1 UZFE into Pagoda SL

The 1UZFE EGR Delete Kit is available for sale here.

dooleysl

New Member
Messages
68
Location
Winchester, UK
Having spent many hours looking for information and researching ideas I thought it would be a good idea to let people see the project as it evolves, and share the experience/pain!

Firstly for those who think it criminal to cut up an SL, the car came with a ford 302 installed (badly) and it will never be original without huge amounts of cash. So the thought process was install a more modern V8 and autobox, and have the classic sl looks with a car that can be driven every day.

So far the old 302 has been pulled out, steering box and arms (previously butchered) have been removed, and the Lexus engine trial fitted.

Next job is making engine and gearbox mounts, convert to rack and pinion and find a lhd power steering rack 500mm long!

Will update as work continues, but may be a slow process. Photos will be uploaded onto Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/1976so22/sets/72157624585834933/

Thanks for looking, hope you the project
 
Move on!! . It will be a nice daily driven car with that 1UZ.

for the rack and pinion ... you may look at OPEL 90s .
 
Engine in and out a few more times, lots of measuring. New engine mounts started, should be finished by the end of week and engine back in fingers crossed. Photos uploaded!
 
Progress

Engine mounts now finished, and engine bay tidied up and painted. Rubber mounts arrived this morning, so time to put the engine back in and connect up the new fuel lines, pipes from cooler to auto box and finish gearbox mount.

Auto electrician due up on Sunday to wire up the engine/ECU, connect up new gauges in the dash and the new Bosch 044 fuel pump, fingers crossed might be running by the end of the weekend.

Old Merc to ford V8 propdhaft has been dropped off to Propshaft services, who are making a new prop out of maily Lexus parts, hopefully ready next week.

Fuel tank is out and at the fabricators trying to sort out previous owners bad repairs, as SL fyel tanks are hideously expensive may have to go down the route of using an alloy tank bolted to boot floor if the original cant be saved.

Next hurdles will be the exhaust and the steering. Have had to convert from steering box to rack as the engine was wider than the old 302. Currently looking at using a freelander rack (with centre take offs) as it will allow me to adjust the lengths of the track rods and hopefully avoid bump steer.

More photos up on flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/1976so22/sets/72157624585834933/

Any comments or ideas welcomed... will update on progress after the weekend!
 
oil Filter

Have been searching for a shorter oil filter as I am having clearance issues with the chassis rail in the Merc. After much searching on forums with no clear solution I took the filter to my local motor factors who came back with a Lexus GS300 filter, which is approx 25mm shorter. Is now fitted to the car with room to spare.

Filter is made by Solid Ace, part No T102009.

Hope that helps anyone else with clearance issues
 
I've been thinking of doing this conversion for some time now. My pagoda engine is in need of reconditioning and i've always felt it needs more power at low
revs as i only drive in London. Do you think this could be done with the merc steering box in place as i don't really want to change to rack and pinion.
 
No way to keep the steering box with the Lexus lump, tried everything! I am going to run with an Alfa 33 rack. Fired mine up for the first time today......exhaust and steering next, then an MOT and some sunshine.

Managed to keep the steering box with the Ford 302 that it had in previously, but the engine and box were to heavy for the car.

Have a look at the photos, you can see it is a tight fit, but worth it in the long run. Just got another LS400 donor car, what to put the engine in...?
 
Exhaust finished, fantastic result sounds great and keeps the classic merc look. Thanks to Mick at Torque Technique.

Gear shifter now finished, bolted up and working. Steering is the next challenge which I am handing over to Andy Robinson of Robinson racing. On the basis that I want the car to steer correctly and most important to be safe.

Hoping to be back on the road late June.....will post more photos shortly
 
Having been let down with companies who were going to do the steering, have started on it myself.

Mounting bracket made and finally sourced a rack. RHD Ford Sierra rack flipped over to LHD (Rear steer).

Plan is to shorten the track rod arms and re thread to M12,and fit rose joints. Have had spacers made to fit into steering arms (Had been drilled out in the States before i owned the car) to reduce down to accept an M12 bolt.

Working on connecting the column to the rack.........main problem is sourcing Universal joints of the right size/spline.

Couple of new photos
http://www.flickr.com/photos/1976so22/7418754514/
 
Its Finished

Finally have had time to fully finish the SL, running issue tracked down and fixed. SL repainted, retrimmed and back on stock wheels. Classic looks and keeps up with modern traffic........ A true sleeper

https://www.flickr.com/photos/1976so22/26334175402/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/1976so22/13991285230/in/dateposted-public/

Thanks to all the help and support on the forum along the way, couldn't have done it without you all.

Currently advertised for sale so making the most of it before I sell it, making way for the next project with more seats.....

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C721644
 


Top