Don't forget to mark the two drive shaft halves so you can re-align them if it comes apart. These cars are really easy to remove the engine from. You can even leave the hood on!

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

Ok the more you guys post the better I feel about swapping engines.. I will have to get together with my buddies and see what they think. Anyother special tools I will need other then a hoist? Can you get the tranny out without having a hydraulic lift? Just floor jacks and jack stand?

Yep, just floor jack and jack stands. No other special tools. You've been given a special New Year's gift.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

A good source of engines can be a real junker with a great engine if you can find one. That has been my favorite choice and most economical one usually over the years. The owners of those cars are usually happy to get what he junkyard would pay and you have other parts you may need or if not to sell. Many times because of that you land up with a free engine. If not make a little money on the deal. Also by the time you remove the engine from the junker all concerns about your ability to change engines will be gone.. Do you know which rod let go? Usually it is the number one on these engines. The other very important factor is on a junker you can talk to the owner of the engine. They usually can describe how it was and tell you about oil consumption milage etc. You also get to run and test it in the car. Not all people can evaluate a good from a bad diesel that own junk yards. Too many of their engines are boat anchors. Sorry it went this way for you. That rod should have quieted down when you opened that cylinders injector.. You were removing the force of combustion operation on it and that makes the knock quieter. Perhaps the other background noises were too loud to catch it. As I mentioned earlier things tend to reach a resolution on this site the vast majority of times.

Rod #1 was the culprit. I just can't believe the knocking didn't stop in cylinder #1 when I removed fuel line. Oh well. Not something I could have prevented I don't think. Just bad luck and timing. I will keep everyone posted as to status of finding an engine and swapping them out.

I wonder if your oil pump exploded? It is right under the #1 cylinder. Also it could be a spun rod bearing. Even with no combustion pressure it spun bearing will make all sorts of noises.

You should save the car I think too many 123s are being put down. Find a good running donor from either a 300d turbo or 240D and swap it out. It will be a good fun learning experience.

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1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

"Exact match" longblock means any 240D imported from 1978-1985.... just add aftermarket glow-plug upgrade kit for an engine before about '81 and use existing throttle linkage. And new parts on hand need to include engine mounts, thats about all. Meanwhile might as well start tearing into the blown engine anyhow - pull the radiator and manifolds, start dismantling the beast in place and it wont look so intimidating after awhile. Greatest hazard on disassembly will be unbolting oil cooler lines - threaded necks on the oil cooler snap easy being aluminum, must use 2 wrenches there.

Cheap multi-color model paint kit from the hobby store works well for color coding vacuum, electrics, linkages, etc - so you wont get lost on reassembly. Or use masking tape to label fiddly bit connections. And it pays to loosely reinstall nuts'n bolts or stash em with components when they've been pulled.

The easiest part will be hoisting the engine out and in. Roughest part is probly lining up the driveshaft (if you pull the tranny). Personally I've never had a problem pulling engines and leaving the tranny in the car. This is an impossibility with the 300D - but like I've said you can lean over the 240D fender to reach the bell housing bolts. Everybody here swearin you've got to pull the engine and tranny as a unit is talkin about the 300, not the 240D.

Think on it as 3 part project: 1) Disconnect the existing engine. 2) Pull it and drop the new one in place . 3) Connect the new engine.

I recommend working excruciatingly slow and doing most of the dissassembly work yourself to learn the engine. And then call in the troops when you're ready with the hoist and have new replacement engine on location. And plan on having one helluva terrific weekend with an excellent enjoyable project!


(edit: I know Vince and you can haggle with him. First get a price on the complete replacement engine and then call him back a couple days later negotiating a lower price, say using your own starter and alternator and engine components. Basically throw your blown engine as core into the hopper as part of the deal. The cyl head, camshaft, flywheel, injector lines and fiddly bits will be worth something to him. And Vince Layton is a decent honest fellow. If he says he's got a good replacement engine then you can take that to the bank.

It is not impossible to pull the engine and leave the tranny in the 300d. (see pic of my motor I am installing) I did it and quite honestly it was not bad.

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1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

Ok I just got back in from looking under the hood again. I have that feeling again that I am overwhelmed with the engine swap idea. If I do this I will have to a lot of help from my buddies and from you guys on the forum. I guess I will start by taking a ton of pictures and labeling everything. I will also make the call on the engine and see what the intial asking price is. I will keep you all posted what I decide. Also I notice other little problems with this car every time I go out and look at it agian. Most of them are small problems but if I am going to make the $$ and time investment then all of these need to be addressed as well. The vacuum system to the interior of the car has been plugged so the door lock do not function. Add that to the list of things to fix.

It's certainly ALOT easier to do it that way if you don't have a load leveler or a helper.

I didn't have a leveler or a helper so I ended up "fording" the front end of my TD to get it out. I installed the engine alone into the 240 and stabbed the tranny from below.

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I had a leveler when I got my engine out of my '85 and I still had to fight the urge to grab the oxy torch and cut that cross memeber out of the way.

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Seth

1984 300D 225K
1985 300D Donor body
1985 300D Turbo 165K. Totaled. Donor Engine. It runs!!!
1980 300SD 311K My New Baby.
1979 BMW 633csi 62K+++? Dead odo

I know this sounds crazy... But I actually like using seat belts instead of chains. It is easier to move the "hook" forward or back. I learned this trick at my local pick a part where they didn't have any chains to borrow.

But I having a load balance when installing the engine and trans combo is still the best way to go.

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1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

Okay I'll admit it, biased and prejudiced here..... believin the 5th cyl, turbo, auto tranny and other engineering goodies like ACC, vibe dampener, crazy vacuum solies and electrics on the 300 add another 70% hassle factor. But then the economy model 2.4 litre 4-spd is probly only Benz I'd like to own - unless i can find a 220D w115 or gasoline 4cyl finbody Benz 190c.

240D with the turbo engine is the best of both worlds, powerfull and simple.

You can do it. I did one for my first engine swap.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

Insanespiv.


There is a used 240 engine available here:
http://www.msdra.com/mercedesparts.htm

Almost all the way at the bottom of the page,
it is in the "Misc. stuff in no apparent order (sorry!)"
section.
No price is posted.

Louis.

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Not always the smartest but certainly not dumb?