today i finished converting a 1980 manual 280c euro coupe to a turbo diesel and it wasn't that difficult. the engine was a rebuilt out of an '84 sedan and the tranny came from a '77 240d. i switched trannies because the coupe's might have had almost 250k and i had a spare with 100k miles. the engine, tranny and driveshaft bolted up without problems. the pilot bearing was the right size.
had to weld the passenger side engine shock mount to the coupe and both brackets for the radiator reservoir. wired in a glow plug relay. took off the 280's fuel pump and changed the tanks fuel drain pipe to diesel. broke out the plastic fill guard for unleaded fuel. changed the key switch to diesel. had to jury rig the throttle linkage at the firewall. got rid of excess wires and vacuum lines with more to go. got rid of the a/c as this car doesnt have one and the heater controls are manual. had to cut down 1/2" and add thread to the reverse tranny linkage.

the car runs well. it still need a tail pipe and minor electrical work. will try to just straight pipe it. would like to put in an air filter assembly out of a '85. the clutch pedal need a stop bar. and yes it should have been a five speed.

the worst hardest most miserable part was the filth of the doner car. i spent more time cleaning this engine than anything else. its still dirty. i should have taken it to a shop and had it steam cleaned.

don

Yee haw, ride 'em cowboy. Can we have pictures of this car and the VIN number? Don't want to meet that one in a dark alley.

Please forgive me, I am socially challenged.

This project makes me think that there's an alternate universe of MBZ gassers out there just waiting for the installation of the proper, spark-free prime mover. I'd love to find a W126 coupe (380SEC maybe?) and insert an OM617.

Or, howsabout a repowered 420SEL?

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Read a thread here or over on the biodiesel site that said gas tanks often have zinc plating and it is not compatible with diesel. Would that be an issue here?

Every now and again I see a w126 coupe and think what a wunnerful car to stick a diesel in...

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One more Radar Lover gone...
1982 VW Caddy diesel 406K 1.9L AAZ
1994 E320 195K

:dreaming:

I'd love to find a 280/380/560SL to swap a compression-ignition engine with.