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+--- Thread: Race prepping a W123 (/showthread.php?tid=110)
Race prepping a W123 - winmutt - 05-29-2008
We've got a $500 budget to buy and prep the car (minus safety equip which includes rollcage and tires). Car cost was $250. We will be swapping engines with my current car as that was the purpose of the parts car. I have low compression on #3, #4, #5 and hard cold starts. Not a problem in a 24 hr race.
What would you do with $250?
$100 - Manual tranny setup. I have a manual transmission from pullapart I plan on donating. They have someone who can do the DS. I was thinking a 3.69 or 3.47 rear end might pep things up a bit.
So thats a $150 left.
IC? Not sure if EGT is "safety" related.
Things to do that dont cost money:
Roll Cage.
Strip interior and glass.
Reinforce trunk..
Change the tank setup to load fuel via med kit.
Chop springs?
Rack limiter is removed.
Leave the resonator on and remove the muffler.
Re: Race prepping a W123 - bgkast - 05-29-2008
W126 brakes, those may be safety related.
Is this a speed race, or is the point to have the car still move at the end? If you are going for speed I would add an intercooler and mess with the IP.
Re: Race prepping a W123 - winmutt - 05-29-2008
bgkast W126 brakes, those may be safety related.Number of laps. Race is over 2 days, ~7.5 hrs per day. We are going to add the IC and the IP will be the one I have on my car now (rack limiter removed). I am also going to toy around with delivery valves. We cant have an EGT sens/gauge on it for the race ($$$) but we sure can test settings with it.
Is this a speed race, or is the point to have the car still move at the end? If you are going for speed I would add an intercooler and mess with the IP.
Re: Race prepping a W123 - Tymbrymi - 05-29-2008
bgkast W126 brakes, those may be safety related.
Rule 4.2 says brakes are fair game!
Obviously lots of weight can be removed.. steel wheels instead of bundts?
I wonder if a downpipe only exhaust would be quieter than 92db at 50ft. I think its close...
Re: Race prepping a W123 - winmutt - 05-29-2008
TymbrymiMaybe I think we will go with resonator?bgkast W126 brakes, those may be safety related.
Rule 4.2 says brakes are fair game!
Obviously lots of weight can be removed.. steel wheels instead of bundts?
I wonder if a downpipe only exhaust would be quieter than 92db at 50ft. I think its close...
Re: Race prepping a W123 - TheDon - 05-29-2008
who will be driving?
Re: Race prepping a W123 - winmutt - 05-29-2008
TheDon who will be driving?<!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://superturbodiesel.com/std/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=94">viewtopic.php?f=18&t=94</a><!-- l -->
Not me. Kid is popping out 6/18 and wifey wont let me go.
Re: Race prepping a W123 - TheDon - 05-29-2008
damn, I think I have an OBK vinyl around here somewhere..
Re: Race prepping a W123 - devilock138 - 05-29-2008
TheDon who will be driving?We have 5 team members that will be swapping out of driving the car as we become too hot/tired. The event is at CMP in Kershaw SC during the weekend of July 26-27 so it's probably going to be pretty scorching out there. Drivers are required to wear full fire suit/long underwear, gloves, boots and helmet.
Re: Race prepping a W123 - bgkast - 05-29-2008
I'll donate my saab IC to the cause if you are interested.
Re: Race prepping a W123 - winmutt - 05-29-2008
bgkast I'll donate my saab IC to the cause if you are interested.Hold on to it for a bit. Probably will take it but we have a WRX one on hand as well.
Re: Race prepping a W123 - bgkast - 05-30-2008
You should do something like MTU's top-mount setup and cut a hole in the hood.
Re: Race prepping a W123 - winmutt - 05-30-2008
bgkast You should do something like MTU's top-mount setup and cut a hole in the hood.Way ahead of you on that. We are amped about this. Gonna get some delivery valves this weekend to and see where we can get without excessive EGT's.
Re: Race prepping a W123 - MTUPower - 05-30-2008
bgkast You should do something like MTU's top-mount setup and cut a hole in the hood.one word....SCOOP...lol
Re: Race prepping a W123 - winmutt - 06-06-2008
Tomorrow we are doing the engine swap and preping the car. Should be fun. What is the minimum thats needed for tach to work? I was thinking about leaving the heater core in there and having the aux pump and heat blasting the whole time. Thoughts?
Re: Race prepping a W123 - bgkast - 06-06-2008
Are you trying to melt the driver? :o
Re: Race prepping a W123 - winmutt - 06-06-2008
We are going to route the heat vents outside.
Re: Race prepping a W123 - winmutt - 06-07-2008
Engine swap started today. Kevin almost lost his finger on the first job
. He worked like a champ until it started getting numb. Pics of the job coming tomorrow. I should have my car in running condition by tomorrow night. High 96 tomorrow another scorcher.
Re: Race prepping a W123 - devilock138 - 06-10-2008
Well, I wouldn't say that I almost lost it, but we definitely needed to get some progress so that you could have your daily driver back to running. I'll be ready to start wrenching again next Tuesday. I can honestly say that the car feels like it's mine now that I've bled on it.
Re: Race prepping a W123 - winmutt - 06-11-2008
Swap is done, my car is mostly driveable. Still need to hook up tach and water temp. Smokes bad on startup but I hope this is just the valve stem seals. Pics:
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Re: Race prepping a W123 - winmutt - 06-22-2008
Kevin came over today and got some more work done.
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We assessed what was needed in parts:
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Kevin works out placement of turbo and IC. Clocking the IC vertical and cutting a whole in the hood to mount the IC vertical.
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Re: Race prepping a W123 - devilock138 - 06-23-2008
I would have gotten the axle we needed too, but I couldn't get the left axle clip off in time for pullapart's closing. Hopefully, the car I was working on will still have its rear end when I go back next weekend. God I hate the smell of gear oil.
Re: Race prepping a W123 - devilock138 - 06-24-2008
Has anyone here ever put a rollcage into a w123? We need the measurements so that we can get a fabricator started on building the cage and shipped out to us.
Re: Race prepping a W123 - bgkast - 06-24-2008
I doubt many people have.
You will likely just have to take the car to the fabricator and have them put the cage in. If you have it pre-fabricated it won't fit as well, AND will be hard to get it in the car. :lol:
Re: Race prepping a W123 - devilock138 - 06-24-2008
Well, it'll come in pieces and we have a welder that can put it all together on the team. We are still looking for local fabricators that can do the job, but have not come up with any names yet. I have talked to two companies that can have the cage built and pieces sent within the next week and a half so that gives us enough time to get it in the car and ready for the race.
Re: Race prepping a W123 - bgkast - 06-24-2008
Any metal shop with a pipe bender should be able to build it I would think. You could get a harbor freight bender and make it your self.
Re: Race prepping a W123 - devilock138 - 06-25-2008
Fabricating the cage ourselves is definitely an alternative that we have been thinking about pursuing, but with time constraints and only one 'specialist' among us, we may need to get it fabricated professionally. If you're local, would you like to help us out?
Re: Race prepping a W123 - bgkast - 06-25-2008
I would love to, but I am in Washington state. It would be a long drive. :mrgreen:
Re: Race prepping a W123 - devilock138 - 07-08-2008
Some pics of our progress
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managed to get the transmission in place last night, just have to finish bolting it up. Elson got a couple of driveshafts that we can work with. Hopefully, we can manage without having to chop. We'll find out tonight.
Re: Race prepping a W123 - ForcedInduction - 07-11-2008
perfecthorsesass.com? Interesting name choice...is there a story behind that?
Re: Race prepping a W123 - devilock138 - 07-11-2008
Not really, I just thought it sounded funny. In the movie Hollywood Knights, Gailard Sartain's character Officer Bimbeau tells his partner that he looks: "Perfect...Like a perfect horse's ass!" after drawing a fake moustache on his own face and asking him how he looked.
Re: Race prepping a W123 - devilock138 - 07-14-2008
Check out our custom shifter and linkage:
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Re: Race prepping a W123 - devilock138 - 07-17-2008
We are getting pretty close to having a running car. A buddy of mine was able to construct a key for the car using one of the lock cylinders. Key works, but the car is still not ready to crank. I believe we wired the starter backwards when we were putting it back on. The shifter and shortened linkage is in place.
We found a person near by who can modify the aluminum intake to accomodate the intercooler. The rollcage pieces should get delivered today. Hopefully, we knock out both of those tasks this weekend.
The master brake cylinder needs to go in and the rotors need to be cut/new pads installed. After that, we should be ready!
Re: Race prepping a W123 - devilock138 - 07-18-2008
It's ALIVE!!!
we got the motor running last night. It helps to have the key switch in the 'On' position...
I am dropping the intake manifold off today to have it capped and a new intake port welded. Brakes are on the way. Got a set of ATE slotted rotors. I couldn't pass on the deal; $44 each. Was going to do Zimmermann x-drilled, but the cost was almost 3x more and I don't really know if we'd benefit from cross drilled. Roll cage is getting installed this weekend. We have all of our race suits in as well. It seems that everything is coming together.
Re: Race prepping a W123 - devilock138 - 07-21-2008
Rollcage is mostly in the car now, and we are left with a few minor tasks to get the car course worthy. Still no seat, but that should be coming in today.
Updated pics here:
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Re: Race prepping a W123 - winmutt - 07-23-2008
Rollcage is done, seat rails are in.
Springs are chopped.
Re: Race prepping a W123 - devilock138 - 07-23-2008
We managed to test the manny tranny with the back wheels in the air. got through all 4 forward gears and reverse.
Re: Race prepping a W123 - winmutt - 07-24-2008
Kevin drove the car last night.... into and nearly through my carport storage unit.
*shakes head*
He got it out on the streets but someone forgot to close the bleeder valve on the clutch.....
Re: Race prepping a W123 - winmutt - 07-25-2008
GOING TO THE RACES!#$!@#!@$!@#$%!$#!@#$
![[Image: p1020955.jpg]](http://superturbodiesel.com/images/lemons/p1020955.jpg)
![[Image: p1020952.jpg]](http://superturbodiesel.com/images/lemons/p1020952.jpg)
![[Image: p1020948.jpg]](http://superturbodiesel.com/images/lemons/p1020948.jpg)
![[Image: p1020947.jpg]](http://superturbodiesel.com/images/lemons/p1020947.jpg)
![[Image: p1020946.jpg]](http://superturbodiesel.com/images/lemons/p1020946.jpg)
Re: Race prepping a W123 - ForcedInduction - 07-31-2008
http://jalopnik.com/399480/the-top-66-lemons-of-the-24-hours-of-lemons-south
You made it into the top 25!
25: On The Run From Nuns - Mercedes-Benz
![[Image: 25-77.jpg]](http://jalopnik.com/assets/resources/2008/07/25-77.jpg)
Re: Race prepping a W123 - devilock138 - 07-31-2008
Yup, and we weren't even able to run for the last 30 minutes because of the axle that failed. In case anyone's wondering, that's tire smoke
Re: Race prepping a W123 - bgkast - 07-31-2008
Get some stiffer swaybars to keep that wheel on the ground!
Re: Race prepping a W123 - devilock138 - 08-01-2008
Tell me about it. Actually, the back was great, we need a stiffer front to keep the suspension from deflecting so much and keeping more tread on the road. We were rolling right across the tread and down to the tops of the sidewall lettering from pushing the car so far sideways. I bet it was pretty humiliating to the drivers of faster cars(e30 bmws, civics, fox body mustangs, 280zx, etc.) to get passed in the corners by a big ass w123 mercedes.
RE: Race prepping a W123 - GileadGarage - 02-16-2009
Damn, that looks like fun! I was thinking of entering the 240D, but I hate the idea of destroying my winter car. I am planning on entering it 2010 if its still alive, who knows though, I may just do it this year and see what happens. I would do the one at Stafford Springs CT.
This thread just might motivate me! Are these like 1/2 Demo derby? is there any chance the car will survive and be roadworthy again?
RE: Race prepping a W123 - Renntag - 03-23-2010
I would love to see the early stages of this build. None of the links and attachments above are active.
I am driving in Lemons at Summit Point this year. "The Capitol Offense" event.
RE: Race prepping a W123 - Renntag - 11-20-2010
The Summit Point Lemons event in June was a success for our team. "TrackDaze of Thunder".
We had a few penalties, contact with 2 other cars, but otherwise a flawless run. We finished 11th in class. That is a good result for our first effort with a bizarre rule set and crazy spread of talent on track.
We fielded 2 cars for the CMP race in September. 7th and 25th if memory serves. Our second car wasn't completely shaken out and had a number of power loss issues.
We may try some "Chump car" races in 2011.
Any of you east coast guys looking for track time, check us out. We put on High Performance Driving Events at VIR, Summit Point, and NJMP. www.TrackDaze.com