So it begins .....

Found this 1983 MBenz 240D automatic with a really nice interior, paint that can be brought back and a diesel with a bad head gasket. Got it for $500.

It's raining out, will roll it in later. No rust in the trunk, a bit in the outboard rocker but I can live with that.

The engine will be coming out and as luck would have it a fellow three blocks away has a running Mopar 440 engine for $500. Should I find a 747 or some kind of manual tranny? Is a Benz rearend stout enough?

Film at 11 ....

I'll go ahead and suggest this:

thread titles with what actually begins help too.

Are you planning a return to The Challenge?

Big block Mercedes needs an overdrive automatic. 727 will work for starters....

I'm pretty sure that rear is open. I think a Ford 8.8 would be nice. I was surrounded by these being the poor kid at the private school in the late 80s.

what engine is in it now?

In reply to tdrrally:

I'm not sure if qualifies as an engine. It's a ~70hp diesel engine. My best friend in high school had one with a manual trans and I seem to remember 0-60 in the 30 second range and top speed in the 60s.

It's a luxury car and the hemi/440 spec 833 four speeds aren't cheap, I'd go auto. The rear is not that strong IIRC, you probably want to go 8.8 or whatever. I could be wrong here but I don't think the bigger S class diff is a bolt in and it isn't big block strong anyway. You'll have fun making the oil pan plays nice with the crossmember and steering centerlink. Probably best to just run flipped manifolds for exhaust.

Does the W124 still have that goofy swing axle rear suspension the W108 had? I imagine getting anything other than a Mercedes diff in that is going to be interesting.

In reply to Chadeux:

That's a W123, semi trailing arm IRS.

Ok yeah, looks like an 8.8 or similar in this wouldn't much different than in an RX7.

Judging by widths and offsets, a tenth gen T-bird 8.8" IRS should be pretty much the perfect width. I'm sure there are several of those in junkyards everywhere .

I know it's better than the diesel, but would a 5.0 Mustang push it along well enough? Toyman's yellow car or one like it comes to mind.

Dan

JohnRW1621 wrote: Are you planning a return to The Challenge?

No current plans but you never know.

Pushrod 5.0 allegedly fits ok without much hacking.

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/ever-put-a-sbc-sbf-in-a-diesel-benz/122770/page1/

Oy, went to dinner last night with my wife and friend Paul and his wife. Paul owns a foreign car repair shop, no domestics, no Japanese. Paul and Trish are trying to convince me to just fix and flip this Benz, I was told it has a bad head gasket.

Nice body, nice interior, just fix it and set it free?

WWGRMD?

Dan

I am boring but if doesnt have too much rust, I am with Paul and Trish.

Fixing that engine could be an endless money pit.

What do the cars sell for as runners?

If that is what you really wanted to do, there wouldn't be a build thread.

What makes you excited? Cash or glory?

Cash & Glory come and go and I've experienced both. Meh.

I can't see a 240 bringing that much. I'd guess 2g around here. What do they go for there?

You could pop the head off and see how bad the crack is..... For S&G

Meh, it's an old tired looking 240D, with an automatic (even slower than the stick), I doubt you'd get more than 3 grand for it running and cleaned up. A driver grade 240D is not a rare car. Head job is probably going to run you a few hundred in parts if you use parts worth buying and do it right (replace the timing chain guides and probably the chain too), assuming nothing is warped or cracked and it just blew for the hell of it.

I read stories about cracked cylinders when the head gasket goes and not enough meat to press in new ones. A simple head gasket job is nuts & bolts & time, when it's over I have a tiny diesel in a 3200 lb. box.