Performance Mods

[Jim Wickham]

Just a curious kind of mind thing. I belong to other forums where performance is the objective and also have seen some pretty extensive performance modifications to diesels. Light duty pickup trucks like my Dodge are famous targets.

I was wondering if anyone who frequents this forum has Modded their Mercedes Diesel, OM 617 and 603's in particular? Mild turn ups?

How do you turn a 603 up? Is it much like a cummins where you first open air passages up for better breathing(ie. exhaust and intake tubing) ? ? route air up front to an intercooler? Turn up the injection pump?

Any documents or websites out there on this kind of stuff? Just interested.

Thanks a bunch.

[vstech]

search for finns they are famous (infamous??) for modding the 617, 603 etc...
have fun.
John

[winmutt]

Originally Posted by Jim Wickham

Just a curious kind of mind thing. I belong to other forums where performance is the objective and also have seen some pretty extensive performance modifications to diesels. Light duty pickup trucks like my Dodge are famous targets.

I was wondering if anyone who frequents this forum has Modded their Mercedes Diesel, OM 617 and 603's in particular? Mild turn ups?

How do you turn a 603 up? Is it much like a cummins where you first open air passages up for better breathing(ie. exhaust and intake tubing) ? ? route air up front to an intercooler? Turn up the injection pump?

Any documents or websites out there on this kind of stuff? Just interested.

Thanks a bunch.

Look on here for alda and propane injection..........

[babymog]

Your 603 can easily be modified with ALDA adjustment and wastegate adjustment for more fuel & 15psi boost from I believe 10.5 stock, to go above that you can start to adjust the rack and add a bigger turbo, add an intercooler, it's all on here somewhere.

There's a smokey-donut video around here somewhere of a couple of cars (W124 and W201) that a Dutch firm tuned pretty extremely.

- Jeff

[Hatterasguy]

Do a search, it can be done but requires a lot of time ,money, and knowledge. The Finns are able to get 400hp+ out of 603's. The stock IP limits you to about 180ish if my memory serves me.

If you instal an EGT guage you can turn boost, and fuel up a little bit, as well as play with the ALDA. Next step is an intercooler to get any noticeable gains.

[Hit Man X]

Stock IP limits you, it's only good to < 200hp.

[Jim Wickham]

thanks a bunch for all the replys guys!! I'm not looking to get out of control with it but once I get it running correctly I'd like to bump it up a little.

PM sent.

[redassag00]

Ditch the ALDA

[gsxr]

Jim, if you haven't seen this article on the 1987 300D yet, make sure you read it:
http://www.w124performance.com/docs/mb/articles/124.1x3_buying_tips.txt

About power gains, first get the car to perform as Mercedes intended... a 0-60 time in the 10-12 second range. If you want more power, then there are multiple options beyond that, from 20% to 200% power increase - just depends on the depth of your wallet.


Please take the recommendations to "just ditch the ALDA" with a large grain of salt. I'm tired if arguing with the guys who do this... if they want to, and accept the drawbacks, fine... but telling everyone worldwide to toss the ALDA is idiocy. ALDA removal is not a magic pill that cures all evils. It also will not increase your peak power output one bit... you need to tweak internal ajustments to accomplish that.


:fork_off:

[Jim Wickham]

excellent reading, thanks for that post. since I picked the car up for 1300 I'm gonna figure much of this is wrong with it and start checking things out one at a time.

[Wallknight]

I think you're asking a similar question to what I was looking for on my tuning thread. Didnt get as many responses as I'd liked...
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?p=1319566#post1319566