OM617.95 engine tuning

[4spdfox...+1]

Car is 1983 300CD with 1985 300D OM617 engine. Daily driver/restoration cruiser. We don't care enough about performance with this car to change any hard parts (turbos, manifolds etc) but we would like every drop of performance we can get out of the stock setup. I am talking about the simplest form of increasing power in a turbocharged car: adding more boost and more fuel. In this case that means asjusting the IP and adjusting/removing the ALDA correct? Nay sayers exit the thread, we understand the risks and we will be using a boost gauge and also an EGT gauge. I have been building engines for a long time, just never messed with Merc stuff.

1. What do I need to adjust/remove to increase boost and what does that piece look like?

2. How do I adjust the IP to add more fuel, where is that piece, and how much do I adjust it (if it is a screw, how much do I turn it and in which direction)?

3. How much timing should we run and where do I adjust timing?

4. How much boost is too much for the stock IP, i.e. at what point in terms of boost pressure will the IP no longer be able to keep up and therefor send the engine into a lean condition due to too much boost and a maxed-out IP?

Quick, simple responses with positive feedback will be greatly appreciated. We will be monitoring the EGT and boost, but i'm not worried about rods flying out of the block and pistons melting from one or two lean 0-60 mph runs until we get the boost and fuel right.

Thanks! We are looking for 18-20 psi and all the fuel the stock IP can manage from what I have been reading. How much power is this worth over stock?

[aaa]

1. Figure out what turbo you have, KKK or Garrett. Adjusting the wastegate is different on them. Or get a boost controller.

2. http://www.superturbodiesel.com/std/thread-ip-full-load-adjustment-procedure-for-the-mw-and-m-pumps-pyrometer-install

3. Dunno, I suppose someone's tried advancing it a few degrees. The angle the injection pump is bolted to the block controls timing, loosen it and it can move.

4. There's no such thing as lean. Although generating more boost than the pump can take advantage of is a waste and just generates heat. I think it's 14psi after modding the pump? The pump can't be modded very far.

[josha37]

ive done a 616 and a 617 now and to keep smoke down the 616 needs low 20's and the 617 ended up around the same. remove the alda, turn your delivery holders all the way clockwise (you have to adjust them individually to maintain a nice idle afterwords but its easy), and if the car feels like it drops off at high rpm adjusting the torque capsule in will correct that (much harder than the other steps, have to pull back cover off ip). Adjusting ip timing back to spec is the best bet but you will find the chain is probably stretched so it wont go back into spec without a offset key or new timing chain. good luck and have fun! deffinitly go to that link that was shared before me, all the tc adjustment stuff is in there just dont go to far or you wont like it (i promise )