Help checking out engine, Rhode Island
 

The request for someone checking out a 617 for me in Indiana turned out not to be needed. The eller was not very helpful and it sounded more and more like a waste of time on a worn out motor. Especially as he let slip that he had already sold the 140k motor, but wanted me to come out and see a higher mileage (250k+) on instead. Ugh.:mad:

Anyway. I'm exploring the option of a 603 in my w123 wagon. I've got a contact who saved an engine/trans as a spare for his SDL. He doesn't sound confident enough to start it for me or answer too many technical questions.

Is anyone in the Rhode Island area willing to go look at a 603 for me? Maybe even start it up? (He said it's been sitting for five years).

It's only 6 hours one way from me, so I might just make the trip myself. But I'm also not an expert on 603 engines, having never owned one.

Thanks again.

603 into a 123 chassis? I'm sure someone has done something like that but I'll bet it took some serious doing. The space will be tight and I'd be surprised if it could be done without fabricating some custom motor mount arms. maybe even fooling with the radiator mount position.

That being said, I've always thought that a 602 engine would be a very nice upgrade for a 123 chassis. It is about 5 inches shorter that the 6 pot 603, it puts out virtually the same HP (123 HP for the 87 engines a bit less for the 90-93 engines) as the 617, weighs less, gets much better fuel mileage, quieter, no valve adjustments. The 602 is occasionally a problem with a cylinder head but much less frequent than the 603 with the original #14 cylinder head.

Originally came mated to a 2.65 differential so a 2.88 from an 1985 123 sedan would be pretty close but even the original 123 wagon's 3.07 would no be terrible.

the OM602 would also allow a number of more readily available manual transmissions as well because its starter is on the driver's side, if that was ever a consideration.

I think someone in iceland did a 60x into 123 and posted here.

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I got you, bro

Your not the only one! I too think it would be a upgrade! I would love to have the simplicity of the w123 chassis but the engineering of the om602. Better mpg is always a nice plus as you say no more valve adjustments!

I don't know how so many folks can drive these cars, and only do a valve adjustment at the recommended interval. I am always under the cover, I can always tell when an intake gets tight...Start losing mpg, and noticing black puffs....I get under there and sure enough, a tight valve. On the 78, its even worse as she starts clanking even more :P

I doubt it will ever happen but I would love to stuff an 602 into a pickup of some kind. A great dreaming is to mate a diesel engine into an American pickup of some kind.....Though I think if I end up with this church property...the rest of my days will be spent stripping siding :P

You might consider putting new cap and locking nuts on your valves... That is recommended in the FSM....