Better acceleration? '88 420SEL
01-25-2005, 08:34 PM
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Better acceleration? '88 420SEL
Well, this is my first official post. I turned 16 recently, about a month and a half ago. They walked me outside and introduced me to my first car. A beautiful, golden 1988 420SEL. I was thrilled. Honeslty, how many of our troubled youth's nowadays enter into the world of driving rolling in a Mercedes? Not too many.
About a week ago I also entere into the world of racing. Nothing fancy, just myself and a bunch of my friends head over behind an abondoned warehouse (such a cliche, I know) and we take turns racing eachoither in our cars. Just two of us at a time, mind you. For those of you concerned, yes my parents are aware of this. They don't like the idea, but they let me do it anyway.
Long story short, my 420SEL is off the block. Pretty much nothing has been done to improve this fine automobile. It has had all the necessary things done to it, oil canges, new tires, new timing chain, you get the idea. Most of my friends have pretty cheap cars, but almost all of them are upgraded in some way or another. Some of 'em would probably fly if wings could be bolted on. My car however has no such things in it. Oh it will get up there well enough. In fact I can beat most of my friends cars in the longer races. It's getting to the higher speeds that is somewhat troubling. Let's face it, that luxurious piece of machinery is pretty heavy.
My question to you who actually know more about Mercedes than I do is this; can anything be done do give my car that little extra something when I hit the pedal? For instance, better intake or a better exhuast system or even a supercharger for it? I would never consider anything as extreme as Nitruos Oxide, but are there little things I can upgrade to give my car better acceleration? You know, little things add up if there are enough of them.
Please give me good news. I draw the line at anything too extreme. Nothing that could severely damage my engine for speed or anything like that. Appreciate all your help, even if the answers aren't what I'm looking for.
~OS, Matt
About a week ago I also entere into the world of racing. Nothing fancy, just myself and a bunch of my friends head over behind an abondoned warehouse (such a cliche, I know) and we take turns racing eachoither in our cars. Just two of us at a time, mind you. For those of you concerned, yes my parents are aware of this. They don't like the idea, but they let me do it anyway.
Long story short, my 420SEL is off the block. Pretty much nothing has been done to improve this fine automobile. It has had all the necessary things done to it, oil canges, new tires, new timing chain, you get the idea. Most of my friends have pretty cheap cars, but almost all of them are upgraded in some way or another. Some of 'em would probably fly if wings could be bolted on. My car however has no such things in it. Oh it will get up there well enough. In fact I can beat most of my friends cars in the longer races. It's getting to the higher speeds that is somewhat troubling. Let's face it, that luxurious piece of machinery is pretty heavy.
My question to you who actually know more about Mercedes than I do is this; can anything be done do give my car that little extra something when I hit the pedal? For instance, better intake or a better exhuast system or even a supercharger for it? I would never consider anything as extreme as Nitruos Oxide, but are there little things I can upgrade to give my car better acceleration? You know, little things add up if there are enough of them.
Please give me good news. I draw the line at anything too extreme. Nothing that could severely damage my engine for speed or anything like that. Appreciate all your help, even if the answers aren't what I'm looking for.
~OS, Matt
01-26-2005, 03:52 AM
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1993 190E 2.6
First of all, this is the wrong forum. You should have posted in the W126 forum.
Second of all, those thing have a huge hood. Get a job, save for about a year until you have about 10 grand, then put a new Mercedes V8 in it. They got 302 bhp. That'll show your friends.
Second of all, those thing have a huge hood. Get a job, save for about a year until you have about 10 grand, then put a new Mercedes V8 in it. They got 302 bhp. That'll show your friends.
01-26-2005, 10:38 AM
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Hey when I turned 18 I got my first car with my own money a tank like
88' 300 TE which I love to death and would only trade/sell for another W124
so I was fortunate enough like you to have a benz for my first car instead of some ****ty honda.
88' 300 TE which I love to death and would only trade/sell for another W124
so I was fortunate enough like you to have a benz for my first car instead of some ****ty honda.
01-26-2005, 11:51 AM
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1987 300SDL aka the "Money Pit"
Buy a 560SEL. Or if you have $10k to drop you could rebuild it with lower compression pistons and put a super charger on it. Their are no cheap mods for this car, enjoy it for what it is.
You might be able to gain a few if you could find a set of euro headers, then up a custom exhaust.
You might be able to gain a few if you could find a set of euro headers, then up a custom exhaust.
01-26-2005, 12:20 PM
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Thanks vbery much for the replies. As to getting a job, working on it. As to having 10k to drop, I wish. I really do. Lol. I've heard of people putting in higher powered engines in a car like mine, but I'm not sure where I'd get one. Any ideas? I would love a 560SEL engine or even a igher powered engine than that if possible. Garunteed I'll be hanging onto this car for a while, might as well do what I can with it, right? Thanks again.
01-26-2005, 01:01 PM
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1993 190E 2.6
Higher powered engine:
http://www.adsitco.com/catalog/produ...il.asp?ID=5617
Specs: 5.6 Liter V8, 238 HP, only 5600 bucks.
http://www.adsitco.com/catalog/produ...il.asp?ID=5617
Specs: 5.6 Liter V8, 238 HP, only 5600 bucks.
01-27-2005, 01:26 PM
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1987 300SDL aka the "Money Pit"
I wouldn't buy a motor from adsitco, I have heard to many bad things about them. Also their shop isn't that nice or clean. However Metric Motors is a very good diesel shop I am not sure but they might do gas engines. Also direct from MB is another option. Either way a rebuilt M117 will run you $6k-$7k if you don't do the work yourself throw in another $1k-$2k. If you want more power and speed it would be cheaper just to buy a 560SEL. It wouldn't be as simple as just dropping an M117 into a 420. I know the rear ends have different gearing and I think the trans might be different as well.
