Dan, thanks for the offer but I won't be driving that far south anytime soon. I'll just pick up a rusty 300d from around here.
Making an adapter shouldn't be a problem because I've got a machinist friend who made an adapter to hook a Ford eco boost engine and a couple of brushless motors to a Corvette transmission and he's going to be helping me make this thing. The bolt pattern was only giving you problems putting the engine on a stand not putting in on the transmission right?

OM617YOTA, that's awesome! That's exactly what I want.

Mach4 are you using the stock transmission?

Daw_two, that's sick! I'm probably going to stick with the Mercedes engine because they're alot eaier to get around here.

97SL320, truck's from 1999 and is 4wd 5spd manual.
I haven't lost looked at either cite much.
I forgot that my friends parents have a 300d turbo so I'll just measure that.

Clacker, cool thats what i was thinking of doing if I can't make the engine fit, I'm glad it works