190 Project, C36 and questions :)

[Mark300SL]

This high power W201 190 bug has really bitten now

However I do have some questions because my Mercedes modding knowledege is actually very limited. I dont fear engine swaps or vehicle electrics but to be honest I am taking on a major project with almost zero MB experience

Over the last couple of weeks I have been looking for 3.2 24v engines to drop into a 190. This lead to a natural conclusion that a C36 AMG engine might be the ultimate way to go On looking for C36 engines I was basically met by a bunch of dreamers that have no realistic idea on engine pricing and indeed a C36 engine, box wiring loom and Ecu etc worked out to be about the same price as a decent C36!

My plan therefore is to buy a cheap C36, use the mechanicals and strip the rest for spares/ebay


Now I know that the C36 engine fits in the engine bay and it has been done before, If you use all of the M104 wiring and electronics it shouldnt be a major issue.

So to anyone who might have attempted an M103 to M104 conversion

1. Are there any major pitfalls I need to know about regarding fuelling or electrics ?
2. From what I see all the electrics are basically under the bonnet - are there any feeds that need to go inside the car ?
3. Diffs - as I understand it most 124 diffs will fit - what about C class or other diffs ?


I have been doing a load of searching and reading on a lot of forums, but this is going to be a major project and I will be after a lot of help over the next year or so.



Many thanks to Will to has already given me more help than I expected


Mark

 

[Bri957]

Personally I'd forget about a 190e and just buy a nice C36.....

(I own a 190e 2.6 by the way)

 

[Mark300SL]

Personally I'd forget about a 190e and just buy a nice C36.....

(I own a 190e 2.6 by the way)

Almost considered it - but its like an itch I have to scratch.......

I know I can get a 190 to perform superbly and save at least 250kg kerb weight over a C36 to make up for the beefy driver
I want a car that doesnt cost a fortune to buy in absolutely MINT condition, that is powered by an oversized engine.

£5k will buy a reasonably nice C36, Just over £2k+ will buy a not so nice one for breaking with a decent engine. I think I can build a C36 powered 190 2.6 for about the price of the C36, but it will be all to my spec and fault free with an engine top end overhaul and the compression ratio dropped
Sitting on my old rims that came off the SL all those years ago with a 190D badge on the boot should create a laugh before we even start to play with turbos.............



Those who know me will realise that I very rarely drive anything standard, and my SL was the most standard car I have ever owned. I am happiest when building/swapping engines and making things go much faster than the manufacturers intended

My CRX, Dans and Adams have all been timed by magazines at under 5.0 sec to 60, 10 sec to 100 and 1/4 miles in the mid 12's! Not bad for 15 year old daily driver Jap cars with 1600cc engines! We all go out on track quite a bit too so the cars are most certainly not just drag machines.



And for the record - my wife also thinks a stock C36 is a much more sensible idea


Mark

 

[Kompressor_Dude]

If people only ever did what was sensible there wouldnt be much point in ever modding! Sounds like a great project and if you've got the money and the time then i think you'll get a lot of satisfaction out of it....... and one hell of a car!

Keep the topic udated with pictures and progress and im sure you'll get lots of useful advice.

Good luck!

 

[janner]

Sounds like a nice project.
How will you drop the compression ratio of the 3.6 enough for turbos?

 

[Mark300SL]

Sounds like a nice project.
How will you drop the compression ratio of the 3.6 enough for turbos?

No Idea until its apart

Either rebushed stock rods, or a piston skim, or a thick headgasket
C36 is actually no higher compresssion than the Hondas I do now - but they have a mountain of aftermarket parts available, and I have a strong knowledge of what works and what doesn't.

Here I am stumbling about in the dark with only an idea in my mind


As far as having the cash - well I do sort of. The settlement on my SL gives me the option to hunt out another SL and be boring for another 5 years, Or spend it having a bit of fun with the 3rd car
I certainly have more ability than money when it comes to real performance. The fact is an E55 would probably give me all the power I need but it would be in a big heavy saloon with massive consumption in comparison to a low pressure C36 turbo in a W201 shell.


Mark