Stock anyways. However, it has much more potential with a turbo swap, intercooler and pump tweaking.

depends on what 4b your comparing- they came "stock" in many different ratings. my P pumped 4bta is rated at 135 HP, about the highest stock rating aside from marine use, as I've read. it looks like the graph is from a somewhat lesser HP- or is that a dyno reading- there'd be some loss.

but on the flip- I could not imagine how slow my stepvan would be with a 292 in it. even if it was the same, the lack of turbo spooling would make it seem slower.

also- your 292 would be much smoother at idle;)

but aside from all that nonsense- its good to see your progress- glad you decided to share.

two steps forward, one step back.

I drove it tonight! Around the block to the gas station. Noticed a large black puddle forming under the truck as I was filling up with diesel. I blew my jerry-rigged replacement oil pressure sending line. However, I had rigged a brad nail into the metal base of the oil pressure line, so that even if the hose were blown off (again), it would leak oil much more slowly.

Anyway, its ridiculous to drive around with no oil pressure gauge, so its time to solve this problem properly.

On ebay they list what appear to be oil pressure lines with a gauge included for about $30: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MERCEDES-BENZ-Oil-Guage-Pressure-Line-NEW_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a0Q7c293Q3 a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem330293645075QQitemZ330293645075QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5 fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

I'm wondering if I can get anything similar at the dealer (ie, same-day).

nice work man!!! how does it feel driving it? being your missing almost 2L off the original size engine. yet probably double the fuel milage ;)

You could probably get it from the dealer, or you could have a hydraulic shop make you a hose.

Wait, wait... Someone tell me what the threads are for the stock oil sender hole on the motor, and I'll find the right part/s available from a standard autoparts store that will allow you to use any mechanical oil pressure gauge you want. I'm good at tracking down fittings.

I'm embarrassed to admit it, but my Saturn has a $9.99 Wal-Mart oil pressure gauge in it, and the oddball metric adapter I got from CarQuest allowed me to fit the standard NPT fitting supplied with the pressure gauge kit to the metric threads in my block oil galley. It does work, and it cost me less than $15 total.

the thing is, I went to my local ACE hardware with the fitting in hand, and we could figure out the diameter, but couldn't seem to figure out the thread pitch.

update: why didn't I think of this before? I'll just measure the thread pitch with a ruler when I get home from work today.

here are some pictures:

http://jason.pepas.com/photos/gm-ben...e_IMG_7063.JPG

http://jason.pepas.com/photos/gm-ben...e_IMG_7064.JPG

http://jason.pepas.com/photos/gm-ben...e_IMG_7065.JPG

can't really say how responsive / powerful it is yet, as I was just babying it around the block. but soon, oh soon!

You can just get some tubing to push onto the barb. You might get it at a good hydraulics supply house, but it is metric so they may not have it. I'd bet Parker makes something equivalent. I've bought metric plastic tubing like that from a company called Hatec. Google them... it was a long time ago, I'm sure I found them online.

pitch is posted here somewhere

Yeah, you don't need an adaptor, just get some new hose.

for some reason I recall using a lug nut to plug up the bore in the oil filter canister where that fitting goes.

Well, the issue is "what am I going to hook the other end of that metric hose up to?". At some point in this plumbing chain I'm going to need to adapt it to either my truck's pressure gauge or some sort of aftermarket gauge.

unless I can find some sort of aftermarket gauge which has the same size barbed connector on it.

you know, for how indestructible and well engineered the rest of this engine is, I am a little surprised that something as critical as the oil pressure sending line is a simple push-on barb fitting, with nothing to secure it on the barb. although I suppose that's irrelevant if you just use the right size line.

edit: I suppose i haven't been clear in what I have already tried that didn't work. I tried putting two different types of (american sized) plastic line on the fitting. The first was stopped up on the other end with a small c-clamp. The oil pressure blew that line off of the fitting in short order. the second attempt was to put another line on there, but instead of stopping it up I routed it into the valve cover. I was worried about this being too much of a pressure drop in the oil system, so I partially obstructed the fitting before it reached the hose. surprisingly, that line blew as well, despite what must have been hardly any back pressure.

I think the hose gets pinched in there if when you tighten down the nut.

Many aftermarket gauges will have a 1/4" npt thread on the back, you should be able to find a fitting that connects the hose from the engine to the gauge. You could also go with an electronic gauge. If a lug nut fits the hole the thread is M12x1.5

If you want to stay analog I would find a gauge and take it and the fittings from the engine to a hardware store, or better yet a hydraulics shop and find the pieces needed to connect them up. It shouldn’t be too hard.

Just keep in mind that hose has to take 150 PSI or so.

thanks for the info guys.

I think I found the post with the thread pitch info:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/996454-post5.html

M12x1.5 is claimed there, for an '84 300SD. I'm assuming that will match my application.

if m12x.1.5 is correct, it looks like this is what I want:

http://store.go-fast-parts.com/5700532.html

Auto Meter 2277 1/8" Npt to M12x1.5

http://jason.pepas.com/photos/oddsan..._349125789.gif