Whats involved in adding a turbo to a non-turbo 79 300TD
 

Found a 79 300TD in good shape and good price. But would like to add a turbo.
Is it easier to add a turbo engine then make a non-turbo a turbo?
Was sure there was a post about this before, but I cant find it.

Thanks. Jay

In order to do it right, you would need to remove the non-turbo engine and install a turbo one. In order to make use of the increased available torque, it would also make sense to swap in the rear differential from a turbo car, along with the speedometer (or just the whole gauge cluster) in order to keep it accurate. Not the easiest job in the world, but it can be done.

Adding a turbo to a non-turbo motor is probably not going to give you the results you want unless you do a complete teardown and rebuild, changing a lot of things in the process.

Yes !!
You can put a turbo on it but MB proved during their development of the 617turbo that you will destroy it. Different pistons, oil squirters, much bigger oil pump, sodium filled valves just for starters.
There are some after market turbos about, particually for RH drive cars, MB didnt turbo RH drive 617s. Just remember a NA 617 is a big improvement on a 616.

Find a turbo car at the jy. Grab the turbo, exhaust and intake manifold, exhaust downpipe, air filter housing, oil filter housing, turbo oil lines, and injection pump.

Or take the whole turbo engine, with the added benefits of being more robust.

It's not cheap to to do piecemeal, unless the turbo engine you're grabbing bolt on parts from is toasted, you may as well grab that whole turbo engine.


Differential is optional, it will improve fuel mileage.

the transmissions are different also, as is the method of measuring pedal movement on the transmission... it's frowned upon to use NA trans behind a turbo motor, but it's been done.

Your 79 probably has the 3:46 differential. the turbo W123, 82 - 84 have the 3:07 and the 85 has the 2:88 diff.

The spedometer is geared to the diff. so grap the spedo with the diff if you pull one.

You can throw a turbo on a NA engine, it will work.................... for a while.

Charlie

ahem, try to ignore the naysayers. i turbed my 616 and drive it everyday, it can be done and is not that hard if you are mechanicly inclinded. that being said be careful and if you love your car and want to keep it forever dont modify anything.

Did you put in the oil squirters and oil cooled pistons ?
At least you were really honest... that last sentence is really true....

Have you posted pics of your turbo'd 616 ?

Yea there have been pics, videos, discussions. The engine internally is 100% stock.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-performance-tuning/293416-couple-quick-videos.html

^ proof :P

I'm Melting !!!
 

You have to remember folks...Mercedes was building an engine for the ROW as well as USA during which time had a 55mph speed limit. iirc.

Being as it was to be used on the speed limit free autobahns of Germany, it needed squirters etc if it was turbo'd.

I have turbo'd a few n/a engines myself that folk said would melt, they didn't , although I never drove them long and hard, understanding their limits.

There was a company in the USA that was offering a turbo kit for the 240D at one time !

Guess who ?

http://www.superturbodiesel.com/std/thread-callaway-240d-turbo-article-with-pics


.

I have turbo'd two non turbo engines the 2.2 ecotec in my cavalier (14 lbs) and my 240d (~20 psi). Long live boost!

Speedo head?
 

I don't think that will get 'er done. You need the drive gear from the transmission, I believe.

Jay

P.S. You'll need the entire exhaust. You'd be better off switching out the engine and transmission, as a unit. I don't know that it will be easier, necessarily, but you will be happier with the end result. Driving up a mountain with the fam is NOT when you want to melt a piston or five. Intercooler and EGT gauge a total must. Lots of work. Better yet, just buy an '84!

Yah I remember now that is was better to swap out the whole engine and tranny. Shes a clean rig and I have a strong engine in a rusted out SD. Will just swap out it all. Another thing I forgot to ask is was it 84 the last of the Super bullet prof 617? I thought it was 81-85. So is 85 the engine they changed or was it 86? looking at a few different CD,SD,TD's and dont want the one that was changed from lets say the 83 turbo 617.

Thanks for all the help everyone.
Jay

617 thru 1985 in 300D's TD's and SD's