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

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83 300TD Sable 402K " Work Truck "
81 300SD Gray 240K " Loner Car "
04 E320 Blue 90K " My Winter rig "
07 BMW X5 4.4 118K " My Summer rig"
04 Jetta TDI Wagon 168K " Wifes "
08 Toyota FJ 109K " Wifes winter rig "
04 Jetta TDI 120K " Daughters Car "

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.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

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.

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Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

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.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

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

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

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.

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1996 s10 zr2 with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1996 c2500 suburban with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1981 300sd with a turbo 617
Monte carlo figure 8 car

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 ?

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1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/10414-help-i-need-check-stretch.html

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/156207-photo-step-step-post-showing-w123-evaporator-removal-1983-240d-1982-300td.html?highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html

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

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1996 s10 zr2 with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1996 c2500 suburban with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1981 300sd with a turbo 617
Monte carlo figure 8 car

Couple quick videos

^ proof

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1996 s10 zr2 with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1996 c2500 suburban with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1981 300sd with a turbo 617
Monte carlo figure 8 car

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!

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1996 s10 zr2 with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1996 c2500 suburban with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1981 300sd with a turbo 617
Monte carlo figure 8 car

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!

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On the road, currently:
'83 300D (German spec.) 168k mi. - - Wolfgang (tucked snugly away for the winter!)
'87 300D 375k mi. - finally went over to "The Dark Side"
'87 300TD 225k mi.
Cannondale 66cm CAAD5 w/Campy/Jamis Aurora
Hujsak Custom Fixie/Landshark Track Shark Custom/Ahearne Custom 29'er

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

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83 300TD Sable 402K " Work Truck "
81 300SD Gray 240K " Loner Car "
04 E320 Blue 90K " My Winter rig "
07 BMW X5 4.4 118K " My Summer rig"
04 Jetta TDI Wagon 168K " Wifes "
08 Toyota FJ 109K " Wifes winter rig "
04 Jetta TDI 120K " Daughters Car "

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

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13