Well, its not a work truck. I'd drive it.

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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.

I've had a Jagrolet before so why not a Chevrobenz?

Engine swaps if done well is no big deal, I would even hazard a guess that nearly half of Ford's most famous car, the Model T, come with SBC's instead of Ford mills....

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Stable Mates:
1987 300TD 310K mi (Hans)
2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee OM642 165k mi (Benzrokee)

I’ve had a Volvo 244 w/ 350. Fun when it wanted to run. Kept breaking things due to the hp.

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1993 e300
1995 e320
1994 e320
2006 s500 4matic
2004 Jeep wj overland
2001 Ducati 748
2004 Honda shadow aero

Anyone who would put a M-B Diesel in a Chevrolet pickup must be a total idiot. Believe me - I know!


Dan

Unless you drive off-road, lots of ground clearance is not needed or desirable. Lowering slightly seems like a reasonable approach to improving its on-road manners. Note that I'm talking about slight lowering to improve stability and handling on-road. I am not advocating for the slammed low-rider "look" which is ridiculous and absurd.

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Current fleet:
1998 E300 turbodiesel
2008 E320 bluetec - leaky oil cooler seals replaced
2012 S350 bluetec
2015 GL350 bluetec

Sold:
1996 Passat TDI
1997 E300 diesel

Intellectually I certainly can't argue against this. My current Subaru aside, all the cars I've owned have been low ground clearance and handled my daily needs just fine most of the time. If a truck isn't going to venture beyond those things, there's no need for more than that.

My personal preference is certainly the other way, though. Not a huge fan of lifted trucks either though, for that matter.

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617 swapped Toyota Pickup, 22-24 MPG, 50k miles on swap

Engine swaps are nice to dream about but strikes me as headaches on the hoof. Little chit will go wrong from now on.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

As long as the powertrain being swapped into said vehicle is of minimal operational complexity (like OM606 or earlier) then its not that big of a deal as long as its thought out and done well....

I swapped an OM601 into a formerly gas W201.....and did it with all MB proper parts to make it a 190d....was one of the most reliable cars I ever had....covered many tens of thousands of miles trouble free before retired from rust.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

that ford is nice. I hate lowered trucks too, and cars. I like to go to blm land,or national park land. To do that I need ground clearance. Dirt or gravel road Is the only way to really camp.

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran