If you find a 77-84 Mazda B2000, that is an ideal swap candidate because the front crossmember swoops back to clear the oil pan. The downside is the firewall needs to be modified extensively, and the heater relocated. They do have the correct style throttle linkage, though.

why not just make a W126 into a truck? LOL. whunter only thought he had the ultimate camper

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Thanks,
Mark in NC

"Spark plugs?...We don't need no stinking spark plugs!"
1985 300SD "Der Silberne Schlitten" 420,000 mi


Wish these were diesel:
2003 Ford Club Wagon 130,000 mi

Oh my......

Speaking of making a pickup out of a sedan, there is a nice one in an older post on this forum.It was done very well, and classy too. I am thinking this might really be the way I go with my project.

there's a thread around here someplace of a guy putting an OM617a into a suburban. -CTH

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- cth350@gmail.com
http://www.111lakeside.com/

I may be able to get my hands on a 602 engine from a 1991 300D 2.5L from my friend for a good price....

Would this engine be peppy enough in a small size truck (Tacoma, Ranger, Nissan)?

Would there be much difficulty in mating that engine to the Ranger's gear box like the 617/Ranger project on this site (mentioned earlier in this thread)?

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1987 Mercedes 300SDL; SOLD
1985 Mercedes 300D; SOLD
2006 Honda Pilot - wife's ride; 122K;
1995 Toyota Land Cruiser - 3X locked; 182K

Bump...

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1987 Mercedes 300SDL; SOLD
1985 Mercedes 300D; SOLD
2006 Honda Pilot - wife's ride; 122K;
1995 Toyota Land Cruiser - 3X locked; 182K

The power is about the same as the OM617, so it should be able to motivate those trucks just fine. In all cases, HP is about the same as the stock base-model engine, but torque (what matters in a truck) is quite a bit more.

Cool - what about mating 602 with the Ford Ranger's manual 5-speed transmission... is there a kit for that kind of engine?!

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1987 Mercedes 300SDL; SOLD
1985 Mercedes 300D; SOLD
2006 Honda Pilot - wife's ride; 122K;
1995 Toyota Land Cruiser - 3X locked; 182K

I would do a search.

I would also guess no.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

There is not one that I know of. The Ranger's M5R1 transmission used a smaller bellhousing for the 3.0 and 4.0 V6s, and I am fairly certain that the 60x series uses a different bellhousing adapter than the 617, Mercedes liked to change things up between engine families.
The M5R1 was also a bit weaker than the M5R2 used in full sized pickups, so I wouldn't use that transmission. There are guys running some decently powerful Cummins 4BT engines in front of the M5R2, so it should be able to handle the 617 or 602 pretty well.

I've checked into this, and have talked straight to the horse's mouth. If you take both titles to the tax office, tell them that you took the cab off of "X" and put it on the Mercedes frame. They'll give you a "reconstructed" title for it, and you're legal eagle.

Of course over here in TX, there's no emission regulation for diesels. The IDI in my one ton has the pump cranked up as far as it will go. It rolls the smoke- perfect for tailgaters at low speed in high gear.

I've seen a couple of these little Jeep Comanchee pick-ups in your neck of the woods, all where 4X4 with that scrawny Dana 30 front, but there's a fellow in AL that stuffed an OM617 in one, and runs a divorced Yota case:

http://www.dieselbombers.com/diesel-engine-conversions/15577-mercedes-om617.html

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1984 W123 300D turbo
1989 SRW F-350 Reg. cab 4X4 &7.3 w/ Banks turbo
1993 Cherokee 2dr 2wd w/ 4.0 L6
2007 20ft Tiger car hauler trailer

That's another good swap candidate, and a D44 front out a ZJ is a bolt-in swap.
Pretty much anything that used a larger inline four or an inline six will fit this engine just fine.
I'm toying with swapping out the 258 in my Eagle with an OM617 when it finally dies.
There were only about 50-70 diesel Eagles built in the early 80s.

This is a great topic thread. Thanks to everyone.

I have had a dream to install a MB turbo diesel into an older Jeep Grand Wagoneer. I am long on automobile dreams and short on skills. I believe that the Jeep in earlier years came with a Chev turbo 400 trans. Would this be even possible to adapt?

May not be enough power to reach highway speeds - but I have not researched this yet.

Thoughts?
Opinions?

I have a factory rebuild from a 78 300SD that has less than 70,000 miles. (OM617 - I believe) Took engine out of car when it basically rotted out from under me.

Is this even feasable?

rusty

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91 350SDL - my DD
87 190D 2.5 - son's DD
00 E320 (wife will no longer drive a diesel)
87 300TD - project?
91 190E 2.6 - parts
91 350SDL - parts

ZJs had d30 fronts. Some had d44 rears but they are junk and made of aluminum.

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'86 300 SDL '83 300D Astral Silver/Blue
354k miles.. 326k miles..

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...ine=1310252049

I thought you could get a D44 front in the Grands with full time AWD? I looked at one under an XJ a while back, but wanted six lug hubs without piecing bit together, plus I like locking hubs.
I had a 75 Wagoneer, and the AMC 360 is not a speed demon. That thing would eventually get to where you were going, but an OM617 would do more to motivate that vehicle. TH400 is easily adapted with a 4x4 Labs kit, as long as you have about $1000 to spend. It would also be a good idea to ditch the 3.07 gears they came with and at least go to 3.55 or even 3.73s.
I think Mercedes was inspired by AMC to use vacuum to run everything, but Mercedes did a better job of it. Just try switching a Quadra-Trac case once you're stuck.