Another E420 5.0 swap

[markland556]

Ive had this 94 E420 sitting around for a while with the intention to swap in a 5.0. Some late winter weather has pushed me to get this project going. I have a 119.970 thats been sitting around for some time as the perfect engine for this. I have seen comments regarding the oil pan and pump having to be swapped but im not too sure why. Unfortunately i never did look to closely at this engine until now and it had water sitting in it, so off to scrap she goes. The .970 seemed to be the most strait forward and easily replaceable block for this and ive sourced another.

I had some questions with the LH module, but gsxr mostly has answered them. Ill be pulling the 5.0 LH for the donor as well as the EZL. Swapping the short 2.24 diff is also on the list. I have been skimming over 2phast's list off diffs and seeing how close to a 2.82 I can get. Might be easier to get a 2.87 or 3.07. I know many of these swaps have been done and just wanted to share mine. Will post up some pictures.

[outrbnks]

I remember a few years back now, that someone had taken a white 400E and converted it into a 500E with the exception of the rear arches(I think).

If I remember correctly the owner has spent well over $20K to make the conversion at the time. The last I saw it was at a dealer and it sold for $6K I think.

It's probably still around some where. A great Idea to do this swap in a car built for the M119. Always wanted to do this with my 300CE, but that will never happen now.

Looking forward to your build pictures... Best

[gsxr]

The oil pan is shaped differently on the .970 (W140). The lower sump is in a different position (further back) and will not clear the W124 engine crossmember. The exhaust manifolds are different too (at least one of them). You can swap these pieces from the 4.2L engine.

The 2.87 and 3.07 diffs are the smaller/weaker 185mm and are not suitable for the M119 engine. You need a 210mm diff, and the housing needs to match your chassis (either ABS, or ASR) as the diffs are different for each. 2.65 is commonly available as a bolt-in from 1990-92 500SL (and ONLY those years). 2.82 is available from W140, 400SEL (only through 1994, or 1995). 3.06 is available from 91-92 300CE but only with ABS (non-ASR), as ASR versions are essentially impossible to locate. You could also get a 3.27 (again, non-ASR) from a 1990 300CE.

BTW, welcome aboard, and don't forget to share some photos as the project moves along!

[gerryvz]

Looking forward to hearing more about the project. Photos are always welcome, as well as in-depth discussion of the trials and tribulations you face in the process, as well as your success !!

Cheers,
Gerry

[a777fan]

The 2.87 and 3.07 diffs are the smaller/weaker 185mm and are not suitable for the M119 engine. You need a 210mm diff, and the housing needs to match your chassis (either ABS, or ASR) as the diffs are different for each.

Not to derail the intent of this thread, but since you brought it up Dave, in such wonderful detail... are the innards of all of the various diff options transferable between ABS and ASR cars? Or are the internals specific and not mixable between the cases?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[gsxr]

Not to derail the intent of this thread, but since you brought it up Dave, in such wonderful detail... are the innards of all of the various diff options transferable between ABS and ASR cars? Or are the internals specific and not mixable between the cases?

Most of the internals are the same between cases. The main difference is the case/housing itself, ABS has 1 sensor at the pinion/input shaft; ASR has 2 sensors (1 each at the axle/output shaft flanges). The axle/output flanges are also different. But the gears, carrier/diff, rear cover, input flange, etc are all the same stuff.