This sounds like a great idea. I hope it works out for you. I considered doing a 7.3 Power Stroke swap into my 71 Chevy but the new diesels are too expensive for me at this point. I also heard a rumor that the emissions wouldn't work for the laws in my county.

mechmagcn, can you post pics of your finished swap?

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Rare like the ruby at the bottom of the sea. Beautiful like the sparrow in the kitten's jaw.

1983 Mercedes Benz 300D = DD
1971 Chevy C20 = Project

The guy here in North Tx making the kit wants aroud a grand for the compressor and bracket , thats more than a wagonfullajack markup.

I don't think any of the trans that were put behind a 617 weighed that much. I can pick up a manual trans by myself. And there's no way I can pickup that much. I'd say they weight closer to 100-150 pounds. Two people can carry a AT pretty easy.

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I shipped sd tranz thru greyhound and barely slipped under the 150 lb limit--that pallet was lightweight!

If I understand you correctly, you are saying that a compressor and bracket to mount on a 616/617 is $1,000? Tell the guy that he's out of his mind and get a straight forward, standard aftermarket Sanden compressor mount. I have one on each of my Euro 240D's. The Sanden is a GREAT compressor for aftermarket or retrofit a/c systems. Find someone with the great big aftermarket a/c products catalog and I'll bet you find the bracket in there.

If push comes to shove, I might turn loose of the bracket off my parts car, but it won't be cheap. It will be much cheaper than $1,000 though.

Is the sanden the radial gm hocky puck compressor? The one the guy sells in kit form is the type vintage air sells -The small aluminum case ones around 10" long

No the Sanden is the aftermarket one that is 10" long. It's made in Sachse or Wylie Texas. It is the mainstay of the aftermarket, add on a/c market. It's a great compressor with the same mounting on all of them but with several variations in both capacity and fitting configuration. In most people's estimation the Sanden is VASTLY superior to the "hocky puck," which is the GM R4 that came on the late 123 cars.

Yes the guy with the overpriced kit is around the east side of big D. So you have a parts car with sanden brackets? What Benz diesels came with them? I didn't know any did.

There were no MB diesels that came with Sanden compressors from the factory. These are Euro cars, that is, they were not US models, but were originally delivered in Europe with no a/c. When they were brought to the US, aftermarket air conditioning was added.

Many auto supplies have a paper catalog that is a couple of inches thick with every kind of aftermarket part you can imagine. I fully expect that these brackets can be found in one of these catalogs. The bracket mounts the Sanden compressor solid, so there is an adjustable idler pulley above it. You will need that too.

In your situation, adding air to a non MB car, you would be MUCH better off with a Sanden than rigging up an R4 as used in late 123 MB's. The R4 is probably the weakest link in the refrigeration portion of one of these cars. Your eliminating the R4 for a Sanden would be a DRASTIC improvement.

Alternative compressor and/or mount for the Euro w123

The above link should take you to a thread that has an aftermarket part number in the second or third post of the thread. Google that manufacturer name and part number and I bet you will find the bracket.

Sanden compressors only cost $300 or so. I can't imagine that bracket costing $700. Once you find a source for the bracket, ask them about the idler.