Hey all,
I have a 1985 300SD and it has over 400K miles. The OM617 is starting to get tired, but is still fairly reliable. I have had the car for 8 years and have grown attached to it. I am considering rebuilding the engine or finding a lower miles 617 to throw in it, but if I can get better power for the same price it makes sense to go that route. So, is there an engine that will go in a W126 that will throw me back in the seat that can be built for performance as well?

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Thanks,
Mark in NC

"Spark plugs?...We don't need no stinking spark plugs!"
1985 300SD "Der Silberne Schlitten" 420,000 mi


Wish these were diesel:
2003 Ford Club Wagon 130,000 mi

This would seem to be a distinction without a difference.

What "performance" is desired that is different from strong acceleration?

Strong lower end acceleration from torque as well as upper end hp.

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Thanks,
Mark in NC

"Spark plugs?...We don't need no stinking spark plugs!"
1985 300SD "Der Silberne Schlitten" 420,000 mi


Wish these were diesel:
2003 Ford Club Wagon 130,000 mi

Not the purpose of an SD.

This is silly. Any engine will go in there. It is only a matter of money.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk

An OM606 is probably your best bet. It's as close to "bolt in" as you could get aside from simply replacing the OM617.

I believe the 606 can be installed using mostly 603 hardware and fabbing custom intake and exhaust connections.

For performance, the 603 pump can be built and installed on the 606 but this is where the big money comes in. A 606 with a stock 603 pump will definitely not "throw you back in the seat"..

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-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250

G'head and put one of these in there.

5.0L 4V Aluminator XS Crate Engine M-6007-A50XS - FordRacingPartsByDonWood.com

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Current fleet
2006 E320 CDI
1992 300D - 5speed manual swapped

former members
1984 300D "Blues Mobile"

1978 300CD "El Toro"

Drop in a 3:92 Diff from a 220D (think that is what they had) and it will get you off the line and
push you back into the seat.
Quicker off the line, but your top end will suck along with fuel mileage.


Charlie


sent from my pos computer
she`s ready to blow.

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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

I have an 81 300d that has a broken odo at 230k (I have put about 100k more on it and was broken before I bought it). It has been a great reliable daily driver, but I can tell it will need an update at some point. The reason I bought the car was it was cheap, reliable, easy to work on and got pretty decent mileage.

I have always told myself if the engine gave up the ghost that I would put a small block v8 in its place, for a fun project car. Mind you this is not a prestine car, its pretty much a beater with crappy paint(although the interior is nice). Pretty sure it has been parked outside it's entire life, and was owned by a kid at some point, since there is crappy speaker wires going to the trunk under the floormats.

I always just thought it would be fun to have a sleeper benz, although it would require a lot more $ than the car is worth.

If it was a nice car I would just look for another 617, maybe a turbo? Maybe change the diff also?

before you junk motor,I've see alot of these motors with over 599'000 miles,and car for sale.

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran

If it's still running for now, I would start looking for a lower mileage wreck. I saw one about a year ago going for $200 and it sat on CL for a while. Still kicking myself. But anyway, if it still drives for now you have time to find a deal on a replacement engine. Put the money you save into doing some of the performance mods written up on this forum. Less work than trying to transplant another type of diesel.

As for the sleeper, how about engine and transmission from a panther platform ford? (I. E. crown vic, grend marquis, town car) Lots of them out there and surprisingly comparable fuel economy to the 617

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'83 300D turbo diesel (334k daily commuter)
SOLD '80 240D 4 speed manual, #2 piston pitted from crushing a 10mm nut. Running it 'till it burns through.
'78 F-150 300cid 4spd od (with my great unkle's original sales receipt)
SOLD '66 Ford P-350 delivery truck (almost driveable)
'49 Dodge B1D (1 ton Pilothouse era truck) not running but all there, candidate for om617 and 4x4 conversion when money permits.