when they first came out an was really impressed with the quality of it over the other Mopars but I was turned off by the V6. Had Chrysler released the Crossfire with a V8 I probably would be driving one of them instead of my MB.

 

I thought I'd post over here as well to keep up too date on everything that's going on...

We'll have too wait and see how many other R170 owners decide to make the switch to V8 power... I know I will

 

Did you consider using a SLK or C32 motor first? Better if you could find one in my opinion and would be easier to install. Or just get a SRT6.

I also have the C43 exh mani's you're looking for since I replaced mine with the Kleemann Headers.

 

okay okay.. hold on..
would the same story go for a c-class coupe?
as the c coupe and the slk are much the same kaka ( i think).

 

Which SLK motor… the 230, 320, or 32? The Crossfire already came in the 320 or 32 AMG configuration.

You’re right though… it would be much easier and cheaper to go buy an SRT but that’s no V8



I would assume so... since the C coupe came with the 320 (M112), which apparently has the same mounting points as the 500 (not sure of the engine #).

 

The C32/SLK 32 motor!


Once you mod either the Crossfire SRT6/SLK/C 32's(all 3 come with the same AMG 3.2 S/C motor), the N/A V8 won't have a prayer especially that 5.0L motor you wasted your $$ on. They (V8's) definitely don't even have a prayer against the modded 4 cyl I have in my sig so what's the point?

Just go buy an SRT6 or find a SLK/C32 motor and have fun with the much easier install. You r wasting your time putting that V8 motor in your car.

 

Too each his own

Read post #112
http://www.crossfireforum.org/forum/...049#post176049

 

The M113 actually produces more torque than the AMG32 motor. Also, for future tuning, he could install a supercharger, and dominate any modded 32 out there. Because at the end of the day, the V8 offers more power potential for tuning. I don't see any 32's pushing 500hp...do you? Aside from that, the other benefit is exclusivity. Hacked together "SRT6" or something unique?

Now, if only he crammed a 55K motor in there...

 

He's installing the 5.0L V8 which does not have more tq than the C32 V6. We are talking about a more cost effective approach by the way. You will spend tons of $$ trying to get the V8 to wrk in the Crossfire and then you will have to buy a Kleeman S/C kit for over 11k.

Don't know if you browse the C32 C55 forums much but there are a few very modded C32's that are making close to 500hp and will get to 500hp soon.
READ:
https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...&highlight=whp

Third ,it would be a pain in the *** installing the OEM 5.5L Komp motor in there and it will be expensive as well.

What's gonna be so exclusive about a V8 powered Crossfire when you have the SLK55?

Wnna be exclusive ,put in a motor from an SRT8!

I still say just go buy an SRT6 and mod the life out of it.. Want to get fancy twin turbo it or chg the pistons you have in the car now and twin turbo the motor in your Crossfire now.!!!!

Best way to go hp and money wise will be the AMG OEM S/C V6.Exclusivity and all out power would be a turbocharged 3.2L V6 project.

 

True that. If you have the money to burn,then give it to me. Cost wise and HP wise you'll be better off with an SRT6 or you can do a motor project by building up your current V6 and turbo charging it to destroy everything. Your car will also be exclusive like my friends TT AMG C36!

 

177k for a v8 conversion in a Crossfire?

I wonder what I could have gotten for converting my C43 into a W202 C55. AMG charged customers in Europe about 30k + price of the car used or new and did the conversion.
So price of car + 5.5L AMG conversion ran folks any where from75 to 90k back in 1997 to 2k.. The crossfire is basically a SLK320 how could that guy expect to get that kinda $$$$?


FYI As far as the locking of the Ecu is concerned I will be surprised if you could unlock it especially if it's an MB ECU. I went thru ALL of this with my conversion. If you by a reconditioned ECU from the dealer it will not be married to your car until after 41 turns of the key. After that I was told that it's a locked deal. I had about 3 ECU's all AMG ECU's 2 with ME 2.0 and 1 with ME2.8. I had two of them reprogrammed to have my car think that it is an E55.


By the way there is a guy who dropped a C43 4.3L motor into his W203 C240 but it was not cheap and not for the faint of heart.

 

C32 makes 332 ft-lbs of torque, the M113 churns out 339 ft-lbs, but I'm just nitpicking here.

Also, if the intent is something custom, why not toy with other supercharger setups; Vortech makes a very competent product and is loads less expensive than Kleemann. Plus, if he did decide to go the route of Kleemann, and slapped some fat slicks back there, then that thing would put a bruising on any 32 out there, and even give your toy a run for the money.

I hear ya on the cost-effective approach, but I take it that the OP is seeking exclusivity over power/dollar. If it were me, I would personally pick up an SRT6 and have some fun with it, since I don't exactly have time to work on such custom projects...although I'd love to lol.

 

The vortech would be a good approach.

He'll need more than a 5.0,5.5L S/C motor to mess with my toy. Especially once the boost is raised

Nevertheless if putting the V8 is the thing he wants,I'd probably go f/i.


I still say the SRT6 is the only way to fly here!

 

Hi agian guys,

It has been a long time since my original post. So it must be time for an update. First of all I used the 500 engine becuase I got one with barely 1000 miles on it for 1600. Since I was charting new waters, I didn't want to spend a ton of money and not know if it would work. I completed the conversion and the car is an animal! I have been driving it for two years now and have almost 20K miles on it. I had fun re-reading the posts above now that I know the facts first hand. first of all a 500 engine has more torque than the 32 engine. A stock 32 does not have a very flat torque curve and reaches peak torque at 4500 rpm while the 500 has just as much torque at 2500 rpm and the torque curve is very flat. I have been to many Crossfire meets and the SRTs won't play with me from a dead stop. Besides close HP number that give the edge to the 32 engine I have much better gearing. I did not change my trans or rear end and everything has held up just fine no matter how hard I am on the car. the 722.6 from the n/a V6 has much lower and I have a 3.27 in the rear which MB didn't use in the 32 or V8 cars. Contrary to to what was said above I did unlock the CL500 ECU and programmed it to the Crossfire. I did the work myself and after selling the original motor let's just say I can do this swap five times for the cost of a Kleeman super charger. My car was the test mule and led to the way for three more V8 Crossfires to be built each of which is sporting a 55 Kompressor engine. I don;t care how fast you think the 32 motor is, you don't want to mess with one of those three cars! there is a video of the V8 55K Crossfire destroying a SRT6 with every available engine mod.

I just came back from the Tail of the Dragon and had fun watching SRT6 getting small in the rear view mirror as I was powering out of those tight turns. the V8 Crossfire handled incredibly well but I also have Voughtland springs, Koni shocks, C32 brakes up front and SLK55 rotors in the back with S65 calipers. the car stops as good as it goes. I am loving this car! I may supercharge it next with a kit from Atwood European with tuning from Ken Rudy. Or I may just keep having fun while I watch the prices drop on the 63 motors.