Toying with the idea of an AMG Mercedes --> Toyota conversion

[Robbos_Toyotas]

Hi All,
I cant seem to sell my beloved 1995 model AMG C36 as seen here:

http://www.carsales.com.au/Tig/UI/CS...ortalID=240481

So the car is reasonably quick as is (for its age/ spec) (i ran a 15.1 @ 98mph)
its got a 3.6L 280hp 385nm straight 6 in it, and performs quite well. its done 75,000km

However due to me not being able to sell it, and it being worth seemingly a lot less than i thought im toying with the idea of selling my 2jz cressida and doing an engine conversion on the merc.

A reason for thinking of this conversion and not just copping the loss is the car is good looking, its got style, its got awesome brakes/ bilstein suspension, and is overall a pretty farkin need package...

My ideas are

#1 preferred option - a Vortech or other blower fueled 1uz, ported intake/ tb/ cams etc with a tricked a340e auto (1jz 747, can you help here?) stock diffs are pretty strong i hear...aiming for about 6-700BHP

#2 - a GT35R ish powered 2jz with trick internals and a toughened auto also...similar sort of hp goal

Id really love to have the 8 in there, but am not sure if it would physically fit...has anyone ever seen either of these conversions into a merc of similar era?

what sort of ecu etc would i need for either of these conversions? anyone know of any other complications i would have?

thanks for your ideas/ help
Blake

[oldcorollas]

twinscrew blower with 1UZ?

vortech is a bit meh.. good for dyno queen stuff, but seems pointless anywhere else (maybe ok for drag?)

sounds like a nice car to make nicer

[Robbos_Toyotas]

twin screw? like an eaton or something? vein style blower i presume you mean? you cant run an intercooler then tho can you?

Well that would depend on my height clearances....however being an i6 you would think thered be heaps...theres no room for turbos in there on an 8...struggling with a twin cam 6 to fit them...

[oldcorollas]

i mean a twin screw, a lysholm style.. i believe they had them on some V8 merc or other

anything can be intercooled... maybe you are thinking of knuckledragger V8's?

check out the jag IC setup.

[af300e]

Why not turbo/supercharge the c36? The M104 is a pretty serious motor. It can easily take 80hp per cylinder on the stock bottom end, so over 300kw is a cake walk.

Have some low comp pistons made, convert to standalone ECU, bolt on t28 turbo (or two). Maybe consider putting the getrag 6 speed manual out of an M5 into it.

Putting a toyota motor in it will damage its value enormously.

The W202 chassis' are a sweet handling thing too, building a drag car/dyno queen out of it might be considered a waste?

What is it worth as a matter of interest, high 20's? EDIT, I found your ad.

I've always fantasised about taking a stock c36, gutting it, adding arch flares, body kit, ITB's etc. Basically making a DTM car replica.

[oldeskewltoy]

you like the Merc....

Do you know the mass of the Merc drivetrain???? I'm sure Bilstein knew before hand what the weights were, and where they were.....

Tossing in a Toyota powerplant is very interesting.... but besides screwing with value, you'll likely also be screwing with the chassis dynamics...........

[PlacentaJuan]

what about a 20b na have you thought of that it would soudn fully sik and be a totally unique higway racer.

no but chuck in a 2jz and im in, good idea. love the dtm style mercs also.

i have seen a lot of these "done up" in thailand they even get brabus badges on them lol

[sheepers]

there is a merc with a 2JZ in it of approximately the same age as yours (sorry i didnt pay to much attention) on trademe at the moment. maybe you could get in touch with the seller and talk with him about the conversion???
just a thought.
sheepers.

EDIT: its a 1G, but still might be able to offer some advice.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-176369331.htm

[Draven]

if you were going to go for a 600bhp 2j with a gt35r, you don't even need to play with the internals. (+1 for affordability).

Basically work out what your budget is, then think of the easiest way to acheive that
I would have thought modding stock motor with pistons/rods, supercharger, injectors and ecu could be an option, but my knowledge of merc engines is very poor (don't know whether you'd be doing a full rebuild with exxy parts to make those numbers)

I love the idea of a twin screw 1UZ in there, but the cost may scare you

[tomvale13]

A few celebrity clients should make it a bit more affordable, hey Draven?

[Robbos_Toyotas]

Why not turbo/supercharge the c36? The M104 is a pretty serious motor. It can easily take 80hp per cylinder on the stock bottom end, so over 300kw is a cake walk.

Have some low comp pistons made, convert to standalone ECU, bolt on t28 turbo (or two). Maybe consider putting the getrag 6 speed manual out of an M5 into it.

Putting a toyota motor in it will damage its value enormously.

The W202 chassis' are a sweet handling thing too, building a drag car/dyno queen out of it might be considered a waste?

What is it worth as a matter of interest, high 20's? EDIT, I found your ad.

I've always fantasised about taking a stock c36, gutting it, adding arch flares, body kit, ITB's etc. Basically making a DTM car replica.

thing is, the car isnt worth all "that" much...reason not to turbo the amg motor is they are prone to head gasket failure when f.i'd. They run a 11:1 comp ratio, which would definetly mean custom pistons...and it isnt a documented conversion...so id be playing in the dark effectively which could lead to herendous expense...not saying a conversion wouldnt be expensive but still...

[Robbos_Toyotas]

sorry double post

[Robbos_Toyotas]

also the purpose for this car is neither dyno or drag, just to be a very quick streeter...like i said its got all the parts you need to accompany power now (brakes and suspension)..just needs a little more mumbo...

[Robbos_Toyotas]

you like the Merc....

Do you know the mass of the Merc drivetrain???? I'm sure Bilstein knew before hand what the weights were, and where they were.....

Tossing in a Toyota powerplant is very interesting.... but besides screwing with value, you'll likely also be screwing with the chassis dynamics...........

the motor in it atm sits waaay forward in the engine bay, im not sure how it handles the way it does..but if either the 2j or 1uz weigh similar then it surely wouldnt screw with the dynamics much at all?

[Robbos_Toyotas]

oldcorollas - how about a whipple supercharger?