Is this possible ? If so how much trouble ? Especially in the electronics and transmission department. Has anyone done this before ? The engine would be from a 87 300SD going to a 81 300SD.

Thanks in advance!

__________________


Experience : what you receive 3 seconds after you really needed it !!



86 300SDL 387,000? Motor committed suicide
81 300SD 214,000 "new" 132,000 motor
83 300SD 212,000 parts car
83 300SD 147,000

91 F700 5.9 cummins 5spd eaton 298,000
66 AMC rambler American 2dr auto 108,000
95 Chevy 3/4 ton auto 160,000
03 Toyota 4runner 180,000 wifes

It's no trouble at all.

You go out and buy a '86 or an '87 and you get the engine for free............without the work of installing it.

that may require more skill and patience than retrofitting...

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Ok , So if you have the 81' and its engine is bad will the one you got for free in the 86 or 87 you paid for work in the 81??

The removal and install is the fun part just wondering if it will work.
welder and torch on hand but I would prefer just hand tools.

Also if electrical is involved do I need a degree or a test light ?

__________________


Experience : what you receive 3 seconds after you really needed it !!



86 300SDL 387,000? Motor committed suicide
81 300SD 214,000 "new" 132,000 motor
83 300SD 212,000 parts car
83 300SD 147,000

91 F700 5.9 cummins 5spd eaton 298,000
66 AMC rambler American 2dr auto 108,000
95 Chevy 3/4 ton auto 160,000
03 Toyota 4runner 180,000 wifes

Trans would need to be changed as well.
Dont know if the sump would fit.
Any electronics would be a PITA.
Why not just fit another 617 ?

__________________
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

buy an sdl, problem solved

__________________
1986 300SDL, 211K,Dealership serviced its whole life
1991 190E 2.6(120k)
1983 300D(300k)
1977 300D(211k)

I think it'd be a piece of cake. Would have to run new wiring to the starter though, and then the driveshaft is probably bigger on the later model. Any other electronics are a nonissue, they are easily left behind/removed.

Well, reason he's asking is we might be doing some business if it's feasible and not too much of a PITA adapting it up.

My wrecked and replacement 87 300D are both still in NC. Living in a apartment since moving to SA, haven't had the place to ship both of them down here.

Wrecked one only had 150K on it, damn good engine and I'd just completed overhauling the beast over 2 years and getting it to where I wanted it a couple months before it got smacked. Drivetrain is still intact and still mobile at low speeds, body is smashed in aft of the rear passenger door and body is warped to hell.

My replacement 87 has 219K on it, possibly even more because of an issue way back when on the carfax report (odometer may have been replaced). Basically, I'm back at square one as far as getting the replacement up to speed, perhaps even more to do on this one. Just didn't have the opportunity before I got laid off and had to move.

It would certainly cut down on expenses if I could move both vehicles down here, and transplant all of the nearly-new parts from the wrecked one to the replacement. But at the end of the day, I'd still have a running OM 603 engine and good leak-free tranny as spares.

In short, if this is doable, soothappens would provide a place and his assistance in getting the replacement up to speed, and in return he'd get a OM 603 drivetrain for his 81 SD. We'd have an entire parts car to pull any parts off of that would need to be transferred over to make the 603 functional in his 81.

One thing I can think of offhand would be the electronic idle speed control.

Any thoughts on if this is doable?

__________________
Just say "NO" to Ethanol - Drive Diesel

Mitchell Oates
Mooresville, NC
'87 300D 212K miles
'87 300D 151K miles - R.I.P. 12/08
'05 Jeep Liberty CRD 67K miles
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club

87 300d will not be a piece of cake. 124 mounting parts instead of 126 mounting parts. So you'd have to dig up or fabricate those... then you'd have to worry about the rad, mechanical vs electric speedo, etc.

Should be an easy sell or trade -- the 603 drivetrain for a 617 drivetrain. The 603 engine only gets about 5 mpg more than the 617 and is not as robust. So even if it were an easy swap, your car would not be as good. But that's a mute point since if you can do a swap like this, you can handle anything either engine throws at you

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What Would Rudolph Do?
1975 300D, 1975 240D, 1985 300SD, 1997 300D, 2005 E320 , 2006 Toyota Prius

Retmil46 PM sent.

As he said I'm in need of an engine and he needs a place to do all the work so thats why I was asking.

So what I understand is the transmission in the 81 will not work .
The sump may have clearance issues.
Mounts will need to be modified.
Drive line cut to fit.
Electrical PITA (other than the Idle speed what other electrical are we looking at)

Other than the" simple" stuff Any more Items to add to this summary ??

I appreciate all the replies .

__________________


Experience : what you receive 3 seconds after you really needed it !!



86 300SDL 387,000? Motor committed suicide
81 300SD 214,000 "new" 132,000 motor
83 300SD 212,000 parts car
83 300SD 147,000

91 F700 5.9 cummins 5spd eaton 298,000
66 AMC rambler American 2dr auto 108,000
95 Chevy 3/4 ton auto 160,000
03 Toyota 4runner 180,000 wifes

Electronics for the AC are different, uses a large relay by the ABS brain. Trans is diff for the 603. Vacuum system is different. Probably more things I am too lazy to look up. Coolant expansion tank. Air intake assy. Radiator is from memory. Aux fan cooling is different. Many hoses. Tach is driven off the emissions/EGR computer.

I would just reinstall a 617 or sell your SD for parts and buy an SDL. You are going to spend FAR more than you are dreaming to do this swap. This is on top of your 'free' labor.

Hell you can find a dead 350SD for cheap and drop a 3L 603 into for a reliable SWB 603 car. I would like one. But since my SDL runs well, shifts fine, new suspension, just looks like ass, I will keep what I have going.

__________________
I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

Say no more you said the C word and V word but mainly the AC word!
After all the items you stated in this post it went from fun to Work.
I was just checking the water didnt realize how many sharks where hiding down below.

retmil46 if you need the help and space the offer still stands PM me. Dont worry about the engine.

Thanks for the help guys !!

__________________


Experience : what you receive 3 seconds after you really needed it !!



86 300SDL 387,000? Motor committed suicide
81 300SD 214,000 "new" 132,000 motor
83 300SD 212,000 parts car
83 300SD 147,000

91 F700 5.9 cummins 5spd eaton 298,000
66 AMC rambler American 2dr auto 108,000
95 Chevy 3/4 ton auto 160,000
03 Toyota 4runner 180,000 wifes