engine swap

[diesellieber]

I'd like to try putting a 79 300SD (116 chassis) engine in an 83 300SD. Am I in for a lot of problems?

[kerry]

No.

[diesellieber]

"no"... direct bolt in then?

You're only over in Denver...(I'm in Provo) How about coming over and helping me?

There will be some very minor issues to work out. The worst will be the fact that the 82 has pin type glow plugs and the 79 has serial.

The easiest way to solve this is to buy a quick glow kit that has buhings that allow pin type glow plugs to be put into a serial glow plug head.

Good luck,

[300SDog]

Larry, I'm wondering if opposite can also be done...... say putting pencil plug engine into older loop style glow plug pre-79 chassis.

Scratching my head, am thinkin '79 would be cut-off year for anybody who wanted to put say, modern 616/617 diesel engine into highly desireable 110 finbody........ assuming that glow plug update kits dont reach back to 1960's vintage.

[mr. Goodwrench]

The '83 's were better engines than the '79. Among other things mentioned is the fact that Mercedes used Tungsten Carbide coated cam followers starting in '82 to cut down on wear. What happened to the '83 engine?

[P.E.Haiges]

Larry, Diesellieber and Mr. Goodwrench,

My '78, '79 and '80 300SD all have parallel (PIN) type GP.

MY '80 300SD has carbide cam followers and I think the '78 and '79 do too.

The '80s and older do not have the Bowden cable for the transmission but you may be able to hook up the original one.

P E H

[diesellieber]

Larry,
thanks for the heads up on the glow plugs... I'll check mine out and see what I have.

Mr. GoodWrench:
The previous owner overheated the engine. The only damage as far as I can tell is that the cylinder rings apparently lost their temper. An overzealous friend came over and tore the whole engine apart and I don't have the confidence that I can get it back together right. So when a chance came to pick up this 79 for cheap, I grabbed it. The 79 has a bad trans, but is in pretty good shape otherwise. I guess the choice is try to make the 79 engine work in the 83, or make the 83 trans work in the 79. The 83 has a better paint job.

P E H: what is the function of the Bowden cable, and how does a 78 handle that function?

My thanks to everyone for the help so far.

[P.E.Haiges]

Diesellieber,

The Bowden cable affects the shift points of the transmission on the 126 series with the 617 engine. Its on the top of the valve cover along with the EGR vacuum lines and the other end is connected to the transmission. I don't have a 126 with a 617 engine, so I can't look at one. I have a 126 with the 603 engine but that is compleltly different.

The 116 series have a metal rod from the accelerator linkage to the transmission which did the same job as the Bowden cable, affecting the shifts depending on how far the accelerator is depressed.

I think the differenced in transmissions will be your biggest problem. I'm sure the GP are the same type.

And yes, overheating the engine will destroy the rings. Been there, done that in a 220D. Engine ran perfect when hot, but very difficult to start when cold, I mean even in 70* weather. I had to use electric heater even in the summer or do a roll start.

P E H

[240Demon]

PEH...there are not any 116's or 126's with the 616 motor...

[P.E.Haiges]

240Demon,

Opps, I meant a 617 engine. I seem to think a 116 body should have a 616 engine. It seems logical, doesn't it?

I will correct the error.

BTW, nothing has a 616 motor, but something might have a 616 engine.

P E H

I just swapped a lot of 1979 and 1980 parts around. I got bit. after putting the 1979 300sd upper oil pan or lower crankcase' from the 79300sd to the 80 300sd I did not notice the 79 crankcase had no input for the oil blowby. the 79 directed its blow buy into the big u that hooks onto the turbo. there was no way to recover the oil back to the crank case.

[P.E.Haiges]

Matt,

I'll have to look at my '79 and '80 300SDs and see if mine are that way.

P E H