New project converting my 300CE to a 300CE-24

[MangoMan]

Great project, I hope it all turns out ok, good luck!

Just noticed, the 'Redline' starts 750rpm. earlier on the new dials. Personally I think it will show an incorrect reading as the marks are in a different place. The dial calibration on the others seem ok.

You did notice this, didn't you?

Cheers, Bill.

 

[Rebel]

Just changing the dials on the dashboard is enough to give me cold shivers, I take my hat off to you sir, you are a far braver man than I will ever be.

 

[ADY1983]

Great project, I hope it all turns out ok, good luck!

Just noticed, the 'Redline' starts 750rpm. earlier on the new dials. Personally I think it will show an incorrect reading as the marks are in a different place. The dial calibration on the others seem ok.

You did notice this, didn't you?

Cheers, Bill.

No I didn't someone else just pointed that out in the electronics section, I have got another rev counter So apart they come again...

 

[ADY1983]

Update

Ok where do I start the 24v loom is now in the coupe awaiting engine, the big 4 pots are off ready for painting.. but I have had a bit of a set back with the gearbox see below..


4 pots coming off the 300-24

gearbox split from engine, waiting for origonal gearbox, should have been a simple enough job but oh NO....

I haven't got a clue how but the bell housing broke. We put the gearbox in place it all looked good and as we were tightening the bolts, the gap was closing fine and then CRACK... WTF was that, untill I take it off I have no idea why it broke Is the splined shaft, housing different or what?? so now do I either take the gamble with the box that came on the car with dodgy reverse and hope it was crap Fluid or try and source another for reasonable money?

Update again soon, suggestions welcome..

 

[Dieselman]

Edit. Talking rubbish!

It looks like they locating pins didn't match or the housing took a knock.

On reflection I would guess the splines are different or the shaft/converter fit is different.

Next time just push it up without bolting it.

If all else fails you could get it alloy welded at a fabricators.

 

[Ian B Walker]

Adrian, I have a spare box out of a 2.6 124 if its any use to you.

Are you sure that the torque convertor was seated into the gearbox correctly. There is a cut out on the shaft of the convertor that matches with a peg on the box. Get them wrong and you lose 1/2 an inch, enough to damage the bell housing as your pics show.

 

[ADY1983]

Adrian, I have a spare box out of a 2.6 124 if its any use to you.

Are you sure that the torque convertor was seated into the gearbox correctly. There is a cut out on the shaft of the convertor that matches with a peg on the box. Get them wrong and you lose 1/2 an inch, enough to damage the bell housing as your pics show.

Hi Ian
I will know more tonight about why it broke, the gearbox sounds good...

 

[MangoMan]

No I didn't someone else just pointed that out in the electronics section, I have got another rev counter So apart they come again...

I've just noticed something, this is what happens when you're bored on Sunday mornings....anyway back to the Dials. I think by changing the Rev Counter won't solve the problem as I think the White Dials you have are meant for a 12 valve 300, not a 24 valve jobby. I've just noticed that on my dials (12v) the Redline starts at 6250rpm. and on the 24v 7000rpm. (pics attached for reference). So I think you need to get the White Dials for the 24v, not change the Rev Counter.

Not so?

How's it going anyway?????

Cheers, Bill.

attached pic My Dials, 30012v

 

[MangoMan]

Your Dials....

attached photo, your Dials...

 

[nick mercedes]

Adrian, I have a spare box out of a 2.6 124 if its any use to you.

Are you sure that the torque convertor was seated into the gearbox correctly. There is a cut out on the shaft of the convertor that matches with a peg on the box. Get them wrong and you lose 1/2 an inch, enough to damage the bell housing as your pics show.

The 2.6 box is too small for a 300E or 300E 24V, it's just the same as a 190E/230E box.

 

[nick mercedes]

Hi Ian
I will know more tonight about why it broke, the gearbox sounds good...

It's best to undo the six torque convertor bolts and fit the box convertor as one unit, as it's easy to damage the seals if you leave the torque convertor attatched to the engine.

 

[ADY1983]

Cheers guys, I sorted the gearbox problem now so not to worry, Sorry I have not updated for a while. The project is coming on very well there is still loads to do but should be able to start the Engine later on or tomorrow :bannana:

Bill, I will have a play around with the rev counters and see what happens, my Dials are the same as yours so I might use my old clocks, this should work??

I will update with pics and stuff tonight so keep an eye out..

Could I possibly have this thread as a Sticky please ??

 

[MangoMan]

Hi Ady, yeah they should work ok, you'll just have to ignore the Redline @ 6250 and realize you can safely go up to seven grand......obviously because the 24v Revs higher, safer.......although I have to say that mine, albeit a 12v pulls very cleanly right up to 7000rpm. without much prompting!!! Especially in 2nd. And also I don't think it has a rev-limiter, or if it has I haven't reached it yet!!!??? I suppose this is most probably due to the fact that it's got over 230,000 on the clock, and the motor is nice and loose! Just as a matter of interest, they actually over-bore racing engines to reduce the friction at higher revs., not to mention other things like stronger valve springs, etc. You can usually get an extra 1000rpm. safely. Nice.

Anyway good luck, and keep us posted please.

Cheers, Bill.

 

[ADY1983]

Ok finally another update on my progress, I did this last weekend.
Well I managed to save the gearbox, after the slight mishap I had, so then I cleaned the engine up with gunk.

Here's the engine after being gunked..

Engine bay also Gunked and pretty much ready for the engine.

Engine being dropped in-in stages

This one with the hoist moved out the way and mounts done up..:bannana:

 

[ADY1983]

So last week, I finished fitting the loom, put the cage in for the 24v ECU
bolted the servo back in connected the brake pipes.
I still had to bolt the prop shaft up, connect the gearbox mount and speedo cable.

Here's the prop being bolted to the gearbox.

In This pic you can see where the speedo cable goes and prop.

This is the servo and fuse box put back togeather, all looks a bit tidier now.. Also notice the throtle cable had to be changed and re-routed.

24Valve ECU and MAS box! bolted in also looking a bit better now.

 

[Ian B Walker]

Total respect. Nice job. How did you manage the gearbox repair and what caused the crack?

 

[ADY1983]

Nearly up to date now... This is what we got upto on Sunday..
So with the engine in, prop and gearbox bolted up, ECU and loom in, it was time to get the welder out for the front panle.. put the Rad in, fill engine with oil and try and turn the engine over..


This is before welding coverd the wings and engine with wet towels..

Me doing a bit of welding, and check out my next project you can just see my 500 SEC behind..

And my mate grinding it back...

This is pretty much what it looks like now with the panel welded in..

When the welding was done as I said we filled the engine with oil, connected the rad and battery, well there was no smoke which was a good sign..
And turned the key..... It started first time.. :bannana: :bannana: :bannana:

Ok there is still a bit to do, some how fit the electric fans (this is why we only connected and started it breifly) make up some brackets for the oil cooler, fit the big brakes and Dials and more...

Thanks again for looking and more updates soon..

 

[ADY1983]

Total respect. Nice job. How did you manage the gearbox repair and what caused the crack?

Well when we got the box off it was no where near as bad as first thought, and it was what you said it was..
The trouble was the crank doesn't spin very freely but the gearbox end does so its a bit of a mare to line the cut outs up but we got there in the end..

 

[ADY1983]

Update

This week so far I have made up a bracket for the oil cooler as there was not one fitted to the 12Valve and no where to mount it. Also managed to fit the electric fans although not tested yet..


This is the Fans fitted, I was going to make a frame to hold them but what I have done instead (as the air con Rad was broken anyway) I cut about 75mm off the bottom of the air con rad and re-attached the pins that locate on the cross member, the reason for this is because the Radiator on the 24V is alot deeper. As a resault of this I have also had to relocated the horns.

Here's the fans and the oil cooler, mounted front right..

Oil Cooler before being mounted

oil cooler mounted on the bracket I made up..

 

[grober]

320 into a 190 swap

Ady have you seen this post on th e190 forum http://www.mercedes190.co.uk/
its underTECHNICAL--engine,gearbox,diff and exhaust---engine--started my engine swop. Its about puting a 320 6 into a 190. A very neat job, but I particularly liked the way the guy said "the wiring"--my dad did it. Still a beautiful job. Take a look when you have a minute. Your making good progress yourself keep up the good work.