V8 Mercedes Coupe

Mercedes-Benz

W124

1989

0

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Picture of the car done on it’s first road trip through Saskatchewan.
Pulling the worn out M103 3.0 inline 6.
Dropping in my 302 that I built in 2007, it’s originally from a ‘91 F150 but I had it bored .030 and put 10.5:1 pistons and a big cam, it has a 600 Edelbrock on it currently and makes around 300hp.
I welded a Ford slip yoke on the original Mercedes driveshaft and locked down the original center slip joint.
My modified shifter linkage to link the original shifter to my AOD.
My true dual exhaust that runs down the factory routing so it’s tucked up. Cherry Bomb Turbo mufflers but it’s actually pretty loud.
New strut time!
Breaking into my trunk after the factory lock refuses to open.
Another road trip, this car is a treat to drive on a long highway trip.
Family trip to Waterton park, had some fun on the twisty road coming in.
My backwards shifter, used a Summitracing sticker + Sharpie to make a new shift indicator. Also the factory temp gauge works but added a mechanical one in the ashtray along with a manual fan control switch. The other toggle is for the heater valve… one is hot, off is cold… no frills!
No A/C naturally and then the blower motor resistor failed, it was $700 for an aftermarket so I rewired the car to accept a $21 Ford unit, now I have 4 speeds instead of only 2.
First and only break down, very maddening, an aftermarket CV axle blew up as I was accelerating onto the highway for a weekend get away! Axle only had 3000 km on it.
The carrier that broke in the axle. Don’t buy GSP axles, they are low grade crap and they don’t have any customer service.
3.07 ratio open 198mm diff from a 2008 Chrysler 300, it’s a close match to the original, cheap and strong.
Cutting the factory splines off the brand new Trakmotive axles for the 300 diff.
The 300 axles cut, shortened and bevelled.
Original Mercedes splines welded to 300 axles.
My splice joint prepped and clamped
The jointed welded (140 Lincoln MIG)
The sleeve, a piece of high strength steel from a Subaru door impact beam.
All sealed with JB weld.
Painted with some Krylon.
The 300 diff uses a 100mm drive flange, my driveshaft has a 90mm and smaller stepped holes… I made it work though.
The 90mm drive flange modified to 100mm
Dowled to the 100mm coupler.
I actually had to cut an inch off the driveshaft anyways and managed to do it without removing the shaft from the car.
Axles installed, they spline into the diff and the hub so it now requires me removing a lot of suspension the lean the knuckle out enough to install both splines… but it’s more reliable once installed and also improve the drive angle slightly.
Trip to Canmore for a little mountain retreat, this was with the new diff.
My furry co pilot.

Mods

Complete drivetrain swap, Ford 302/AOD and a 198mm Chrysler differential. The engine and trans where both built for a Fox body drag car years ago, had the engine in a few different Mustangs but it and the trans had been sitting in my shop about 10yrs when I decided to build this car. It went together really quick, 2.5 months and then a couple more months to iron out some kinks. The diff swap came later after I destroyed a CV axle and found metal in my factory diff. Also has a Ford blow motor resistor and the trunk latch and lock is a retro fit from a ‘65 Mercedes W110. The huge aluminum rad was a $125 Amazon special intended for a Jeep Wrangler. Oh and it has a gas pedal assembly from a PT Cruiser.

Build story

I bought the car as a driver in need of some tinkering but it barely made it home and found it had no compression and a slipping transmission. The little bit I drove the car I loved it though, most comfortable car I have ever driven. So I swapped in the 302 and it has been my daily driver ever since, we have taken it on some pretty long family road trips and enjoyed every minute of it. It’s a little too loud, the transmission shifts way too hard and high and I tend to drive it faster than I should… I love this car!?

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