The vw diesels had much in common between the gas and diesel engines. I believe they actually used the same short block with a small combustion chamber head on the diesel. Mercedes used the same strategy in their diesels, but the vws were vws and the benzes were benz based.

Back in the seventies a lot of other brand cabs had Mercedes diesels in them.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.