After a process of elimination to resolve a very rough idle problem...today RB pulled the valve cover and the #4 Camshaft Lobes were very worn. Now my problem is..I purchased an engine ASAP Motors Houston Texas, had it dropped in Feb. 2006 1979 300D non-turbo. This engine has Pencil glo-plugs. Did I read in this forum that they were after 1979 (1980-81)? I went on-line to order a Camshaft and there is a difference between 1979 and 1980-81. I just need to make sure that I order in the right part. The engine starts and runs well so an 80-81 engine makes no diference other than needing to know! Thanks from anyone that would have this knowledge. The number cast into the driver's side of the block is 617 011 09 01. Under that is 044 73. On the front of the engine are the numbers 617 016 03 01. Under this number is Mo Gr.

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Thanks,
T.C.
1979 300D non-turbo silver

80 first year with the pencil small body thread glow plugs.
79 could have pencil, but they would be large body threads.
John
I would go with the 80 cam in either case, it mostlikely has slightly more lift, as the motor has 6 more HP.
John

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

I agree with the later cam. I recall that the earlier cams had hardness issues causing rapid wear, and also seems like there was a reinforcement of the later cams for strength, any case either cam will run.

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Chris
64 190D R.I.P.
80 240D W/617 engine -for sale
82 240D -for sale

The journal diameter is different also. Would require changing cam towers also. The rocker arm hardness was also changed.

I don't think that the engine is a 1979 at this point. This engine has pencil glow plugs and after research, I believe they were not used in the 300D non- turbountil 1980. I'm trying to track down the numbers on the engine block to find out the year etc. now. The engine was purchased from ASAP Motors in Houston early last year. They did not have the vin# from the car that the engine came out of and the extended warranty expired in June. They did assure me that it was a 1979 but I doubt it. Is there any way that you guys know to pin point the year of this engine? Richard took the camshaft out today but I have to know the year for sure before ordering a new one. I am not concerned that it is probably a different year, the engine does not burn much oil and starts fine here in NC without the block heater. Any ideas??? Thanks!

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Thanks,
T.C.
1979 300D non-turbo silver

Both of my 79 300SD's have the small diameter pencil style glow plugs and the heads have a big "79" cast into the front. I usually order plugs for an 83 model so that the parts people don't get confused.

I believe that the early cams should have a "05" marking and the late cams should have a "11" marking. Also the cams have different diameters on number 2,3, and 4 journals. Early cams were 46.5mm diameter, and later cams 49.0mm diameter.

Hey thanks! The #'s on the camshaft are 4797 617 05. The 4797 is near the front of the shaft. Isn't an SD a turbo? I thought the 300 Series was not in a Turbo until 1981?

__________________
Thanks,
T.C.
1979 300D non-turbo silver

The SD has a turbo. The D didn't get a turbo until later.

The service bulletins that I was looking at didn't specify turbo or non-turbo, they only referred to 617. I assumed that the cams were the same for both. Wasn't able to find a listing for the cam on fastlane to confirm this.

Seems like I read somewhere that the 05 or 11 marking was on the end of the cam facing the firewall of the car.