Without going into volumes of background info, I am looking for some basic engine swap information. I am interested in larger displacement MB Diesel engines, like would be used in a light truck. Are the tranny bolt patterns a standard, like the American SAE's or what?

OK, here's a tiny sliver of why I'm leaning this way. Now that I have a Diesel, I am leaning greatly toward doing the BioDiesel route. I have been learning about the Bio-D recently, and I am becoming confident I can "brew up" more than I could possibly use in my car with little effort. So then my brain says, "If your whole fleet were Diesels,....", from there it takes off into hyper-warp like usual.

So now I'm thinking of swapping the 440's from my two Dodge trucks, and the 345 from my Scout, all to MB Diesels. I know where I used to work we had a MB powered straight truck that was amazing. But I've lost the paper I put all the engine ID info on. So can someone help me out? Thanks!






(Now you are starting to understand why I chose the screen name I did. )

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1981 MB 240D - 280K miles (My Iraqi LAPC )



My stable also includes:
2003 Honda Odyssey - Wife's van
1976 IH Scout 2 - SUV recovery vehicle
1967 Dodge W200 - The big block hauler (440/4sp.)
1966 Dodge D100 - The Redneck Racecar (440/727)
1925 Dodge Roadster - My electric car canidate

True health starts here

Before getting into engine swaps and such why not build/buy a biodiesel processor and practice making fuel? That way you could get a handle on the whole process, line up WVO suppliers, find methanol and lye sources, etc. The whole thing may turn out to be more trouble to you than its worth. Or maybe you become the biodiesel king! Either way, making 10 gallons of biodiesel or 100 gallons the process is basically the same, requires the same time, etc. so its very scalable.

Regarding swapping MB engines into pickups, etc. There really aren't many MB diesel powered vehicles on the roads here to offer up good engines to swap in with the exception of Sprinter vans. A far cheaper and plentiful source would be US made diesels. Swapping Cummins engines into your 440 powered trucks would likely be easier and much cheaper. There was a Scout make with a Nissan turbodiesel but it is pretty rare. The Scout may be a better swap candidate for a OM603 or 617 motor depending on the frame layout.

The other problem with swapping in a rare MB diesel is parts availability. No doubt a MB diesel swap would be cool but I try to look at a project like an engine swap in practical terms. I have done a couple complete engine swaps and the problems encountered are difficult enough without adding the rare and limited parts problems factored in.

RT

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When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K

hey, if you are going to ditch the 440s let me know... I've got family in Oregon and thats a Good Charger engine!!!!

see my signature

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