Charlie
I'm glad that someone finally decided to get a pipe fabricated up instead of the old trap on the OM 617 motor. I have the same motor and was wondering if there would be any advantage to getting this done.
PLEASE post what the car performed like and what kind of fuel mileage you get after the work is completed.
Thanks, you're a true pioneer,
Adam Bush

For the OM603 cars (1986-87, 300D/TD/SDL) you can have the new oxidation cat replaced with a straight pipe after the turbo, which is what was there originally. The MB dealers won't sell the straight pipe any more, but you can get it from plenty of aftermarket sources. IMPCO has it for $120.

For the 123 (1985 California 300D), I don't know if you can swap on the old style pipe... if the turbo outlet is in the same physical location, it would work, but I've never seen them to compare.

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Thanks for all the info guys... About 45 years or so ago I made up a drip pipe like the ones they show in the Mercedes books from an old injector line that had cracked.. Just use the one drip per sec..

The exhaust on my 85 TD California version has the CAT hooked to the exhaust header then to the Turbo whitch is forward .. after the turbo the pipe is straight to the muffler at the back of the car.. Making a pipe to replace the CAT would not be hard.. and would get rid of the EGR system.. Right now I am really busy but have a couple hours a day to weed things out..

I have the car running at the right temp now.. have cleaned electric fittings and tighten loose lines.. I plan to adjust the valves today.. Hope to check the timing but may not be able to today.. The work I have done has made it run better... I very much enjoy working on old cars.. wish I could just spend all day every day doing it..

Ken

Hi Ken-
Your problem sounds like something I delt successfully with a few months ago. Do a search under user name drawde and read the post, "Performance Problems (85 300D turbo).
Good Luck.
Ed

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Ed
1985 300D w/ 196,000 miles

Hay guys... Thanks a lot...

Special thanks to drawde who sent me back to some post that I had done a search for before but had no luck...

And an extra special thanks to h2odiesel who wrote some thing like remove both ends of line and blow... I did.. but nothing came out the other end.. but could hear it at the firewall... Removed the valve on the wall... The rubber hose at the bottom where it attaches to the line from the intake was broken.. Long time broken from the dirt on it... I stuck the line into what was left on the valve and put a quick tie to hold it.. put a quick tie to the valve to hold it to a wire on the firewall.. Took the rig out for a drive... It runs great.. Will sleep better tonight.. and sort it out tomorrow if not to busy..


Thanks to all for the help.. Now at least it will keep up with the old 78 CD... Odds are it will not keep up with my wifes 92 300CE but maybe she will give me a head start..

Ken

Just an FYI -- the open campaign is a lifetime free warranty. I'm getting my trap oxidizer replaced this monday, free of charge.