Mercedes G-Wagen Engine conversion, anybody know a good mercedes G mechanic?
Hello Everyone!
Im new to the forum, so be gentle!
Iv recently bought a 88' G LWB 280 GE automatic and im planning on restoring it to its better than formal glory.
I have someone retrimming the full interior in grey leather, and the exterior to W463 spec.
Anyway.. im asking if anyone knows a good garage or tuner that can perform engine conversions on the W460 and W463 G?
My G is great but Id love a engine conversion, a nice big 5 litre v8 in it or a AMG 55 engine.
Anyway, you can pick up post 2000 S/E/CL 500 V8 engines for reasonable prices, with all ancillaries and ecu.
Would love my G to have a new lease of life with alot more power, so i hope it can be done for a good price.
I dont mind the fact that il be putting in more money than il get back, as long as its doable for a reasonable price.
Anyone got any ideas on what sort of budget il be looking at for the engine conversion and has it been done on here or anything?
Many Thanks.
5 litre and 5.6 litre V8 transplants from w126 vehicles have been relatively common and successful transplants into w460 series G-wagens. These like your vehicle use the mechanical fuel injection system known as k-jetronic. This system has its roots in the 1930s and is very reliable and well proven. The modern engines you propose to install rely on electronic fuel injection systems, these are adaptable, tunable and more fuel efficient than K-jet. However they are part of a whole vehicle system that integrates the operation of the gearbox, the brakes, the stability control/traction control the immobiliser and the airbags. Its a bit like putting a computer controlled jet engine into a horse and cart.
There is a very long thread about changing to non electronic diesel engines, if I were in your position I would go down this route as you could end up spending tens of thousands trying to import a modern petrol engine into a piece of history. Think of the 460 G as a listed building that needs period fitments and you won't go far wrong.
I know a mechanic who is G nuts. Where do you live?
May I ask who's doing your re-trimming?
Cheers,
Ian
My initial thoughts are that you would have been better to buy a 463 instead of trying to turn a 460 into something it was never meant to be.
my thoughts exactly....
ultimate 460? its got to be one of these ,this is the engine bay of my 280ge lwb ,this has serious power and torque and really good fuel consumption (£40 of diesel ,3 days of mixed driving, towing ifor williams horse box with one large horse in 150 odd miles total thats really good, the 280 or a v8 would of done the lot in one trip ) as for noise this 606a sounds monster with a deep burble /howl with a nice bit of turbo in the mix aswell ,no doubt the man with the v8 obsession will cry otherwise but it is a good choice, just ask Huss he knows the score!,
if you are in any doubt come and have a drive on the weekend of the 29 /30th sept we are 10 mins from bristol airport in somerset.
It looks well in the engine bay... if you were to supply that engine and fit it, what's the rough cost?
sorry forgot to mention,
My retrimming will be done local to me.
I was going to either try and fit the front and rear seats of the ML mercedes or have my seats retrimmed in leather and have black carpet fitted as my interior is already black.
Thanks
yesterday i let a friend of mine take the cabrio for brief blast to his garage, about a 7 mile round trip.
when he returned the cabrio back in the afternoon he was in a state of shock, disbelief...
man, this G is wild he said ! he said it sounded and felt like a mitsubishi evo. he said the sound coming from the snorkel was pure
mad ! gearbox gearing is very close and he could not keep up with the quick gear change.
my friend drivers a defender sb with a 300td.
rgds to all,
hus
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Hi everyone, thanks for the comments and input.
I realise the 460 are quite aged in terms of technology it uses, but im not looking for it to be turned into somethin its not, I just want a big smooth V8 in front and brakes thatll stop it and the rest i can take care of, just trying to find out whats the best engine route to go.
I agree with anyone who thinks id of been better off buying a 463 and believe me if i had the money i would of but for a used lwb with under 100k miles, your still looking at £15k+ which i dont have (have an M3 as a second car which i could never let go of)
Mine cost me under £5000 and its in great condition just needs a bit of tlc here and there, so i guess my plan is to give my G class a new lease of life.
To the first reply, il look into this route and get more information so thanks.
Also im in the Birmingham area,
Thanks