I've Got a Diesel Now,,, Time For Some Performance Mods!

[300EVIL]

Hi Everyone!
I just picked up an 83 300SD Turbodiesel this evening. I've wanted another diesel for a while now to do some performance work on and as a winter car. Now that I have one, I want to jump right into some tuning. The engine "seems" to run great for a diesel and has good pickup. I'm going to do some basic maintenance on it like oil and fuel filters to ensure its solid condition. Next I want to tweak the wastegate for more boost and adjust the injection pump. Where can I find the best threads on this procedure? What other maintenance items should I be considering? What other performance mods should I be considering? This will be my first time wrenching on a diesel but I do catch on quick!
Thanks!
Adam

[bgkast]

Welcome back to the diesel dark side. Before starting any performance mods I would give a full tune up including oil and filter change as you describe, adjust the valves, clean the banjo bolt, time the injection pump etc. You could also tweak the ALDA to give some more power off of the line.

As long as you are getting 10-12 psi there is no need to adjust the boost until you have turned up the fuel.

[TheDon]

and installed a pyrometer...

[300EVIL]

Thanks for the help guys. I already have an EGT gauge and a boost controller ordered. I adjusted the ALDA today. It still had the seal on it too. Unfortunately it was already half a turn from the top and didn't make any difference when adjusted all the way out. Would the next step be to remove the ALDA all together? Which banjo fitting is in question?
Thanks Again!
Adam

[TheDon]

the banjo fitting on the ALDA itself and the one on the intake manifold log...

on the intake manifold its located on the rear by cylinder 5 or closest to the firewall.. a clear plastic line leads to it from the overboost protection solenoid(OBPS) to the alda..

remove the bolts and clean them. and an EGR block off sould clean up the engine compartment

any idea on what turbo you have.. pray its the KKK

[vwbuge]

I wouldn't bother touching the wastegate. It is much easier to install a boost controller.

[300EVIL]

Originally Posted by TheDon

the banjo fitting on the ALDA itself and the one on the intake manifold log...

on the intake manifold its located on the rear by cylinder 5 or closest to the firewall.. a clear plastic line leads to it from the overboost protection solenoid(OBPS) to the alda..

remove the bolts and clean them. and an EGR block off sould clean up the engine compartment

any idea on what turbo you have.. pray its the KKK

Thanks for the tips on the banjo bolts and lines, I'll check them out. As for the turbo, it's an Air Research not a Klan member. What's the differences? Air ratio, wastegates or something? Are there any performance gains in removing the EGR?
Thanks!
Adam

[ck42]

Originally Posted by 300EVIL

Thanks for the help guys. I already have an EGT gauge and a boost controller ordered. I adjusted the ALDA today. It still had the seal on it too. Unfortunately it was already half a turn from the top and didn't make any difference when adjusted all the way out. Would the next step be to remove the ALDA all together? Which banjo fitting is in question?
Thanks Again!
Adam

Didn't see this responded to yet...
The next step if you need to dump more fuel and the ALDA is maxed out, is to start putting some shims under the ALDA. This will accomplish the same thing as turning the screw. Search the forums on shim thickness needed.

[TheDon]

Originally Posted by ck42

Didn't see this responded to yet...
The next step if you need to dump more fuel and the ALDA is maxed out, is to start putting some shims under the ALDA. This will accomplish the same thing as turning the screw. Search the forums on shim thickness needed.

just remove the ALDA and gut it.. reinstall as a dust cover...

once the alda is maxed you have to modify the internal IP settings

[mybenz123]

Originally Posted by 300EVIL

Hi Everyone!
I just picked up an 83 300SD Turbodiesel this evening. I've wanted another diesel for a while now to do some performance work on and as a winter car. Now that I have one, I want to jump right into some tuning. The engine "seems" to run great for a diesel and has good pickup. I'm going to do some basic maintenance on it like oil and fuel filters to ensure its solid condition. Next I want to tweak the wastegate for more boost and adjust the injection pump. Where can I find the best threads on this procedure? What other maintenance items should I be considering? What other performance mods should I be considering? This will be my first time wrenching on a diesel but I do catch on quick!
Thanks!
Adam

Check this out click link in post#1 and look at pictures
in post#7.
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w123-e-ce-d-cd-td/1290106-worlds-fastest-w123-diesel.html

Same engine as in your SD.

Louis.

[300EVIL]

Originally Posted by mybenz123

Check this out click link in post#1 and look at pictures
in post#7.
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w123-e-ce-d-cd-td/1290106-worlds-fastest-w123-diesel.html

Same engine as in your SD.

Louis.

I should probably mention, I'm not interested in making 400+ HP on this particular engine. I'm going to make this diesel Benz my "intro to diesel" car. While the engine is in good shape the body and interior is not. I'll wait for a nice 300D for my mega diesel project.

I want to just experiment with this engine and put minimal fabrication and parts into it. If I only get 20 or so extra HP from tweaking, thats fine with me.

Originally Posted by vwbuge

I wouldn't bother touching the wastegate. It is much easier to install a boost controller.

I already have one on the way, what should be my maximum/optimum exhaust temps on this diesel engine?
Thanks Again!
Adam

Originally Posted by 300EVIL

While the engine is in good shape the body and interior is not. I'll wait for a nice 300D for my mega diesel project.

Better to practice on a "beater" than to risk blowing up your long-term good car.

[mybenz123]

Originally Posted by 300EVIL

I already have one on the way, what should be my maximum/optimum exhaust temps on this diesel engine?
Thanks Again!
Adam

This might help.

617 Boost ?

Louis.

[PepeCone]

At present I have the same interest. I have a Mercedes with a swapped diesel engine, and I did the same jobs to ensure strenght of instalation. Besides what you mention, I added a transmission oil cooler, to ensure my automatic transmission lasts.

Would be interested on a link or paper where they explain how may a diesel engine be improved.

Mine is a aspirated 6 line engine. Injection pump is a rotative.

Would be glad to hear from your experience.

Kind regards,

PepeCone

Originally Posted by 300EVIL

Hi Everyone!
I just picked up an 83 300SD Turbodiesel this evening. I've wanted another diesel for a while now to do some performance work on and as a winter car. Now that I have one, I want to jump right into some tuning. The engine "seems" to run great for a diesel and has good pickup. I'm going to do some basic maintenance on it like oil and fuel filters to ensure its solid condition. Next I want to tweak the wastegate for more boost and adjust the injection pump. Where can I find the best threads on this procedure? What other maintenance items should I be considering? What other performance mods should I be considering? This will be my first time wrenching on a diesel but I do catch on quick!
Thanks!
Adam

Year and model of the engine/car is needed. I-6 with rotary pump does not describe any MB engines.