I am in the midst of my V8 to diesel swap in my SEC. At this point I have both drivetrains sitting next to each other on the garage floor. Looking at them, the 560 looks enormous, not to mention alot more complicated. So I gained some satisfaction that one of the benefits of this swap is I was going to shave a few pounds. Wrong! Just did a bit of searching around and found that the M117 weighs ~452 lbs and the OM617 is 585 lbs. Good lord, I know the 560 has an aluminum block and all but the thing is huge.This was really surprising data. Well, as I said, lightening wasn't my goal in this swap, just thought it would be a nice added bonus, well at least it will be faster... wait, nevermind
Why am I doing this again?

How about going from 12 mpg on premium to 25 on diesel. No timing chain/guide/tensioner issues...

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

My research says the 617A weighs more like 675--same as an old 270 gmc.

Oh I know, that last comment was a joke. I wouldn't be going through all this if I didn't see some significant benefits.

Really PanZZer? 675? That is ridiculous. Where did you get those numbers? Wish I had some of scale I could use since I have these both out.

Are you adding heavier springs to the front end?

Diesels are heaveee

I wasn't planning on it, although I might go with an airbag setup. I have also eliminated a lot of stuff from the engine bay, but not 200#s worth.

Why a 617 and not a 606?

Great idea btw. I have considered such a swap but using a 606 with a larger turbo and elements.

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83 300TD (need rear wiper assembly dead or alive)
84 300SD Daily driver
85 300TD almost 400k miles and driven daily.
98 E300D *sold
86 300SDL *sold and made flawless 10 hour journey to new home.

603 in a CE would be great IMHO. Sure a 606 would be cool in either but would also cost a lot more.

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08 R320 CDI current

Past
95 E420
87 300D Turbo 5spd
90 300TE
83 300SD
85 300TD
92 400E
85 190D

I guess for familiarity of the 617, plus, I'm going for simplicity on this car so I wanted to stick with the old mechanical setup, not to mention I got the whole 617 motor/trans for $300. A 606 would be sick though. Maybe once I'm driving this Ill keep my eyes open in the next couple years for one to swap out.

To be honest I wasn't familiar at all with the 606 until I googled it after you mentioned it. I am a bit intrigued and hope something stumbles across my path sometime.

Before you start....keep in mind a lot of states require engines that are the same year or NEWER than the chassis with a swap to be legal.

You may want to find out your local laws before committing to a certain engine.

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Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
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Section 609 MVAC Certified
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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Got it covered, The county over, where my parents live, does not have E-check or anything. So it will be registered there. Funny though that this car, legally, will not pass E-check, yet will be 10 times more eco friendly then it was originally.

That is a lot of steel. The 7.3 diesel in my old F350 weighs in at ~970, and that's for only 3 more cylinders (but another head and a much larger block. And intake, exhaust, okay, it makes sense).

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1985 300D-189k The 'UD', Ivory and Pinkamino
1979 300D-211k Dark Gray, Parchment
A 1980 Harley-~166k and
A 1994 Ford diesel pickup-349k and
A 1990 gasser Volvo wagon-145k

Feel free to post pictures of this operation.

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-Louis

'87 300D Anthracite

I was thinking about starting a build thread but being so busy, i know this is going to take a while and didnt want to drag it on. so here is a few pictures to get goin. Maybe it will be some motivation.