The engine in my 79 300SD is gone and I'm looking at the possibility of replacing it with a used engine. I believe my car has an OM617.950 engine. I saw several 1982-1985 300SDs for sale and am not sure if those engines can be swapped for mine. I don not have the ability to do the work myself and the car is located 30 miles outside of Yuma, AZ. Anyone know of someone local that might do the work for me?

This is a really nice W116 with no rust and the Climate control servo was rebuilt by a previous owner and works pissa! I hate to run this into the junk yard cause I know how rare the car is in this condition.

Any advice?

Thanks in advance

NH_Bert

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1979 300SD 83k miles Astro Silver Metallic/Black leather #3447
1990 350SDL 202k miles (3L engine from an 87 300D)Black/Grey leather
2006 Pleasure-Way Class B MoHo (Sprinter chassis) 134k miles
2005 E320CDI 270k (car is sooo fast - I can't believe it's a diesel!!!)

the 116 motors have a different oil pan, and oil filter arrangement from the later motors.
other than that, they should be able to fit.

the pan, and filter bases will need to be swapped over. (the oil filter likely leaks anyway, so swapping it gives you the opportunity to replace the gasket!)

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

So the oil pan and filter base from the 79 need to be put onto the donor engine and then the replacement engine will fit? Is that something anyone who can change an engine can do?

Any advice on what to look for in a donor engine? What if I find a wreck - how can I tell if the engine is any good?

Thanks in advance

Bert

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1979 300SD 83k miles Astro Silver Metallic/Black leather #3447
1990 350SDL 202k miles (3L engine from an 87 300D)Black/Grey leather
2006 Pleasure-Way Class B MoHo (Sprinter chassis) 134k miles
2005 E320CDI 270k (car is sooo fast - I can't believe it's a diesel!!!)

An engine out of an 81-85 300TD, 82-85 300D/CD should work as well with the same modifications, right, John? Just have to disable the SLS pump if you get a TD engine or retrofit rear SLS from a 500/560SEL

How can an 83K mile engine be gone? Are you sure it doesn't just need a head gasket or IP refurbishment? You'd want to go through a replacement engine thoroughly before installing including a compression- or even leak down test. Why not do that on your engine first?

Sixto
MB-less

I agree with sixto. When you say "the engine is gone" what do you mean and how did you decide?
If someone else decided that for you, perhaps a second opinion is in order, unless the vehicle used the same oil for the past 83,000 miles, then threw a rod through the block.

It is rare for the engines to go so quickly.

Personal Recommendation: Get a second opinion, which may save you considerable money.

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Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

There also may be an issue with the mounting of the AC compressor on some engines....later engines.

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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.

You need someone competent to do the engine swap. Johnny lunch bucket will likely be trying to make time and screw it up. Entire parts cars (300D/SD/TD) can be found for $500 or so. I hear the price of scrap is down so perhaps cars are cheaper.

You want to reseal most of the things on the engine while it is out. I would also freshen the trans because seals can leak from age if not miles.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

I think that is the idea. Someone should be able to do that who can swap an engine. It will be a little more work though. Don't junk it whatever you do. How far from home are you? I'd be tempted to tow it home while i collected my engine. It's not exactly a fix you can do quick unless you just get lucky and find a good engine nearby. Ideally you can find a rusty car that runs and test the engine. Other than that trusting the seller or a bench testing setup but that is hard sort of. There is probably a good post on that on the forum somewhere. I've always driven my donor cars.

Good luck. I bought a 1975 300D that i think has that engine in it. It may be blown. The ip oil line broke . What happened to your engine?

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What Would Rudolph Do?
1975 300D, 1975 240D, 1985 300SD, 1997 300D, 2005 E320 , 2006 Toyota Prius

Swapping a pan from another engine, then wouldn`t it be a good idea to replace the rear Main Seal? I know they are a PITA to replace the Rope Seal.

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

I'd say swapping the pan REQUIRES changing the rope seal.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Thanks Guys,

Here's a link to my post when it died about 2 years ago:
OM617, grinding sound, sudden loss of oil pressure and loss of power.

At the time I had just opened a new biz and was swamped with stuff so just put it away. Now I'd like to address the problem somehow.

When it stopped running the engine oil level was fine however, the engine sounded like a cement mixer leading up to this problem for several months. Just sounded like maybe a bearing was going bad or something like it.

My signature show the car has 83k but not today. It did when I bought it. I leave it here in AZ as my daily driver (or did anyways). I only drove it about 5 mos every year (maybe 12k each year) and of course the odom. stopped working so I'm guessing it has under 150k today.

I would believe it's still got good compression but maybe has some damage to the bottom of the engine which sounds expensive to me. Guess I thought it would be easier to have someone replace the engine than rebuild it. Also, I live in NH so bringing it back there 3200 miles is not really an easy feat for me.

Thanks again and I look forward to hopefully hearing back from some of you.

Bert

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1979 300SD 83k miles Astro Silver Metallic/Black leather #3447
1990 350SDL 202k miles (3L engine from an 87 300D)Black/Grey leather
2006 Pleasure-Way Class B MoHo (Sprinter chassis) 134k miles
2005 E320CDI 270k (car is sooo fast - I can't believe it's a diesel!!!)

You mean something like this? 1980 Mercedes 300SD

Sixto
MB-less