Sorry if i sounded challenging, i thought that it took thousands to get around the ecu issue. I just dont want to deal with it at all. I dont mind a push button start. Would prefer it actually, my only other concern is weight distribution. With the v6 you can almost call our cars front mid engine. With 2 more cylinders takked to the front, i dunno. I want to keep that supercar handling that makes up for the off the line acceleration. More rigid that a porsche gt3 and a .91 g turn stock. Most high end cars cant do that to this day. What will the extra weight in the front do to that?

 

Now that I have been to the Dragon i can tell you all about the handling. First I will tell you my set up. Voughtland Springs, koni shocks, 345mm front rotors with CL/S600 calipers, 330mm SLK55 rear rotors with S/CL65 AMG rear calipers. Pizzaguy will confirm the braking which stops the car incredibly fast. I was able to drive very hard all day without any fade or evene the slightest brake smell. Many stock Crossfires were cooking their brakes. Taz and I were following a SRT and we used more brakes trying to not hit the SRT in front of us after powering out of a turn than on turn entry. the car corners flat is very nuetral. the V8 seemed to eliminate the factory built in understeer. I mention to Paul (Taz, 55K V8 yellow roadster) that my car seemed to handle better with the V8 and he said his car definitely handles better with the V8, so it was not my imagination. I could stay with any car there through the twisties and then leave them on turn exit. Into the trun is feels like well set up Crossfire. Out of the turn is feels like a Z06!

 

I want it. LOL. The swap, I mean. Damn Germang electronics, I could have a 500 motor in less time than it takes to type this. Why can't I just shove it in and have it work?

 

I did the conversion to the SRT6 S/C engine in my '04 N/A and I can tell you it is not for the faint of heart.
If you are mechanically inclined and have LOTS of time and don't need the car everyday it can be done. Or you can check with Rudy Compart (forum member list) with accelerated Industries and he can do it for you.

Good luck
I have not regretted the swap with all the extra ponies but it is a lot of work.
Robert

 

Robert, knowing now what you probably did now know then, would you do the swap again, or would you simply throw an NA V8 in it? More torque, lots of power, and less headaches (from what Lantana reports) than trying to go forced induction....

 

In some ways the SRT/32 motor is harder and in some ways easier. It is easier because the car you end up with was produced which makes programing easier, but you also have more work to do to add the the pump and heat exchanger, maybe even trans and rear end, etc that are specific to the SRT. With the V8 if you have prepped the engine correctly you are just pulling the V6 and bolting the V8 in. Much easier in my opinion, but programing is more complicated becuse you are creating a car that was never produced. the closest relative to a V8 Crossfire is the C43.

With a V8 you have more torque which feels amazing, great sound and real wow factor when you open the hood. Your also have a great baseline for future modding. I may be offering a budget V8 swap if people are interested. The goal would be to do a V8 for about what it cost me.

 

BoilerUpXFire honestly there were times I was ready to throw in the towel but perserverence and my being **** won out and I am completely satisfied with the end result. The original car had just shy of 24k on the clock and the doner drive train had 7847 miles when I pulled it. Probably the V8 is much easier considering the trans and rear as well as other control units and some custom wiring than needs to be done for the SRT6 swap. But yes I'd do it again if given the same circumstances. But next time I'd love to try the V8 w S/C if given the opertunity.

 

opportunity my bad......ctfs

 

Glad guys like both of you are pioneering the way for guys like me to come in and have a tested, proven swap. Thank you for enduring all the headaches and hardships to get them done...

Interested, but probably wouldn't be for a year or two...

 

I've seen your car - Agreed on all counts!

My hand is up!

 

As John said, thanks to you and Lantana (and guys like Rudy and Paul) who are contributing to "the advancement of the Crossfire state-of-the-art".

The statements made in post 22 concerning braking are spot-on. I was as impressed with how Lantana's car STOPPED as I was with how it GOES.

 

Pizza guy is correct as I did swap out the bigger SRT6 brake components from the other car as well. Going faster is not the only goal and would be crazy without an all around approach to getting there quicker. You need to have a balanced car which menas stopping is as important as speed. And the bigger srt brakes or orther solution is a must for upgrading.

 

Sounds like we have a lot in common! I spent to two years researching and the best I could come up with was an unporven theory, while at the same time I was being told to sell the car and buy an SRT. Anyone with a radicial idea for these cars gets told the same thing. When I pulled the engine I was scared to death becuase it was my daily driver and I didn't have a spare. My younger uncle and I worked fast together and had the swap done on a Saturday. We just had to wire the fans Sunday Morning. But.... It took another month or so to get the engine to fire. That was a very depressing time, and my son wasn't happy giving me his car to drive. We didn't give up and the best day of my life was the first time it started and I got to hear the V8 sound come out of the Ansa muffler.

My idea is for the guy who wants to keep cost down and keep it simple I will provide a complete guide, so you or your trusted independant shop can do the engine install. Anyone who can take the V6 out will be able to put the V8 in with the same ease. The parts list is inexpensive and very short.

You wil also get an ECU that is pre-coded to the Crossfire. It will be like buying one from MB and will have your VIN already coded in. You, me or your independent shop will only have to run the ntitial start up routine in the ECU which can be done in less than an hour.

My goal is that your car gets it V8 in your garage or local the shop of your choice. The only condition is that you use a normally aspirated 430, AMG 43, 500 or AMG 55 engine and you don't change anything else such as the transmission or rear end.

The only missing link as of now is starting off the key. I have partnered with three individuals to make this swap possible, one of which is working hard to develop a module for starting from the key. Currently you would have to use a starter button like I have been using for almost two years. The key is the only unproven part of the swap and until this is ready you have to be prepared for a worst case you will always have to use a starter button that takes more than one crank to start it.

In case you are wondering, I have partnered with Bob Beckmann of Bechmann Technologies, and Chris (Latemodel) who is producing the very cool shift paddle kits. Your main cost will be the enigne you select and I will help you locate the right engine. Engines run $1,500 to $4,000. I think most people could easily be in the $2,000 to $2,500 range. Additional parts will run about $500 give or take. Exhaust work, $250-$500. Electronics will run just under $1000 (still cheaper than a replacement ECU from MB). The key fix has not been figured in and can't be until Chris' potential solution is tested and he knows his costs. To offset these costs you will have a V6 to sell for $800 to $1500. Additional cost would be a shop if needed. This is meant as a DIY project but has been simplified to the point that any independant shop that works on MB's could do it.

 

The requirement being that the car to be modified has an auto transmission, correct?

 

Yes, Good catch! For now that is correct. As soon as JimmySkuls is tearing up the street that could change. But for now Auto's only. If I am going to help, I want to stick to what has been proven to work.

 

That was one of my first mods on this car

Understandable, but I think most that are interested are your hardcore manual lovers that WOULDN'T have an SRT because of the auto and want (read: need) extra power.

Hopefully the manual roadblocks will be cleared by the time I am ready. I know this may **** some people off, but I could not give up my third pedal for a V8...

 

It probably will be solved soon. but also know that there are now TCU upgrades available and combined with the shift paddles, you may not have the third pedal but you will be shifting like a F1 car. I found driving the my car at the Dragon was a lot of fun and I had more confidence shifting through the twisties with both hands always having a death grip on the wheel.

 

I don't think I could, either.

Unless I bought a second (auto) XF and V8-ed THAT!

 

After 5 trips to the Dragon I can understand, hell lamborghini just announced no more manuals, but that visceral feel and unadulterated control is not there in the XF auto tranny (I have driven my parents automatic roadster 20K miles for reference).

 

I totaly understand how you guys feel about your sticks. I was drag racing iwth a sitck long after just about everyone else went to automatics for consistancy in bracket racing. I love sticks too! The stick issue should be fixed soon so if you want a V8 Manual Crossfire, it is time to start hiding money fromt the wife.