has anyone Transplanted MB engine to pickup?
 

Has anyone found an easy/reliable way to transplant a 300D drivetrain into a pickup body???? I know that the Chevy S-10 was a good choice for my 190D drivetrain, but what about the 300D? Has anyone here done that? I've wondered about turning my 300D into a van, or a pickup truck with a sleeper bed in the back . . . lots of welding . .. LOL!!!!

Transplant
 

A 4B Cummins would be a much better choice. It has much more torque and will accept a variety of transmissions.

If you can find a pickup which will handle the 8 or 900# of the cummins.

I've considered eventually putting a 95 E300 engine and transmission in my 97 Ford F150:). I think it would be a good combination.

Well, I figure the body of my '83 300D will rust off before I get to 300K on my enigne, so really looking to use my existing drivetrain. The F150 seems to have a long enough hood area to fit the 5-cylinder engine. anyone do that yet? And shat about Vans that could be used for camping in the back???

i believe there's a kit to mount a OM617 to a toyota w56 transmission. I'd like to do that swap... it would be just about the perfect size for a small 4x4. Should be a power upgrade from the gutless 22RE too.. HP is fairly similar but the diesel has much better torque.

Right - that adapter is here: OM617 to Toyota W56 5 speed adapter kit | 4×4 Labs

Looks like a quality piece. There have been some documented swaps on IH8MUD.com and 4btswaps too I believe. There have been some good transplants of 617 into a Jeep body. Looked and sounded great.... :)

Too bad it's not big enough for a Land Cruiser - that's what I'm looking to do eventually.

Good luck -
James

what about those inline 6 turbodiesels from the later benz diesels? Those put out over 150 hp right? I know some of the heads were bad.. but i thought some were good as well...

a friend of a friend has a 4 cyl benz engine in a samurai with toyota running gear... that would be a fun little machine, probably sips fuel too.

They weigh about 750#- not much more than the 617.

There was a thread on here a while back where a guy transplanted a 617 into an 80's Mazda pickup. I remember he lives in Canada, and posted some video.

Edit: WHunter just bumped the thread. It was a 616. Pretty good explanation of everything that went into it.

Starting here is where he changed his mind from the 616 to the 617.
really incredable talented guy.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/2096937-post21.html

Charlie

Now I want one of those sprinters or T1s!!!! Think I can find a good body with lunched engine for cheap, to drop my engine in by the time I retire????

I am a member of several Toyota forums and the OM617 is becoming a very popular swap. I am putting one in a 1970 FJ-40 now.. I have seen several threads of others putting them into toyota pickups.

Or, how 'bout I get Grandpa's welding gear out in SoCal, and a lot of bracing, remove the back seat, build a base, and a box to start a van conversion? What if any, would have to be done to the suspension? (There I go again, starting trouble!!!!). Or the possibility of dropping a truck bed behind the front seat and sealing off behind the seat with the torch? Anyone know of an existing truck bed that would drop on and bolt on?