if you are just going to pluck an engine and tranny out i would go with a turbo. i don't think the 617 has anything electronically controlled. if you unbolted the engine and tranny from their mounts and made sure your wires were undone i would imagine you could drop it right into place no problems. and if you had some the forum is here.

i think my SD is a 4200lb car, my engine isn something half that weight would tear a$$ as soon as it got into boost. and it would be economical too. I for 28 mpg through the rockies. just my thought.

Yep, a turbo probably would be much quicker, but honestly, since speed wasn't one of my primary concerns, I may stick with non-turbo just for the more traditional look.

For best reliability and ease of installation the 240D engine would be the simplest. And the engine was probably the most bullet proof engine Mercedes made. No electronics. Simple in design and small.
Considerations.
It uses vacuum for some applications. The majority of the vacuum tubing you see over the top of the engine would be required. Once you get engine we can help you with eliminating some.
Transmission. With correct mounts is can be installed
Drive shaft. This company changes Mercedes drive shaft to universal joint design. so with your welding experience, I'm sure that you can convert the drive shaft

http://driveshafts.com/

I don't think you will have any problems doing this project. The 240D gets about 25-28MPG in city and 30-32 hwy. Just remember it's 67HP with a 0-60 time of 22 seconds.

Let us know how it goes.

Dave

and that's 22 seconds in a 3200lb car. in a light 1200 lb car (- the 150 or so for the original engine add in the 600 or so for the 240... ) it may be quite sprintyer.
John

carefull! that 120Lb of torque will destroy most standard rears! be sure to put in a hefty rear. any 9inch would be fine, keep that in mind.
John

Interesting thread. Looks like something I would do. I am wanting to do the same thing with a 47 Dodge pickup, but will probably never get around to it.

I can't believe how much ass you people kick. When I mention this idea to most people, they think I'm looney tunes. You are all very supportive and you're all getting me geared up to do this.
As for the rear, I have an 8 1/4 Mopar posi out of a cop car. I have the same rear behind a 410 HP smallblock in my Volare wagon drag car, and it has held up beautifully.
Dave, I think I'll follow your advice. I found a few 240Ds here and there, they seem to be plentiful enough. I'm hoping to inch close to 40mpg, I'm hoping the weight will be a huge factor in this.

You have me thinking more about it. I am picking up my car and all the spare parts this weekend. I am getting 2 spare engines and a spare tranny with the purchase of the 300D. I like the idea of a old school hotrod that would get killer mileage. I have a ton of mopar parts laying around to build off of. Wish I could be more advice on the Benz part, but I am new to them as are you. I am however, a diehard Mopar freak and love your idea. Do you have any pictures of the old car?

Yeah, a diesel rat. Perfect!

Ok, change of plans, slightly. After several days of thinking and checking on things, I am going with my original plan of putting in a 392 Hemi in the ol' Dodge. Reason being, the car's pretty much already sold. It was sold before I even dreamed up this scheme. I guess I was considering other things to do with it IF I didn't sell it. HOWEVER, the "diesel rat" will still live! Plus, it will be more along the lines of what I really wanted to do, build a way-low-buck roadster rat. I intend to do this complete project for under a grand. Yep, you heard me right. Here's the plan:

Get a krusty old Jeep, hack a chunk out of the middle of the body and weld the rear/tailgate section onto the cab right behind the doors, so now it's a 2-seater roadster pickup cab. Make a bed, easy enough. Chop the fold-down windshield frame. Hack off the front sheetmetal. Lower the rear, hack off the front diff and suspension, weld on the straight axle setup, done. There's my new rolling carcass, ready for the diesel transplant! What would it cost me? Probably about 200-400 bucks, depending on how cheap I can find a krusty Jeep. I found an old mail Jeep today, the guy wants 300.

Over the weekend I found an 81 240D, runs and drives good, but has no brakes and a rotted undercarriage for $350. Let the games begin!