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Garage => Mechanicals => Topic started by: novakloshmi on 21 November 2019, 01:41 PM

Title: Engine Swap w116 and w126
Post by: novakloshmi on 21 November 2019, 01:41 PM
Hello forum,

I am currently doing full restauration of Mercedes w116 280SE from 1979.

Around 1995 car had an engine transplant surgery. Original 280se was removed and it was fitted with 300D, manual transmision from Mercedes w123. Car needed new differential, new exaust and few more things. That is all put to fit new 300d engine.

But car doesn't run great, it can't go more then 110km/h, there are strange vibrations and I want to get rid of that.

So after doing some reaserch I figure it out that best option would be to put original motor back. As it is very hard to find one from w116, I decided to use one from w126.

Did anyone already fitted w126 280se engine into w116? Is everything ligning correctly? Should I be worried about anythig before I start?

Thank you all for your comments in advance.

Regards Novak.
Title: Re: Engine Swap w116 and w126
Post by: Mattr on 20 December 2019, 07:55 PM
Isn't that going to necessitate draining the fuel tank, fuel lines, and more? I would fix the diesel, honestly. It's already in, and diagnosing vibrations and fixing them sounds like a LOT less work than undoing a custom engine swap.
Title: Re: Engine Swap w116 and w126
Post by: novakloshmi on 21 December 2019, 03:02 PM
Yes, but this engine is not powerfull enough. It is a version without turbo. It cant go more then 60mph, 70 if you really push it. So I was thinking to put back original 2.8l with 180bhp.
I started diagnosing and it is combined effort from motor, shaft and diff. And if I need to change them I could alredy put everything as it was originally.
Title: Re: Engine Swap w116 and w126
Post by: rumb on 23 December 2019, 02:23 PM
A 280 engine from a W126 should fit a W116 pretty easily.
Title: Re: Engine Swap w116 and w126
Post by: novakloshmi on 23 December 2019, 03:54 PM
From what I saw, only diference is in air intake? They are positioned diferently. What about shaft from gearbox to differencial is it same length?