Mercedes engine?

[Cobra_Rob]

Hi,
I'm going to build a sumo next summer. So now I'm searching for an engine. A friend of mine has a mercedes SEC 420, and I can take the engine for a very low price. It's a V8 and the engine has 4196cc and 170kW. But do you think it is going to fit in the sumo??
I've heard the engine running, and I must say: it doesn't sound like a V8, more like a vacuum cleaner:P . So can I tune the engine?
Give your comments,
Rob from Belgium

[VinceGledhill]

Best people to ask is Pilgrim. They will know if it will fit or not. http://www.pilgrimcars.com/

AK have fitted all sorts of engines into their cars and have done a BMW fitment. It might be worth calling Ken Freeman +44 1733 267633
and asking him. I'm sure he could accomodate. It's a really great kit to put together too.

P.S. the Merc engine will sound like a proper V8 when you fit side pipes or remove some of the baffles.

[TonyD]

Hi,

I'm the masochist who has shoehorned a BMW V8 into an AK.

It does fit but its a tight squeeze, the double over head camshafts per bank make the top of the engine very wide.

I had a look at the Merc V8 and it wouldn't fit into the AK as the engine is almost as wide as the Merc it comes from....again modern engine design makes the overhead cam covers the widest part of the engine.

Best thing to do is the take lots of measurements of the engine including sump position and then get the dimensions of the Sumo engine bay and put the two sets of measurements together....it will probably need some frame modifications even if there is room, so tell your kit supplier ( I too would recommend AK) to make them prior to you picking up the kit. I simply took the engine and box down to AK and they sorted the chassis and body out FOC.

Cheers,

Tony

[wilf]

Rob - it is possible that the Merc engine might fit into the car, but even if it did, you are going to have to make special engine mounts, clutch arrangements, custom exhaust etc. What gearbox would you use? Merc manuals are renowned for being slow-changing, clunky old things.
Also things like the sump might be problematical.

Whilst you might be the kind of guy who relishes a mechanical challenge, and TonyD above is just that type, if you are not, then fit an engine and gearbox for which the car is designed, and for which you can easily find all the bits to make it work.

Just my 2c's

[Dutch Paul]

<Whilst you might be the kind of guy who relishes a mechanical> <challenge, and TonyD above is just that type, if you are not, then> <fit an engine and gearbox for which the car is designed, and for> <which you can easily find all the bits to make it work.>

Yes, I agree completely with Wilf, fit an engine for which the car was designed - Chevy`s fit good, right Wilf?

Just a thought

Paul

[wilf]

Paul - I will make an allowance for your appalling ignorance just this once.
I'd rather see a VW engine in the boot of a Cobra than a Chebby in the front. :P :P

[StuartB]

Quite agree, my SB Mopar AK should do the job nicely, he he he he

[TonyD]

I have it on very good authority that when the chicken farmer was looking at improving the AC Ace his next door neighbour looked over the fence , sucked air through his teeth and said

" fit an engine and gearbox for which the car was designed," ......

adding that there was a perfectly good, if old technology, straight six under the bonnet already.......Thankfully the chicken farmer also liked a challenge and wanted something a bit different....

Cheers,

Tony



Still at bl--dy work.......its like the Marie Celeste in here........

[wilf]

Tony - I did say "if you like a mechanical challenge...etc".

Anyways, that here chicken farmer was and is difficult, cantakerous, and often "economic with the verite".

Don't suppose you would recognise anything there, would you?

BTW - what date in 2003 are you hoping to be on the road, I really am looking forward to seeing this opus magnus. Or have you fallen in love with the differential from a tractor and are busy working out how to fit that?

[TonyD]

Difficult, cantankerous..well yes I recognise those character traits. But often "economic with the verite" is being a bit hard on yourself. We are talking about you arent we?

As for myself I think finishing date will be late Spring 2003. Moving house in the middle of a build is not to be recommended, as neither is fitting a new bathroom, new kitchen, new cladding and re painting the complete house. It all eats into the Cobra build time which is now only every second weekend!!...not to mention the amount of budget juggling required....kitchen or trim...kitchen or trim.........

Cheers,

Tony