Mercedes v6 from jeep - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #1 11-21-2012, 08:08 AM

I was perusing the net for a good used mercedes diesel to put in my Studebaker truck and found a long block from a jeep. Its the 3 liter v6 by mercedes.

What sort of electronic geegaws would be needed to make this a functional engine in an old chassis like I am contemplating? Does this seem like a plausible swap?

catmandoo62 · #2 11-21-2012, 08:28 AM

you already have 1 cummins why not look for a 4bt.

t walgamuth · #3 11-21-2012, 09:22 AM

I would like to go with something a little less industrial and less weight.

TMAllison · #4 11-21-2012, 11:00 AM

Mine is a OM642.920. It ahs sensors on top of senosrs on top of more sensors looking at what all the others are doing and why. I think it would be a hardware and software nightmare.

Benz Fan · #5 11-21-2012, 11:14 AM

An older diesel would more likely be plug-and-play. To do what you want to do with that Jeep/MB diesel, the most economical approach would be to buy the entire vehicle (assuming that it is wrecked and available at a low cost), remove and reuse the engine AND transmission, remove everything relative to engine management, install in the Stude.

Assuming the engine bay dimensions can hold it, you might be better off finding a rusty old w123 300D or w126 300SD/L with a good engine and start from there.

retmil46 · #6 11-21-2012, 12:06 PM

Hate to say it Tom, but when it comes to anything other than a Cummins, VW TDI, or Ford/GM V8, your pickings as far diesel engines are pretty slim.

The company I mentioned in San Antonio, DieselToyz, for doing conversions of Toyota pickups, imports half-cuts of diesel vehicles from Japan and other countries. Give them a call, might be they could get you a Toyota diesel engine that would have the oomph you need for towing, while being less electrically/electronically challenging than doing a transplant from a Grand Cherokee/MB V6 or Liberty/VM I4 setup.

Having lived with and modded mine over the past 7 years, I'd say it would be far easier to do a transplant from a Liberty CRD, dealing with the electronics and emissions, than dealing with the MB V6 out of a Grand Cherokee.

That said, I have seen a website in the past where they were selling a military version of the same VM Motori engine in the Liberty, minimum electronics necessary to run it, and no EGR/emissions controls, brand new crate engine.

ILUVMILS · #7 11-21-2012, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMAllison

........It ahs sensors on top of senosrs on top of more sensors looking at what all the others are doing and why. I think it would be a hardware and software nightmare.

X2

retmil46 · #8 11-21-2012, 12:24 PM

DieselToyz site mentioned using a Toyota 1KZT-E 4 cylinder turbo diesel in earlier model Jeep conversions. Might be another option to look at.

Also found mention in my search that it was Mopar Skunkworks that sold the crate version of the VM Motori engine.

t walgamuth · #9 11-21-2012, 01:30 PM

That mv motori sounds interesting....especially if electronics are minimal.

KarTek · #10 11-21-2012, 01:33 PM

You'll need some sort of stand alone ECU such as this:

BodyLogic Diesel ECU System

http://www.specialist-components.co.uk/engineering/diesel-engine-management/

Not sure how many zillions of dollars it is but it's a start.

t walgamuth · #11 11-23-2012, 06:52 AM

I have had no luck finding any way to search for diesel engines on the mopar skunkworks site. The diesel toyz site features engine swaps starting at $20,000 or so.

My budget will not work for that kind of investment.

I guess I will look for a good used 617 turbo now.....too bad I just sold one from the 82 300CD. I should have known better!

retmil46 · #12 11-23-2012, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

I have had no luck finding any way to search for diesel engines on the mopar skunkworks site. The diesel toyz site features engine swaps starting at $20,000 or so.

My budget will not work for that kind of investment.

I guess I will look for a good used 617 turbo now.....too bad I just sold one from the 82 300CD. I should have known better!

My thinking on the Dieseltoys site was perhaps if you sent them an e-mail, describing the vehicle you were converting, and asking them if they could just give you an idea of a good candidate engine to look for (not advice on how to do the conversion itself), they might come up with something none of us had thought of.

Does look as if the Mopar Skunkworks has given up on diesels altogether.

Looking on autotrader out to 200 miles, about 20 or so Liberty CRD's, most still with less than 100K miles, average price around 10 grand and up. Unless you could happen upon one that had been totaled due to body damage and still had an intact drivetrain, that would probably be way expensive as well.

There was a gent on the LOST Jeeps forum, out in Colorado, went by the handle of Sir Sam, that was quite active in searching out wrecked Liberty CRD's and buying them up, either for pulling the engine and drivetrain from them for use in other vehicles, or repairing them for resale.

Might try checking the Canadian market, as they seem to be a much more diesel-friendly country, for alternative engine candidates.

In the end though, as far as expense and ease of conversion (ie, lack of electronics and computers), a 617 would seem to be the default option.

retmil46 · #13 11-23-2012, 12:51 PM

Here's a Toyota forum where they talk about doing a conversion using the 1KZT and 1KZT-E engines.

1kzte conversion - YotaTech Forums

DANG!

I just found these guys on a Google search - import all different brands of Japanese diesel engines -

JDM Diesel Engines

t walgamuth · #14 11-23-2012, 01:09 PM

Thanks!

I'll prolly stick whith the familiar 617 either in turbo or euro non turbo form.

retmil46 · #15 11-23-2012, 01:27 PM

That SD23 on the JDM website might be just the ticket for that 81 Courier pickup I have!