Teck, read this over and over and over....

 

Some really sound advice in the last several post, tempered with experience. When you decide which way you want to go and have a realistic list of parts and plan of action, you need to start by making Lantana, Rudy, Paul, Rob, Steve and others your new best friends. It won't be hard to do as they are all great guys.

 

Still, it must be easier to do the 32, than any V8. No rewiring, no exhaust hang-ups. I think I will try to stick with the 32. Is the ECU any easier to program than the getting a V8 over? Is it better to use the ECU from the new engine, or the car its going into?

 

Probably the truest statement ever made on this forum. All of them are fantastic people.

 

Well aware, Lantana patiently answered thousands of my questions and I live 15 mins from Rob and picked my things up in person. It was great doing business with him and everything he sold was what he said it was. As for Rudy, I have only had limited discussion with him so I don't know him that well yet, but God knows I want to. Why couldn't I have just been his kid? Why? Oh well, if any of them ever need an organ transplant, I got dibs first on the donor list.
To virgin the ecu, you will need a special tool to do that. It is called AK 400.

Follow these steps:

1. Take of the battery of the car

2. Take the MS-EFI(ecu) out of the car

3. Open of the ecu, careful when opening because you could damage the lines

4. Use the heat blower to blow the MCU chip and then take the chip off the mainboard

5. Place the MCU on AK 400 and run the software.

6. Go to renew Chip, this process will take about 2 miniutes

7. Put the MCU chip back to the MS-EFI(ecu) and solder it.

8. Put everything back to the car

9. Start to program by using DAS

http://www.jcrecordings.com/forums?f...catid=6&id=561

I could always try to learn this myself, lol.

http://www.traderscity.com/board/pro...rcedes-220081/

Good reading.

 

Have you ever soldered onto a motherboard? Oh there's hours of entertainment there lol

 

Or days.....

 

Teck-9,

I would highly recommend that you go back to Project A, for now.

Project A, of course, was seeing how much you can actually squeeze out of a n/a Crossfire, with just bolt on parts. If you can't get 270hp at the rear tires, so what? How much did you get? That would be a great bit of knowledge for the forum.

THEN you should consider which direction you want to go, write down your plan, and STICK TO IT. You have been changing directions with every 5th post in this thread, about which way you want to go. Just take it easy.

You're young.
You have all the time in the world in front of you.
You don't need to be in such a hurry.

Complete Project A, and then try to figure out what Project B should look like.

BC.

 

Teck-9,

I have purposely tried to stay out of this thread because I try not to frustrate myself with those who refuse to listen or learn from those with far more experience and knowledge. I don't mean you any disrespect; in fact I respect your enthusiasm. I have a son just a few years older than you that insists to do the same as you. So I have learned my limitations of tolerance to the impatience and "knowledge" of youth.

Several very knowledgeable and experienced members have given you sound advice about planning in the last several posts; you should (in my opinion) do what they say and form a plan and stick to your plan. I will add to these suggestions and tell you that you need to do some serious investigation and LEARN about a lot of the things you make statements about.

For instance the above statement about "no wiring" and what is "easier". From these statements I know you have a lot of homework to do. Deciding on a plan based upon what others have done without their knowledge AND resources will not net you similar results. Just as adding the sum of "published" gains from individual mods will not net you linear cumulative gains.

There is a reason we are the only company that does 55 K swaps. We invested the thousands of dollars and hours to learn and plan for a result that looks like it came from the factory when complete. You can do it as well; if you put in the sweat equity.

This thread has gone from NA 3.2 to SRT Kompressor power level gains for less than three grand; to five liter V8 for next to nothing; to an SRT swap because it's easier. So far all three are based upon misinformation and a whole lot of desire.

My advice is to enjoy the mods Rob has already helped you with and BEFORE you go any father - investigate, learn and form a plan of what it is you want to do before spending any more of your money. You will learn that there is no such thing as a free lunch. With time this statement will make a lot more sense to you.

I wish you the best of luck in what ever you end up doing. I look forward to meeting you at a GTG sometime and have you take me for a ride in a beast that you planned out, executed and created.

Stay safe...

 

You're right too, its just that some of those posts with that advice conflict. Truthfully, I'm so frustrated by all of these things I can't make sense of, I'm thinking of just burning my whole car. I really wish I had 20 grand to give you guys to grant my frikkin wish. Why can't anybody do anything with this car? I can get cheap 500's as they are in a junkyard which my father and I do frequent business with. Is there any way I can rebuild my whole 320 motor to take boost?

 

I wouldn't decide on a 32 becuase it is easier. It actually is about the same in terms of hours of work and the programing is about the same as well. With the 32 you will need all of the 32 specific parts that didn't come on yur car such as heat exchanger pump and plumbing. You would want a complete engine with harness and ECU. The mechanical work isn't that hard. It is just a ton of work. I told Rudy it was like building a puzzle. If done right everything fits together. Rudy said I was right except we a building a puzzle without having the picture to look at. The state of the art with Rudy is constantly changing. The advantage today is that the 32 would have cruise control and start from the key instead of from a starter button. The only V8 that starts today from the key is the 55K becuase of diiferences in the ECU's. I believe Rudy will solve these issue too in the near future.

Personally I would go with the V8 500 engine or a n/a 55 which could be done cheaper than the 32 unless you can steal a 32. 500 engines are plentiful, cheap and run very well in a Crossfire. Either V8 can be supercharged latter by Atwood European and you will have 385 - 435 at the wheels. There is more potential in the V8 and the sound alone would convince you. You can read my V8 diary for my reasons to go V8.

 

What do I do about the ECU though? I'm tempted to just shut off my computer and embark on getting a 500, putting it in and learning the programming and everything myself. A nightmare that will last a year or more and will be worth it. That's what this car is, its an absolute frikkin nightmare. I'm just gonna sell mine and never get another one, srt or otherwise. These car's are just awful. The Daimler mentality: lets make a painfully slow car that's impossible to mod. I hate this. I should just give up and quit plaguing you're forum. If only I had a dollar for every head shaped hole in my wall right now.

 

Your 320 engine can already take boost (5-7 Lbs maybe more) . I have already posted a link to all the parts you need to turbo your car. If you can wire and program an AEM this would be your least expensive option. If I were you I would make a list of your various options, and for each option make a parts list and estimates for the work you cannot do and will have to farm out. For each option estimate the performance (no ricer math!) and total cost. I would use a separate sheet of paper for each option. do your research and make sure you aren't forgetting something. Then after you have figured out everything for each option add $500 for the unknown many trips to the parts store. Thiink about resale value, performance goals, future mods and additonal potential and realiability. If you do all this you will know which direction to go and will stick with it.

 

Best plan, sell and forsake Crossfire. This car makes me want to quit and never enjoy cars again. That's what I'm doing. Bye. 2004 SSB Limited Coupe for sale. 49xxx miles. Everything runs and works, clean body. 11K

 

Hey calm down. I wouldn't have done my conversion if I didn't think these are great cars. It is just more challenging which is also more rewarding. You just need a clear vison.

Want to know how I got my vision? I don't think I have shared this on here before but have told a few people on here.

I have always loved the solid feel and durability of Mercedes. My best friend bought a brand new Corvette a couple of years ago. I was parked next to him and noticed how much smaller my car was (read lighter) but they both looked like sports cars. He let me drive it. The thing was very fast but felt like it was made out of plastic instead of the carved from granite feel of my car. I thought how nice it would be if I could have a German built Corvette and then all of a sudden a light bulb went off and I started taking measurements and doing lots of research (two years worth). I suspected it could all be done with MB parts but there was no one to tell me which MB parts. I had to figure that all out on my own. Coming up with a theory on the electronics was the toughest. I finally realized I could not prove my theory before ripping into my only daily driver. It was pretty scary pulling the engine and not knowing if I could get the V8 to start! There were plenty of times before it started that I thought I may have ruined my car. I stayed calm, patient and was determined to not be out smarted by Mercedes. Tons more research and going over wiring diagrams was done during the month between the mechanical swap and the engine firing.

I have built and raced many cars in the past but nothing in all my years of messing with cars even came close to the feeling I had the first time my V8 finally started. I also learned more from this project than any other project I have ever done with the possible exception of a GT40 replica. Get good advice and learn all you can. In the end it is always your decision what you do and if you have a clear vision and a plan that you are sure of, just do it regardless of what anyone says. I did my conversion when all ideas were met with "sell your car and buy and SRT" At the time that was considered the best advice. Once I had my vision, I didn't listen to anyone unless they had a positive idea that could help make it happen.

 

You are suffering from the impatience of youth right now.
You want instant results. You can't have them for this car.

You need to decide if you want to play with this car, or if you want to drive your car.
Right now.

Daimler Chrysler did NOT build this car in order to set 9 second quarter mile times, or to outrun Porsche 911 GT3's on the Nurburgring. This car was not built to battle with Corvettes on the drag strip, or to win pole position at Watkins Glen.

It was created to showcase what Chrysler and Mercedes Benz can put together with their existing technologies, and design teams. To let us know that these two companies can build great products together.

It is not meant to be changed from its original design.
Mercedes products are not meant to be altered, and I am sure they prefer it that way.

You want to tinker with your car, buy a Subaru, or a Mitsubishi, or a Camaro, or a Challenger. You can change every single aspect of those cars, its cheap to do so, you can add or increase turbo until your mind explodes. That's what they were meant for.

The Crossfire was meant to be a show piece.
Nothing more.

You are taking this way too personally.
Chrysler didn't design this car to torture you, solely.
You were at least two years away from getting your drivers license when this car hit the showrooms. You are NOT its target audience, and are at least 25 years away from becoming its target audience.

But now, here you are.
Waist deep in Crossfire parts.
Frustrated and sick at this difficult to work with car.

You've seen what other people have done with bundles of cash, some talented modders, and infinite patience. You have to learn patience. You are 20 years old. This is going to be the hardest, yet most important lesson you will ever learn in your life.

Once you learn patience, you CAN do ANYTHING in life.

Now is definitely the time for you to learn this lesson.
We have been telling you for the better part of the past year to learn patience, but you have yet to hear us fully on this topic.

You need to stop thinking about the future, and concentrate on what you have, right now.

Finish Project A.
It is almost complete.
See what you have.

Then, start thinking about Project B.

Learn Patience, and all will come to you in time.

BC.

 

Lantana, I appreciate that. That's really really really what I needed to hear right now. Thanks. If I ever run into you at a meet, if I ever go to one, I owe you a beer or lunch, or whatever. Honestly all of my posts have been disguised questions hoping somebody would tell me what to do. I'm going on my own. Instead of spending any more money, I'm going to learn Mercedes coding after I finish my last 3 mods. I said I would get 270 to the wheels from bolt-ons, and this forum is getting its promised report. Everybody can say that 270 to the wheels from an N/a with bolt-ons is impossible all they want, cuz they're about to see it with their own eyes.

You're also right BC. Oddly, the I'm usually known for my patients by the people in my life, but like you said, its been a year. What I can guarantee is that I can go a very long time without driving my car. I also believe there were made for the Nurburgring and Autobahn. Lantana's right about their solid, superior, rigid feel, even over a vette. I'm finishing project A though. I'm only 20. When I'm done with school and started off in the Feds, I can buy everything Rudy and Rob can sell me.

 

Good to hear Teck,

Regardless of the final numbers on your current project. You stand a very good chance of having the fastest n/a V6 Crossfire which is something to be proud of.

 

Thanks again Lantana for the encouragement. A bad day and a bit of scotch past bedtime can frustrate a person really fast. These cars are by no means slow, but when its so hard to find mods, ya can get ticked pretty fast. Oh well, I had a good night's sleep and its back to work today, starting with the exhaust. Then I will be using several items listed on this site, Performance Ideas - Paul's Crossfire & More. Odly enough, there are dynos listed for most of these items, its really a good site, lots of info on everything. Starting with the pulley kit, it really is a cool setup, instead of adding power, it reduces power loss, so the more you have done, the more you get from it. Same with an ECU tune. Funny, there's also a section for an electric supercharger that reads10+ hp gains with a safe 2-5 lbs of boost. I never heard good things about those, but I'm still gonna look into this one more, especially since it would work right into the DCAI very easily.

 

I like your idea!!! But I hate to burst your bubble here, I'm doing the same thing to my n/a and let me tell you something, u will need a lightly ported and polish manifold intake and some 17-19lbs injectors to reach your goal. I only intend on spending no more than 2k on my project. I already got an intake manifold and my friend has a flow bench and will charge me $200 to make it flow better to my needs. I really hope u hit your mark on this, but I know if u don't I sure will hit it for you. I didn't read all the topic, the 5 pages.

Leticia