To be completely honest, I doubt I'll ever do it.

But there are plenty of guys out there who have installed a turbo without the sky falling.
5, 10 years later, no issues.

Me? I'm perfectly happy with the 72 horses I have. It's a hobby eeking a little more performance out of the thing. Not because I need to smoke someone off the line, but because I find incremental improvements satisfying.

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1981 240D 4sp manual. Ivory White.

Which of these lines? OEM is pretty fine at 10$ here each only (206) is 40$

615-070-56-32-MBZ
615-070-40-32-MBZ
615-070-42-32-INT

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1981 240D 4sp manual. Ivory White.

Not recommending it but in the past they actually had aftermarket turbo kit for the 240Ds. It was a physically smaller turbo then the ones on the 617.952s.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Yes they did and they sold decently and made the car get up and GO ! .

Now, consider why you never, ever see one, not even in the junkyards .

There's your answer .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

You will find little evidence of anyone ever blowing up a 616 with a turbo. Not a single anecdote from anyone who has done it. I sure as hell didnt when i went turbo

I chalked it up to old wives tales intrinsically related to old mercedes owners. Remember all the fussing that went on when people changed tire sizes? In reality both the 617 and 616 are hugely overbuilt motors and the 616 can easily handle a well conceived turbo setup despite lacking oil jets and ect

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This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

Are you still driving this car? How much boost did you go with?
From what I've read, a small amount shouldn't be much of an issue. I assume you also adjusted your pump for more fuel?

Aside from assembling the parts -turbo, oil housing plate from a turbo model, manifold, manifold adapter plate, and plumbing, the thing that puts me off a bit (also beyond me tool/expertise wise) is drilling into the top of the oil pan for the return line.

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1981 240D 4sp manual. Ivory White.

No, they didn't all blow up, they just began using and leaking oil a lot and smoking too so off they went and of course the folks who did this will never, EVER admit they're wrong (? remember the "you needn't ever change the oil at all fool ?) and still are embarrassed to admit the plain truth .

If it was a good thing there would be plenty of turbo charged 240D's and everyone would be after them for better fuel economy, lighter & better balanced weight and so on .

Physics, it's not rocket science .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

A couple of years ago I sometimes hung out on the Australian Mercedes forum and the turbo kits were being used over there. Also bought used.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I would not be interested in such a mod since all you would accomplish for the cost and effort would be to make an almost dangerously slow car just slow.

I think however, it is very definitely do-able on a Diesel. The problem with retrofitting a turbocharger to a gasser that in order to do it right it is a huge mod. Piston metallurgy should be changed and sodium cooled exhaust valves too. A reduction in compression ratio should also be considered. To not make such changes, boost must be very limited so as to avoid engine damage.

Check the engine specs on a car powered with both turbo and NA versions of the same engine. I have had both versions of a SAAB.

I think you're missing the point.

I don't drive a "dangerously slow" car; I drive a car that I thoroughly enjoy driving. I'm not trying to win a street race, save money, or dubiously accrue investment capital. I work on it myself as a hobby because I enjoy learning.

I doubt this is something I'd ever do, but if I did, I can think of far worse ways to enjoy myself than the cost of turbo parts and a few weekends spent breaking things.

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1981 240D 4sp manual. Ivory White.

Point taken Shern.

I rode the same shovelhead Harley for 24 years and used to laugh at the guys who spent a bundle on performance parts when after all that effort and cost any mid-size Japanese bike would easily outperform them. I did plenty of mods on that bike but mainly reliability mods such as belt primary, solid-state ignition and S&S carb.

You've got it right Shen ;

If it isn't any fun, don't waste your time with it .

I was looking at a non E.G.R. intake assembly and thinking about putting it on my '82 240D......

I have no illusions about the car's acceleration and speed, I drive fully loaded to other states, it goes fine, not very fast @ 60MPH .

Many are never going to grasp that it's cheaper, simpler, easier and FASTER to buy the faster vehicle you wanted in the firt place .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

These cars appeal to all types. I’m a tinkerer. Nothing is ever “done.”
When I was in high school (the apex of the Fast/Furious craze) I remember thinking the same thing: “If you want a faster car, save the time and money and stop flogging the Honda.” Now I empathize.

If I sprang for a Tesla, I’d be on the Tesla forums debating poxy upgrades and their salience. Does anyone really need 0-60 in under 2 seconds?? The faster part is only half of the equation

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1981 240D 4sp manual. Ivory White.

Actually, you can reach ' done ' status but even if you don't drive it, soon will be needing something else touched .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better