Diesel SEC UPDATE important info
 

Hi Guys If you dont know already (see my sig) im building a Diesel SEC, there "was" some debate as to whether the hood would fit with the 617 under the hood, well as you can see by the pics the debate is now over, the 617 does fit under the hood, If you press down hard on the hood you cause the hood pad to press onto the valve cover, but only when you press on the hood. This is with new engine mounts, so as they sag the clearance will increase even more.

Anyway, just wanted to share the info,

That's good news. I suspect we will see more of these conversions down the road.

I'd like to see a CDI from a sprinter or 320 installed in one.

Oh and one more thing, the car sits higher with the 617, and the 4spd manual, So i will have to get lowering springs for the front end.

What does an SEC weigh vs an SD?

Sixto
93 300SD

Beautiful, you are da Man. I love it.

How are you mounting the motor? Does it fit without any modifications? What are you going to do about the electicals, glow plug relay, motor wiring harness etc? I guess the gas tank and fuel lines to the engine will be OK.
Where'd you get the motor from too?
Steve

Lots of questions, let me see Yes the motor fits without any modifications, however only one engine shock mounts up without welding a bracket on (I chose not to do this, so i am going to live with only one engine shock).

I have simplified the motor electricals, I mount the glow plug relay in its stock location, and wire it up accordingly, (ill have to review my notes on the wireing diagram).

I replace the gas tank with the one out of the engine donor car, because diesel in the gas tank will clean out all the builtup gas gum, and clog filter for a few tanks.

Motor came from 1985 300 SD, transmission came from 1982 240D, (4spd std),

I need to figure out the tach, and the idle control on the IP,

I have to have a custom driveshaft made because the one from the SD and the SEC are to short, (if you are using the auto trans, its a direct swap)

I have had to modify the cluster to work with the speedo cable.

PM me for more details when your ready for this swap.

looks great!

before installing springs i would drive it a bit to be sure of how it all settles in.

you might be pleasantly surprised.

tom w

Someone find me an SEC body. I have the rest. In less someone can tell me the 617 will fit in an SL body. That's going to be a nice ride.

If it will fit in an SEC body, I don't see why a 617 would not fit in an SL. They used the M110 in them and it's every bit as tall as a 617.

What a great idea and great job!, I want to hear all the details as you progress! Would the diesel fit in a 73 SL?
Steve

Still interested in knowing if you've resolved the issue of whether or not you will be able to get out of gasser emissions. I'd hate to see you go through all this effort only to fail emissions because the "law" will not allow you to reclassify a gasser chassis into a diesel.

I have not done this before but I know one trick Noble uses to get there race cars street legel is to call them "kit cars". I think with a kit car almost anything goes, might be worth a try.

Actually my 85 300 sdl was a gasser at first as well, it passed emissions no problem,

Im in canada, and all cars 20 years old are emisssions exempt, so its a none issue for me, but i had to get my sdl tested and it past,

What year is the SEC and what year did your 617 come from?

84 Euro SEC, 85 300 SD, engine donor, 82 240D trans doaner.

At the risk of getting flamed on the diesel section, why would you want to convert an SEC to diesel? I love the SEC's body style, but isn't the point to have the performance? What's that like post-conversion?

Dieselheads do not want to drive gassers.

Are you saying that you can't get performance out of a diesel?

Justin, everytime I see your Avatar I can't help thinking "will a 617 fit into a '63 hippy van with a kennedy conversion?" Great work on that conversion! I'd still be a little worried that a rough idle or engine flex from 1st gear takeoff would ding the hood. I think its a splendid conversion idea since I love the looks of the car and the ahh-bee-aunce of the diesels.

Maybe a better candidate for the motor would have been an OM603.960. I think they are more readily tweeked than the OM617 engines. Look at what the Finns do with them.:D

wonderful job! I can't wait to find me a dead 380...
it's amazing that you didn't clean off the motor before the install....:eek: ICK! :P :rolleyes:
you ought to remove the valve cover and polish it up, then replace all leaking gaskets and do it right!
or is that pic just a "wow it fits" picture? let's do this right! make it look good under the hood too!
John

hey icefire, glad to see you around here! you have the coolest Benz EVER!!!!!

Now you have to start working on making a custom "300SDC" trunk badge :)

Great project!!!!!!

I plan on pulling the mtor from my 380SEC but the 500 is gonna go in its place :D

Im not an 18 year old kid anymore, im more interested in doing something different, I love the SEC's body style, but I love the sound, and feel of the diesel, So im going to make some minor improvent to the performance.

Also I couldnt find a good 602 or 603 in time for this project, one of my future projects will involve putting a 602 or 603 into a 1988 300 CE.

As for performance, we'll have to see, the car isnt running yet, and I do have to have a custom driveshaft welded up. unless a SDL or SEL shows up in a local junkyard.

keep us updated !! :)

if you have to ask, you wouldn't get it!

tom w

You might be OK. Many states allow a newer engine in an older body.

This was discussed here before and I vaguely remember 2 remarks:

Poster #1: Diesel in an SEC? That'd be like cutting its balls off

Poster #2: Hah my wfe already did that to me

I believe on the 85's the tach pickup comes from the IP

I believe the Tach pickup comes from the engine/ bellhousing addapter,

I will be using the tack pickup on the front of the engine instead.

Okay, I'll admit that I asked out of ignorance. The only diesels I've driven had huge blades, buckets, or farm implements attached to them. I think of diesels as primarily slow-moving pieces of equipment for farming and earth moving.

I don't recall ever seeing a diesel Ferrari, though.

Still learning, Tom. Inquiring minds want to know . . . .

Baby steps. Get the SEC Diesel running, then a Patera Powerstroke, then an S8 TDI...

Sixto
93 300SD

i was smiling when i wrote it. i hope you felt it that way.

tom w

You might when they decide it's time to beat the Audi at the track. Their Le Mans car is freakin' AWESOME!!!

Um, yeah; stick in a 603 with the full-meal-deal Myna treatment and toast Rustangs, 500s & 560s for a light snack.

I had no doubt that you were, Tom. I'm generally smiling most of the time I'm on this site. It always amazes me when people get so hot with each other here that somebody gets thrown off.

This is kind of like hanging out at the local tavern to me. If a fight breaks out, you just beat the crap out of each other, then get up shake hands and have a beer. No harm done!

That's interesting, Randy. What did you just say?:confused:

Funny to come in the diesel forum and say silly things like that.

I don't presume to know everything. I learn a lot by asking questions. . .

one of these in standard condition with a 617turbo in it would be awesome.
anybody who would cut one up though should be dragged behind it for 20 miles.
beautiful vehicle!
John
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Fantastic-1970-Mercedes-280SL-Convertible-280-SL_W0QQitemZ250069684183QQihZ015QQcategoryZ6338QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I love it that someone is building a 300SDC! I've always dreamed of seeing a diesel SEC. With a 617 & a manual transmission and the coupe body I think that will be a fun car to drive!

Now, a 350SL diesel convertible would be interesting...maybe they can do something like that on "Pimp My Ride" and put a combination barbeque grill & WVO tank in the trunk for tailgate parties....

This brings up the question: Are there ANY commercially available adapters between the 617 motor and a non MB tranny?

Icefire, I finally found this post.

I have another post looking for someone to do what You did. Do You have any update, how this project turned out.

Diesel SEC was my long time dream but Yours is even better - 4sp Manual! This is just perfect

My DIesel 300 SDC is safely tucked away in the garage waiting for spring, the car is 99 % finished.

I have said this before if you are swapping in a motor and trans from a 83 300 SD, this is a very easy swap. The manual trans made it much harder.

I wonder if a 606 will bolt up to the 722.4 that the 603's does? If so you could probably slide that combo right in without having to do anything radical.

Then you would need a Myna tweaked 603 IP, and some other go fast parts.:D

I wonder how much it would cost to screw 400 rwhp out of a 606?:D That would make a pretty fast SEC.