Glad to see someone else doing swaps using MB engines. I have a 53 F100 that I swapped in a 617 from a 81 300SD and love it. Here's a link to my gallery on FTE with quite a few build pics: http://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displayalbum.php?&userid=308002&albumid=19458
Are you planning to swap the rear-end gears? That truck with a six cyl and 4 speed should have 4:11 gears, that'll be quite low for highway running. I'm running 3.25s in my truck.
Also check out the pic for another idea for connecting the driveshaft to the MB trans.

merc 617 in a chebby PU
 

Hey,,,,,,,,,,, have you gott a few screws loose??
just kidding, Hey that looks like North Tx in the background, why dont you stop by next weekend and shove this spare sd moter in my 37GMC I have been plannin,,,,, i 'll spring for a case of LoaNstar beer!

You're my hero! Looks good so far.

This is the PERFECT time to install a block heater, VNT, and 3" exhaust. Possibly also a 120Amp ALX129 alternator

Getting back to the drive shaft
 

I see the flex plate and the center bearing. How are you going to mate this to the original straight axle in the rear? Are you going to fab up U-joints? If so, what about the center bearing? Of course if you transplant the MB rear and suspension that would make one cool IRS truck!

When I first saw the thread I figured that you would mate the 617 to the Chevy tranny somehow.

Very nice!! Been thinking of doing something similar with a ford ranger myself.

Can be done with a 4x4 Labs kit.

He He 4x4 labs
 

Can be done with a 4x4 Labs kit.----------- Dont make me laugh.

No kidding. I emailed the 4x4 labs guy before I started this and he said the kits weren't ready yet. So much for the press release...

Wow, that's really useful info. Great work! This pic especially gives me interesting ideas:

http://jason.pepas.com/photos/oddsan...63.520.390.jpg

You're awesome. Source some MB seats and definitely use a MB shifter if possible.

Actually one of the first things I did when I got this truck was swap out the rear end gears for a 3.07:1 setup.

According to this rear-end calculator (http://www.angelfire.com/fl/procrastination/rear.html) with 29.5 inch tires, 3.07:1 rear-end, in 1:1 top gear, I should be doing 68.6 mph at 2400 rpm, which is the torque peak for this motor. From what I've read about engines, the point of lowest break-sepcific fuel consumption usually occurs at the torque peak, so this setup should yield ideal mileage on the freeway!

http://jason.pepas.com/photos/oddsandends/om617a.jpg

4x4 labs
 

[quote=cell;2070272]No kidding. I emailed the 4x4 labs guy before I started this and he said the kits weren't ready yet. So much for the press release...[/quote
They have "not ready yet' ever since people have thought of swapping a benz diesel into something else----Years. I happend to luck into all the stuff from a euro 309d, with a shifter mounted on the rear of the gearbox--truckstyle!

This is a cool project you are putting together.

Do a search on MERCEDESROVER, he is putting thse in his range Rover
and had made his own adapter plate. not sure is he is selling any kits.


Charlie

Oh the joys of a front sump engine. looks like life would be much easier if the sump were in the rear...

Actually I had to replace the oil pan before I even got the engine out of the mercedes. It was partially smashed and was leaking badly.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/237684-time-lapse-video-replacing-oil-pan.html

exactly. I'm working by myself, and the pipe was the only way I could keep the tranny lined up while moving the front of the engine around. I used 1/2" pipe and (I think) a 1" to 1/2" nipple and a 1" floor mount flange. The center bushing on the output shaft of the tranny fits inside the 1" to 1/2" nipple, so it works great.

if I had to do it again though, I would have bought a 48" piece of pipe, and not a 36" piece. As it was, 36" was just *barely* enough length to keep the pipe in the carrier bearing. If I had moved the engine forward another half inch, the pipe would slip out of the carrier bearing.