I have kept this one quiet until today - because I have just bought his previous project car - A 3.2 24v 190E saving me a lot of grief on the engine conversion for my turbo project
The owner is a really top guy called Ben from Plymouth who seems to live and breathe Mercs yet also appears unkown on most internet forums. I went down to pick up the 3.2 190 yesterday and got to see this one in the flesh.
Apparently he will never sell sell it and I do believe him - he had the 3.2 190 for about 12 years and was only prepared to sell it because he had almost finished this one to take its place. I did talk of selling my wife and kids into slavery but apparently that wouldnt raise enough cash!
Full height adjustable suspension with a decent lift makes short work of speed humps too . The SLK55 AMG 6 Pot brakes are amazing and the fitting thread is a good read in its own right
Apparently the total build time was a couple of years of many hours a day and most weekends.
The car has been on the road for the last 4 years, though he thinks it will be another 3/4 months before its completely finished
I have never been jealous of someone elses car - but this one makes me green with envy. I can honestly say I would rather have this one than a brand new AMG, because I really believe this one may be better built!
Anyway - enjoy
All pictures and words are Bens cross posted from the 190 forum and I take no credit for any of it other than to share with you guys
I dont think anyone can blame me for wanting to buy a modifed car from this guy !
Pics of the 3.2 when its clean and tidy as 3 years of doing not a lot has left it less than clean and it cant do him justice
Mark
The owner is a really top guy called Ben from Plymouth who seems to live and breathe Mercs yet also appears unkown on most internet forums. I went down to pick up the 3.2 190 yesterday and got to see this one in the flesh.
Apparently he will never sell sell it and I do believe him - he had the 3.2 190 for about 12 years and was only prepared to sell it because he had almost finished this one to take its place. I did talk of selling my wife and kids into slavery but apparently that wouldnt raise enough cash!
Full height adjustable suspension with a decent lift makes short work of speed humps too . The SLK55 AMG 6 Pot brakes are amazing and the fitting thread is a good read in its own right
Apparently the total build time was a couple of years of many hours a day and most weekends.
The car has been on the road for the last 4 years, though he thinks it will be another 3/4 months before its completely finished
I have never been jealous of someone elses car - but this one makes me green with envy. I can honestly say I would rather have this one than a brand new AMG, because I really believe this one may be better built!
Anyway - enjoy
All pictures and words are Bens cross posted from the 190 forum and I take no credit for any of it other than to share with you guys
Engine sits on 129SL cross member which is adjusted a bit at ends and welded in. As for engine bay mods lots , brake servo moved about 80mm towards driver seat, new brake pedal and accelerator pedal had to be made. Firewall had to be reshaped, back end of engine bay widened about 12mm each side, transmission tunnel widened and heightened by stretching out each side and up. Also steering box lowered.
Brake servo area being modified with firwall removed drilled out spot rivets.
After reshaping. Just had to reshape firewall and weld back in.
Engine cross member removed at spot welds/ seam welds. All chassis/ suspension points measured before cutting out as when cross member is cut everything moves by upto 20mm!! You then need dimensions to true the chassis before welding back in new cross member.
trial fit of cross member.
The battery is in the boot as shown.
The motor on final fitment.
The engine bay stripped and painted.
The unfinished engine bay.
The partially stripped interior.
Heres one of the outside will take more when shes clean.
The brake servo had to be moved towards rear of car by about 80mm to make clearance for engine!! Think this photo shows it, theres not alot of room in there. Although during build i made sure i could remove cylinder heads with engine in the car.
Heres some finished engine bay photos
Thought you might like to see my brake upgrade SLK55 AMG 6 pot calipers and 340mm floating discs.
I dont think anyone can blame me for wanting to buy a modifed car from this guy !
Pics of the 3.2 when its clean and tidy as 3 years of doing not a lot has left it less than clean and it cant do him justice
Mark