Will I damage the engine if driven without turbo charge til it gets to the shop Monday?

If the turbo is in place and receiving oil, then you certainly can drive it if the turbo is not producing boost.

But, if you have removed the turbo and there are open oil lines, then you cannot drive it.

its going to be slow going

It's really not all that bad. I typically drive it below 2200 rpm, unless on the highway, so there is no boost at these speeds anyway. It keeps up with traffic with no problems.

On the highway, when you need third gear to do a passing maneuver, the lack of boost will definitely become apparent.

First of all, I can't imagine how anyone could remove the turbo and run the car very far, even if the oil lines were blocked, because the exhaust would come out under the hood. It wouold be a Very Loud and stinky experience

Brian, are you referring to operating the 603 or 617 engine with a dead turbo?
I tried operating my 603 with the crossover removed and it died, I am now thinking the computer compensated for lack of air by removing fuel as it nailed badly. It could not be driven at all!
I would like to think removing the crossover is almost the same as running without the turbo in the 603 however something else comes into play that is completely the opposite to what is true in the 617. The 603 turbo model isn't designed to be operated NA.

A 617 should run ok (although sluggish) with a dead turbo. I drove my '85 300TD with a bad turbo after the bearings failed on a new rebuild from Majestic Turbo. It was real slow off the line, like zero to sixty in maybe 30 secs. A 240D would have beat me easily.

I still don't understand my 603 experience though. Try removing your crossover and see what I mean!

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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

I had the 603 without any boost for about three months until I fixed the vacuum lines. So, effectively, it was running without the turbo. No ill effects.

In your specific case, I cannot fathom why it had difficulty in running without the crossover pipe. I've thought about it more than a bit and still cannot put any good reason to it. The turbo does nothing at idle. It's not moving enough air to matter. The engine is perfectly capable of drawing its own air for combustion AFAIK. There is no computer for fuel or air regulation other than the idle control. This circuit simply maintains a set idle without regard to load.

The engine has more than enough air at idle so I remain perplexed as to why it would not idle without the crossover.

No turbo (intake or exhaust manifolds either) and a plugged oil line results in this:
Video

(Was taking it out to the washrack to steamclean the engine compartment.)

The 617 without any boost at all (had one of my intercooler lines pop off once) isn't that bad...but you do loose a lot of top end.

I just ran the SDL up and down the street with the crossover pipe off. It ran fine except for sounding like my uncle's Volvo Penta sterndrive with a background boost whistle.

FWIW the boost whistle is audible around 1700 rpm, maybe lower. The boost gauge reads 5psi at 2500 rpm and that's about when it feels like the turbo's doing something. Think the ALDA needs a tweak?

Sixto
87 300SDL

My 603 will run just fine without the crossover pipe.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

no turbo what do you mean? i am asking the first poster?

tom w

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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.