birth of another C55

[coolcarlskic43]

Originally posted by c55m8o
As long as you follow the engineering design MB/AMG employed when dropping the 4.3L motor in your engine bay, why would there be anything in the picture different the buying a C43 straight-up and getting standard coverage?

And a whole lot of $$$ because there are tons of differences between the two cars.(tranny,driveshaft,diff,ECU's,body and subframe reinforcements along with subframes)yep ,better off buying a C43 like Steve says,straight up.

[jlomon]

Originally posted by coolcarlskic43
And a whole lot of $$$ because there are tons of differences between the two cars.(tranny,driveshaft,diff,ECU's,body and subframe reinforcements along with subframes)yep ,better off buying a C43 like Steve says,straight up.

Not to mention a complete front suspension replacement to carry the weight of a V8.

I know it would be easier to just go out and buy a C43, but I'm sentimental when it comes to my car. I'll probably spend twice as much money rebuilding it as it would cost to get what I want elsewhere. But if I didn't stick with this car, I'd almost feel like I was abandoning it. Its part of the family. I'd imagine that you feel similar about yours, seeing as you just went to a big expense yourself. Its never rational, its emotional.

I think the 3.6 M104 will be the way to go. I can keep the same 722.4 transmission, motor mounts, suspension, rear end, etc.

[c55m8o]

Originally posted by jlomon
Not to mention a complete front suspension replacement to carry the weight of a V8.

Actually, I believe I've read on this board that the C43 motor is the same weight or lighter then the 3.6L engine... (or is it lighter when comparing it with the 2.8L? I forget...)

* EDIT:
From this post, devoted to your subject of interest:
http://www.club202.com/forums/showth...&threadid=7253

Is a statement that was not refuted (sic?) or corrected:

Originally posted by J Irwan
On the contrary I am almost 100% that the subframe is still the same ...between 4 cylinder, 6 cylinder and 8 cylinder.

After all the 3 engines doesn't differ that much in term of weight..
in term of weight. I think . 2.3L/2.3LK < 2.8L V-6 < 4.3L V-8 < 3.6L I-6/5.4L V-8

But I could double check once I got home tomorrow night to see if the subframe part number is different between 4 cylinder and V-8 model..

with a follow-up post saying the 2.8L I-6 motor being the same base motor as the 3.6L so they're the same weight.

...so write me when you wanna stop dreaming and are ready for action. $2500 + shipping.

[c55m8o]

Originally posted by jlomon
I know it would be easier to just go out and buy a C43, but I'm sentimental when it comes to my car. I'll probably spend twice as much money rebuilding it as it would cost to get what I want elsewhere. But if I didn't stick with this car, I'd almost feel like I was abandoning it. Its part of the family. I'd imagine that you feel similar about yours, seeing as you just went to a big expense yourself. Its never rational, its emotional.

So have you done any mods, or gussied her up? Let's see some pix if so.

[jlomon]

I haven't got any pics, I'm afraid. But I have done a few minor modifications. I did a bit of work on the brakes, with Brembo cross-drilled rotors, stainless steel Goodrich brake lines, and Porterfield R4S pads. I picked up a set of 16 inch rims on eBay from a CLK, so I'm plus-one with 205 55 VR 16 Goodyear Eagle F1 GS D3s. And I've installed Bilstein HD shocks to firm up the ride a little more.

Future mods will include a complete repaint this September, with pretty much everything stripped off the car before painting, and then after I get one last road-salt filled winter out of the exhaust, I'm going with a Remus muffler and a high-flow catalytic converter next spring. I'll remove the resonator at the same time. Beyond that? Maybe an engine swap with that 3.6 M104, but who can say. I've got a baby on the way this November, and I hear they can be almost as expensive to maintain as a Benz.

[coolcarlskic43]

Originally posted by jlomon
I haven't got any pics, I'm afraid. But I have done a few minor modifications. I did a bit of work on the brakes, with Brembo cross-drilled rotors, stainless steel Goodrich brake lines, and Porterfield R4S pads. I picked up a set of 16 inch rims on eBay from a CLK, so I'm plus-one with 205 55 VR 16 Goodyear Eagle F1 GS D3s. And I've installed Bilstein HD shocks to firm up the ride a little more.

Future mods will include a complete repaint this September, with pretty much everything stripped off the car before painting, and then after I get one last road-salt filled winter out of the exhaust, I'm going with a Remus muffler and a high-flow catalytic converter next spring. I'll remove the resonator at the same time. Beyond that? Maybe an engine swap with that 3.6 M104, but who can say. I've got a baby on the way this November, and I hear they can be almost as expensive to maintain as a Benz.

Well good luck finding that motor!Not Easy!

[c55m8o]

Originally posted by coolcarlskic43
Well good luck finding that motor!Not Easy!

...but Carl, don't we know someone who can build one for him...?

[c55m8o]

Quite the list. It all sounds good.

Originally posted by jlomon
I've got a baby on the way this November, and I hear they can be almost as expensive to maintain as a Benz.

LOL... nice way to look @ it. Ya, do your child a favor and take the cash you'll spend on a motor and put it in a long term investment for school for him/her. Those prices, like homes, are astonomical and only getting higher...

[coolcarlskic43]

Originally posted by c55m8o
...but Carl, don't we know someone who can build one for him...?

Yea tru,it would be a nice project,but he would have to go aftermarket bigger bore pistons and rods to do so!

[d1deez]

Nice job guys! The 202 C55s are making some noise now.

[c55m8o]

from a different thread ; posted here for better categorization and organization of material & answers...

Originally posted by sig425
the list of what one would need to buy is tough to find. Can I do it with just a block and heads or do in need the intake, injectors, UIM etc as well?

Yes, (if I understand you correctly) you just need a long block. Everything, I mean everything, can come off the 4.3L engine and get swapped onto the 5.4L engine. Of course, parts that wear should be replaced, however you really don't need to buy "anything" if you don't want to. I even was surprised @ 63K miles, I was recommended not to waste money on a new water pump.

- I'd change the plugs (I went with Densos)
- Change the belt
- I was recommended to change the belt tensioner, as I was told that can go after 60K.
- I had the flywheel sensor changed.
- You can't help but replace all those fluids (sure adds up in $$$ too).
btw, I never realized, you have to take care filling the radiator fluid; have to force open the thermostat to force the air out in the beginning as you prime the engine with the fluid, as the engine is dry @ the start after the swap.
- DEFINITELY new motor mounts -- makes a world of difference (I have a separate thread on just that). There's some disagreement whether the E55 mounts are sturdier then the C43 mounts ... I went with the E55 mounts regardless.

However to repeat, all electrical related systems (wiring harnass, wires, ECU, coils, etc) and fuel related systems (fuel pump, filter, injectors, anything else), intake manifold, airbox, all ancillary external components, are swappable from the 4.3L motor to the 5,5L motor.

[sig425]

I think I may have just answered my quetion about supercharging or bigger motor.

Now I just need to find a motor!

Im guessing calling salvage yards to ask for an e55 from 99 to 2000 is the best bet?

[Ashkan's C280]

what about 01-02 those should work too right?

[c55m8o]

Originally posted by Ashkan's C280
what about 01-02 those should work too right?

Yep ; word is from Jeff M. (mb mech who did the swap) in 2001 the compression went from 10.5:1 to 11:1 (tho the specs still say 10.5:1 ; I dunno).

[knvs]

Originally posted by c55m8o
Yep ; word is from Jeff M. (mb mech who did the swap) in 2001 the compression went from 10.5:1 to 11:1 (tho the specs still say 10.5:1 ; I dunno).

what does that mean? bc I swapped in a 2001 engine into my car.

[sig425]

more compression = a good thing = more power for less work

[sig425]

what about other cars? SL class? Sorry Im such a newb but I would imagin it will be tough to track down a motor since e55's are probably not as plentiful as say ford taurus

[c55m8o]

Yup. Supposedly I did too ... weird think is it said 2000 on the manifold in chalk. However the car the engine came out of (according to the engine serial #) was a 2001 E55, so I'm hoping I have the higher compression too.

[coolcarlskic43]

Originally posted by c55m8o
Yup. Supposedly I did too ... weird think is it said 2000 on the manifold in chalk. However the car the engine came out of (according to the engine serial #) was a 2001 E55, so I'm hoping I have the higher compression too.

Sure did feel like it!

[Ashkan's C280]

few mroe question is the tranny from 00 c43 the same as the tranny as 00-02 e55? Also are the drive trains and diffs from 00-02 e55 same as the drive train and diff from 98-00 c43? Last question can quick shift be added to a 98,99 c43 tranny? One mroe question last one... How much can these tranny's hold (e55,c43). Thanks, I know n00b questions but I am not sure which parts were the same during these years.

[c55m8o]

Originally posted by Ashkan's C280
few mroe question...
[snip]

.
.
.
....dunno
.
.
,


Seriously tho, I'd just be answering 2nd or 3rd hand. With that said, yes, they're the same tranni ... however many posts here and on other boards have described how the tranni has evolved and grown more reliable in later years.

E55 uses a bigger (heftier) rear differential and longer gears (2.82:1 or there abouts vs. 3:07:1 for the C43) ... driveshaft should be the same.

dunno about quick shift (I like rowing the shifter for direct gear selection better anyway) ; dunno about torque handling in general ; tho it's pretty safe to say the tranni in the C43 can handle what the E55 motor can dish out.

...what's it matter?

[c55m8o]

Originally posted by sig425
what about other cars? SL class? Sorry Im such a newb but I would imagin it will be tough to track down a motor since e55's are probably not as plentiful as say ford taurus

...any M113.9## 5.4L engine I believe...

[Ashkan's C280]

is there anyway to beef up this tranny, i.e. if you were going to add kompressor or just some better internals and wanted make the tranny stronger, how would this be done? is there another tranny that could be used? Or can parts from another tranny be used? Aftermarket?

[Ashkan's C280]

Happy Labor Day!

[coolcarlskic43]

Originally posted by Ashkan's C280
is there anyway to beef up this tranny, i.e. if you were going to add kompressor or just some better internals and wanted make the tranny stronger, how would this be done? is there another tranny that could be used? Or can parts from another tranny be used? Aftermarket?

Donnie Drummond told me he's using the stck C43 Tranny in his 11.5 sec S/C C43/55.So it's more than capable to handle the power of a supercharged M113 motored car.The newer E55 compressor trannies are better though for the built extra Pwr from those F/I motors.

Yes speed shift can be adapted to the 98-99 C43 trannies.The 2k C43 already comes with the speedshift tranny and is the same in the E55.. Finally, most automatic trannies can get beefed up if you have the payola($$).