Mercedes Engine In A Hot Rod?

So a duck walks into a bar... Opps, wrong story

I was in an old salvage yard today (mostly '50's and '60's and all rusty) when I ran across the remains of a '51-'55 MB 220 (W187 body). The car has been mostly picked clean, but the engine and transmission are still there. The engine is a 2.2L (approximately 135 CID) inline six cylinder. The transmission is a column shifted 4-spd. The engine originally was an 80HP unit with dual solex carbs and lots of aluminum. It's also an Over Head Cam engine. It's different, and I'm sure it would be nice looking all cleaned up.

But what would you put it in? It would need to be light. Maybe a Track T?

 

I LOVE old Mercedes engines!!!! I think they are gorgeous!!!! I'm just a freak so maybe that explains it. I've always wanted a mercedes turbo diesel in one, but these new 4 cyl ***mins are awesome as well just kind of industrial looking as the mercedes is more elegantly styled..

 

Mercedes? Hot rod? What am I missing? Diesel? Rust? Come on for ****'s sake

 

Diesel? Magnus, I didn't plan on using the rest of the car. Just the engine and maybe the transmission. The great thing about Jag and Benz (or BMW for that matter) is the attention to detail. That engine, for a late '40's, early '50's engine, is jewelry. It sure beats looking at a banger or a flat head.

 

go for it, i like dare to be different

 

Oh wow!!!! That car is STUPID rare, and it's a real shame it's in that condition. There were less than 18,000 187's built, and [IMHO] it has the second best looking grill and front end of any MBZ model [first being the "hitler" SSK]
I especially like the factory suicide doors, and the hand made all wood dash. It looks as if it's been picked over pretty good

TBPH, there's nothing special about the engine. Despite it's factory dual solex carbs, dual exhaust, and all aluminum construction [which was revolutionary for 1951], it's pretty much a dog... Tho if it still has it's 4 speed, you might want to ****** it up as somebody will have a use for it..... Still, you are right, it is a very elegant engine.

If your gonna hot rod an MBZ, go for a late 60's S600. It was the german answer to the American Muscle-Car. 6.0 litre inline 6 with enough torque to pull down a building.

Personally, I'm in the market for a 'Benz diesel to put in a rod, and power it on used cooking oil.

 

dual carbs, dual exhaust, and overhead cam. that's a cool old motor. prolly cost a fortune to get rebuilt. 4 on the column... get al that junk too.

there is a model A roadster around my area with a vintage mercedes motor in it, (I think) I like it .. something different.

 

Oh yea,
Grab the MC and reservoir, steering box, rear-end, spindles, generator, and any trim you can get [including door handles and interior], and put 'em up for bids on da "bay"

 

Darryl, how well do you think this engine will take to some hot rodding. The original compression was only 6.5:1 due to bad fuel in Europe. I'd like to thing upping the compression a little and regrinding the cam a little would get some power.

Let's face it, many of these traditional rods with bangers and 6's are not rockets in the same sense that a V8 car would be. It wouldn't be a drag car, but definitely something different.

 

The rods were weak. It was factory rated at 90hp. Keep in mind it's 2.2 litres and was the first real effort after the ashes of WWII for MBZ... It was a very nice effort, but just not hot rod material IMHO.

Rebuild costs would be a muther f#cker. Probably twice what a flathead would be, and if it broke down, you would NEVER find parts for it.

I DO like it, it is motoring jewelry, but I'd p*** this one on to a restorer. It would be like driving a tucker... If you break it, your screwed.

On the other hand, as a long term project, it would make killer garage art,,, clean it up and resto it as time and budget allow, then sell it to a restorer for $$$. [the engine, not the whole car]

 

pretty sure this is a mercedes

 

Why do what everyone else has done when you can do something totally different? Isn't that what this is all about. Do you want to be a cookie or the cutter?

 

yeah that is a benz motor. the car is from sacramento,ca

 

An aluminum OHC inline 6 with factory dual carbs and split manifolds. I'm diggin' it.
I used to love those Mercedes 6.3 liter V8s in 600s and 300SEL 6.3s. With those HUGE air manifolds on the top they look like an aircraft engine.

 

man snag that drivetrane it would make a kick A** track T

 

'79 MB 4 cly diesel and 4 sp. in a '30 extended PU with an AA frame and fullfendered and hood. '35 wire 16 in wheels/tires. I expect 35-40 mpg. Will be my shop truck. The engine has plenty of aluminum and will clean up nice. There's a lot of stuff to get rid off and has air cond. compressor already. Engine and trans my not be "traditional" by some of you, but when I p*** you by at the gas station it will look pretty good. Joe.

 

Anyone know what type of fasteners these engines and cars used in the early '50's? Were they metric, US standard, English standard, etc?

 

Everything about that engine is metric. The Krauts were absolutely **** about distancing themselves from the British.

 

Yep.....just start polishing.......even though its pretty weak compared to a 100hp flathead

 

Back about '94 there was a '25 stude roadster for sale at the NSRA meet in Cedar Rapids. Had an MB engine with 4 on the column...$2500.00 and ran and drove. I missed the boat on that one.

 

Well look at it this way; you can still get oil and coolant for it. Anything else, your on your own...you can still be different but find something you can at least gets parts for.

 

I hope that you are not looking for any kind of speed with that drivetrain. A friends' father had a '79 240D back in the day, 4cyl deisel non-turbo/4spd, and it was absolutely the slowest car I have ever driven. I mean dangerously underpowered. Wouldn't climb an 8% grade at more than 35mph, did not keep up with traffic, VW busses would p***, that slow. I'm all for unusual engines and good mileage, but normal levels of power are nice as well as a safety consideration.

-KK

 

Says you.

If you do it, make sure you go all the way and put cup holders in the car as well...

 

wow just take the whole car and keep what you want and sell the rest on ebay. I like it.

 

I second that idea, I always look for ways to be different. Otherwise your just driving the same thing that someone else has and the only difference MIGHT be a paint job!
I say go for it man, you could probably find a hop up manual for it to, idk if hopup tricks from a chevy inline would do you anygood but I got a kick*** manual for buick chevy inlines.

1shot

 

The 123 body that engine came from tipped the scales at about 3500 to 3800 lbs depending on options. Remember, it IS a mercedes were talking about here, built like a tank!

I'll be willing to bet Joe's PU wont weigh 1/2 that ammount. So performance, while still a bit on the low side, should be sufficent.

Also, extracting more HP from a diesel can be acomplished in about 20 minutes with nothing more than a screwdriver and a pair of pliers. I'm pretty sure the IP on that 220 has a cam controled fuel limiter, which can be shimmed, or just scooted up on it's mounts. Or a simple propane injection system can be fabricated from a $10 torch, or a used BB-Q grill and an electric solenoid valve [like nitrous in a gas engine], and a ****on on the dashboard can add about 20 HP on demand for p***ing or hill climbing.

And, let's not forget that Joe can run that diesel on home made bio-diesel or used veggie oil from his favorite restaurant.... Think about that once gas reaches $8 a gallon!

 

So Kris, what does a cup holder have to do with what 50 year old engine I find pleasing to my eye? If it makes a difference, I also like twin cam Jag engines. Does that mean I would put a navigation unit in a T roadster? Heck, MB used mechanical fuel injection 4-years later. Maybe if I find one of those engines, I could put kicker boxes in too.

 

This should make 392 Hemi rebuilds look cheap.

 

i had a slightly newer version of this engine in a fintail sedan that i owned when stationed in Berlin. drove that car like it was stolen for two years, and only ever put fuel in it, not problems with it at all.
As has been said, it's not the most schnellish (see, i'm coing over all german LOL!!) of cars, but in a lighter vehicle it would certainly not shame itself. I took my fintail round the Nurberg Circuit on two occasions (mine was an ex taxi with 250,000 kms on the clock) an she seemed to enjoy. we laughed at the overheating Cobra in the pit's as well...
i say use it. the other option of course is to go all belly ****on and play it safe..... (said with tongue firmly in cheek!)

 

This link shows somebody rebuilding the larger 300 engine.

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/stuartlamb/mb300/mb300engine1.htm