My '79 to '78 300d engine swap is just about done, I ended up having a shop do the swap, ran out of time and nice weather. The donor engine has the stock "loop" type glow plugs, the recipient car was updated at some point to the pencil type fast glow plugs. There is a bosch sticker in the engine compartment that says something like "this engine has been updated to a fast glow system".
My question is: would the update have changed anything except the plugs and jumper wires? is there something else in the update that would not let the loop type plugs work?
the wrench at the shop told me that all my (loop style) glow plugs were bad, his test light wouldn't light when he jumped from the battery to any of the plugs. they are only about 3 weeks old, and when I changed them (while still driving the donor car) it made starting easier. not painless, but easier.
any hints much appreciated. -Andy

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andy t
'78 300d
'95 volvo 850, wagon
'86 300sdl - engine out, maybe I'll have it rolling by June

whole bunch o' bicycles

Wheelguru,
Last summer I installed an engine from a 1981 300d into a 1978 300d. Many parts needed swapped such as the airconditioning setup, alternator bracket, didn't use the EGR valve so I swapped the intake and exaust manifold, and the glow plug setup. This car was a very inexpensive (total cost less than $1000 for nice rust free 1 owner car with replacement engine) so I bypassed the timing device for the glow plugs from the 81 and used high amp manual button in the interior to send power through the harness to the glow plugs. It may sound primitave, but it worked well and is still working. In fact, my brother drove the car from Las Vegas, NV to Allentown, PA after the 9/11 incident when his flight was cancelled. He has since put over 20,000 miles on it with no issues. I don't know if this is the info that you needed, but good luck.

DieselNation

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82 240D - 257k
84 300d - 86k

If the relay and wiring has already been changed for using the pin plugs, just take the busing adapters and pin plugs from the old engine and screw them in place. If any of the glow plugs are bad just get new ones. The pin plugs are superior to the serial type if the electrical system is already updated to handle them.

Good luck,

thanks for the replies. Larry (and others) where can I get the pencil plugs that will fit this motor? I searched high and low last year trying to get new ones and ended up getting a four cylinder fast glow conversion kit just for the plugs. I was trying to get them by part number and everywhere I checked they told me that bosch had dicontinued that plug.

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andy t
'78 300d
'95 volvo 850, wagon
'86 300sdl - engine out, maybe I'll have it rolling by June

whole bunch o' bicycles

I'm sorry I can't be of more assistance. I have never seen one of the fast glow kits, but I have the impression that a bushing is used to reduce to the size of regular pin type plugs. Let us know what you find out.

Sorry,

I considered making an adaptor when I went through this before, and may have to again if the plugs ever go bad. thanks for the help.

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andy t
'78 300d
'95 volvo 850, wagon
'86 300sdl - engine out, maybe I'll have it rolling by June

whole bunch o' bicycles

When I worked as a tool and model maker, I made a set of bushings out of loop style GP so I could put the fast pin type GP in a 190D. They worked great. I shunted the firewall resistor and replaced the in- dash indicator resistor with a copper wire. I just had to guess at the time needed to energize the GP. The original pull starter and GP switch was used without modifications.

It is highly unlikely that all the loop style GP were bad. If the last one was bad or the ground connection open, they would all test bad the way there were tested. I would investigate further.

P E H

Wheelguru, I made the switch to the parallel plugs from the serial ones a couple of years ago using a 4-cyl kit consisting of 4 plugs and parallel wires, and one extra plug for my 5 cyl. No wiring changes or adapters were necessary. I glow the plugs for about 10 sec and then it starts right up. I don't have the part num with me, but I can track it down for you if you like. They work much better than the serial ones, IMO. I sure hope they still make them!

Use the pencil plugs, you already have the relay, winring, etc in place, and it will work off the key correctly. All you need is the adapters to covert the head to the smaller diameter glowplug.

Bosch still makes both types of glowplugs for all applications.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Where do you get the adaprers to fit the pin type GP into the larger loop type GP holes?

P E H

Here is a jpg of the Bosch packaging box of the parallel glowplugs (upper) that replace the series ones (lower). The thread sizes are exactly the same and no adapter is required.

Attached Thumbnails

 

will the one on the top work with the individual wires being attached to each plug? Thats the way my 81 td is set up for, but I just put an older style engine in(80).

F1101-88322 KIT for converting LOOP series GP to hotter pencil parallel system
both have the newer pencil type with a big base that fits the older cars like ours. the part number on the older ones has been replaced with another number(sorry don't have it right now) , but they are available. i just bought a new set about a month ago.
get an ohm meter and check the old ones , not just continuity, but OHMs, and see what they read. above 1 ohm is bad but it will test good the way your mechanice was doing it. should read .6 or .7 ohm. sometimes they test good with his method but they don't work, or not work right.
good luck

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Current money-pits:
96 Passat TDI
78 300D 100k miles(60miles/day)FOR SALE
91 Jetta Diesel 250k miles (80miles/day)
82 Toyota Diesel pickup 150k miles; out of service for a little while with a valve problem.
All on BelenBioDiesel
Past diesels:
01 Golf TDI
81 Isuzu P/U
85 Jetta
89 KW 425 cat
85 Pete 400 cat (currently still running the west coast with over 1.5 million miles)
81 KW 400 Cummins
77 Freightliner CO ???? Cummins (Buttercup)
57 180D lots of miles(gone but not forgotten)

dieselboy300,

Yes, the pin type style GP (upper picture) with the larger diameter thread will work with the individual wires. They are 12v GP so connecting the individual wires to them will give each plug ~12v.

The pin style GP will start your engine much faster than the loop style GP. In my opinion they are worth buying for all the waiting time they will reduce over the years you have your car.

Have you tried Phil the parts guy on this websit? He might be able to find the special pin type GP with larger diameter for you.

P E H

I assume you need the upgraded relay as well??
This site shows the full setup plus the relay.
F1101-88322 KIT for converting LOOP series GP to hotter pencil parallel system

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1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350