Howdy all, been a while.
I want to pass this idea by y'all and see what you have to say.

I recently acquired a 21' Donzi cuddy cabin with a V6 (not fast) gas engine which needs to be replaced. How crazy is it to consider the possibility of swapping in an OM617?

My biggest concern is weight, secondly: power. I would run a fresh water cooling system.

Has anyone by some chance heard of someone doing this? How much does a turbo OM617 weigh, and what does it "redline" at, and what are the power specs?

BTW, my 190D is running great, I put over 25,000 miles on it with nearly no troubles. I am very happy with my 5-speed swap.

Thanks,
John

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1986 190D, 2.5L, 5-speed swap, 180,000 Miles (60K by me).
Jeep CJ-7 with Cummins 4BT/NV4500/AtlastII 4.3.
Grand Wagoneer 4BT project in progress!

Not such a crazy idea

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mercedes-Marine-Diesel-OM617-and-Borg-Warner-Gearbox_W0QQitemZ180041278876QQihZ008QQcategoryZ56422QQcmdZViewItem

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green 85 300SD 200K miles "Das Schlepper Frog" With a OM603 TBO360 turbo ( To be intercooled someday )( Kalifornistani emissons )
white 79 300SD 200K'ish miles "Farfegnugen" (RIP - cracked crank)
desert storm primer 63 T-bird "The Undead" (long term hibernation)

http://ecomodder.com/forum/fe-graphs/sig692a.png

There are at least a couple of threads on here about marinized MB diesels. At least one company did it a lot. I think mostly they were 616's or other MB diesels. Not a crazy idea.

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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

Seems like a good idea, Its done in Europe allot more. A 616 might work well also, cheaper to overhaul and plenty of power for a 21" boat?

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

Make sure to use a turbo engine

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green 85 300SD 200K miles "Das Schlepper Frog" With a OM603 TBO360 turbo ( To be intercooled someday )( Kalifornistani emissons )
white 79 300SD 200K'ish miles "Farfegnugen" (RIP - cracked crank)
desert storm primer 63 T-bird "The Undead" (long term hibernation)

http://ecomodder.com/forum/fe-graphs/sig692a.png

Which motor is the 616? Years made? Vehicle installed?

Thanks

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1986 190D, 2.5L, 5-speed swap, 180,000 Miles (60K by me).
Jeep CJ-7 with Cummins 4BT/NV4500/AtlastII 4.3.
Grand Wagoneer 4BT project in progress!

4 cyl version of the 5 cylinder 617. Made by MB between 75(?) and late 80's. (Last used in a car in 85 I think) Found in 115 and 123 bodies cars as the 240d and almost all the vans with '7' as the last digit before the 'd' in the model name. Still made in India by Force Motors. Never turbocharged by MB. Turbocharged by Force.

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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

Not crazy at all, just expensive and time consuming. You would have to find all the marinized parts or do some serious engineering yourself. Cheapest bang for the buck if you want a diesel in your boat is to find a used Yanmar setup with the outdrive to go with it. RT

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When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K

I was thinking at least a 5-cyl turbo. The 240D motor only has 67HP at best.

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1986 190D, 2.5L, 5-speed swap, 180,000 Miles (60K by me).
Jeep CJ-7 with Cummins 4BT/NV4500/AtlastII 4.3.
Grand Wagoneer 4BT project in progress!

The toughest part of the marine conversion is the exhaust manifold and riser that bolts to the back of the exhaust manifold so water can not get back into the exhaust ports.

I have seen them fabricated for American V8s that basically were stainless tubing for the exhaust runners that had a larger stainless canister TIGed around the runners. Any heads up fabricator that can TIG stainless could make one. Maybe you could get away without the special exhaust manifold if you wrap the existing one in kevlar tape to insulate it and have a separate pump be it electric or engine powered to flow water through the fresh water cooling system. Also, since diesel is not volatile like gasoline, you shouldn't have to worry about a marine starter or alternator. I think it has to be super hot for diesel fumes in the open atmosphere to ignite from a spark. I would still put a blower in the engine box to blow out any fumes before I started it the first time of the day.

Is your goal to have a diesel powered fleet of cars and boats?

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Doug

1987 300TD x 3
2005 E320CDI

This has been talked about a couple of times before...and I continue to believe that the biggest problem in using a turbo 617 would be the absence of a governor at engine speeds abpve 1100 RPM.

Here's links to prior marinazation discussions:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=62336&highlight=marine

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=12410&highlight=marine

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=99369&highlight=marine

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=124061&highlight=marine

Enjoy!

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Do you think a combination of adaquate ventilation into the engine compartment and wrapping the exhaust would enough to keep temps down? I could exit the exhaust out the transom with a marine muffler between it and the engine.

If that exhaust plan would work, mating the engine to bellhousing and connecting starter + gimble housing would be the main stumbling block. Any other ideas would be great.

YES!


BTW, what is this talk about no governor?

Thanks, John

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1986 190D, 2.5L, 5-speed swap, 180,000 Miles (60K by me).
Jeep CJ-7 with Cummins 4BT/NV4500/AtlastII 4.3.
Grand Wagoneer 4BT project in progress!

Known fact that 617.92X engines aren't governed above apprx 1100 RPM.

Look at those other threads referenced in post #11.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

What does that exactly mean, there is no control over the engine speed over 1,100, or the engine will over-revv is pushed too hard?

What if you get into a car with a 617 engine and revv it in "N"? Does it instantly redline, or bounces all over the place?

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1986 190D, 2.5L, 5-speed swap, 180,000 Miles (60K by me).
Jeep CJ-7 with Cummins 4BT/NV4500/AtlastII 4.3.
Grand Wagoneer 4BT project in progress!

BOOM!
well, you have some leeway, but nothing to keep if from overreving... but your brain and ability to pickup your foot...
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!