Hey Everyone

I am not all that mechanically inclined, yet I've got 4 Mercedes Diesels sitting around here, 5 motors in all, 2 240D's - 75 & 78, 1 220D - 69, an 81 300D and a 82 300TD. I want to start with the one 240D, the 75, and shoe horn it into the 1969 220's engine bay, as that is a seriously Sweet Driver of a car. As far as I know, it only uses about a half a quart of oil every 3000 miles. It is sitting in a 1975 parts car rightnow in my barn. When it get's pulled out next spring, I wanted to have it tested and gone over, have the front seal replaced as they all seem to dry out, crack or allow oil to be leaked, and do whatever performance modifications can be done. My questions are:

1) what performance mods are "within reason" for a 1975 240D w/manual tranny motor that would allow it to still be civil enough to be driven on a daily basis

2) how much hp can be gained without breaking the bank and causing the engine to wear out before it's time?

I should also not I am going to be making my own biodiesel or running a SVO conversion on it

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Mania,

About the only midification you can make with reason is to have the
fuel delivery increased. This should done by a Diesel injection shop.

You will probably get less fuel mileage and more smoke, though.

BTW, its a DIESEL ENGINE not a DIESEL MOTOR.

P E H

I been cruisin' the threads here all morning, and I have yet to hit the post that answers my question. I shall keep on looking though.

Gotta love the Diesel Addiction. Next to Sex and my Harley, it's true love .

I drive primarily on downhill gradients. The italian tune up may help but why embarass yourself just staying with traffic? Seriously though I guess we have an interest in common. Just drove a 240d standard home from about nine hundred miles away in new jersey. First will make sure injection pump is set accuratly. Or maybe find out if can be set for a little more power rather than economy like volkswagen pumps.Valves adjusted properly. Clean air filter etc. Run a can of diesel purge through to clean up prechamber and injectors hopefully cleaning them out. Change fuel filters and maybe clean filter in tank as well. Others with more experience can also guide you far better than myself as these cars are fairly new to me. But check for chain stretch and maybe start using semi synthetic oil to lessen drag . A little reluctant to change over to full synthetic without more information myself. Seems that more than a few of the diesels I buy were last checked over by an apprentice mechanic that has now retired but what do i know. Also another thing have become quite serious about is checking that linkage from pedal to pump has no slack and also getting full travel at pump. In otherwords try getting whats there presently up to scratch. I find that not getting the fuel milage or performance that I think should be delivered has been an indication to go looking. Suspect may pick up 20% or so just with simple things that should be checked anyways. Of course I cheat a little as have a very strong 240d for comparison purposes. But do you really want it strong? It's time consuming picking the 300td, and other more modern diesels out of your grill assembly. It's like I told the nice officer when driving a 240d. No I did not know how fast I was travelling as it was too dangerous at that speed to take my eyes off the road. But mainly be realistic the 240 on the trunk does not stand for miles per hour instead think is really meters per hour. One last thought I hear repeated often. You will not hurt a mercedes diesel engine by driving it fast. But for the life of me I cannot figure how to do it with a 240d. I really like my 240ds. Best of the season and excuse the levity please as it is almost impossible to escape when you drive them. It's kind of the tortoise and hare thing i suppose in retrospect. Also changing your perspectives helps a little. I now visulise a good hill as a parking lot. A 240d is also an intelligent diesel as it obeys the laws of gravity well without heisitation. Also visulising yourself as driving around on the surface of the moon seems to help, just watch out for those potholes. You also at that point have the fastest diesel on the planet. Been there done that.

Their is a company in England I think that bolts turbos onto those. However without oil cooled pistons that isn't a real good idea. Their are no mods for this engine just make sure it is in proper tune and drive it. To get max performance:
Adjust the valves
Change timing chain
Have a diesel shop go through the injectors and IP
Make sure compression is high.
Use only oem quality filters and keep them clean.

If you want a faster diesel try a 1986 or 87 300D, for even more hp talk to those Finnish guys that make the super diesels.
Faster yet 1998-99 E300D, chip it for even more power. E55 spec suspension and brakes could be fitted for a real fun ride.
For the real speed lovers 2004 E320 CDI, Brabus maybe could help?

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