engine swap possible? (OM616-OM617)
 

Hello all! I will hopefully very soon be the proud owner of my first diesel Benz.

I'm looking at a Euro spec 300td wagon that has the OM616 with the 4 speed manual transmission. What is involoved if I decided to swap in a OM617 turbo? Being that all the 5 cyl. here were mated to the automatic tranny, what are the flywheel options (being that I'd want to keep the manual transmission)? Is it possible to mate the OM617 to a 4 speed manual? How about things like motor mounts, radiator, exhaust mods, etc. etc. etc.???

Thanks so much for any information!

It's possible but requires a bit of work. There are several threads on the topic. Here is mine. :D http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=159597&highlight=Turbo+240D

Thanks... I'll check it out. After doing some more research on it, it sounds like its a matter of balancing the 240D flywheel to match the Torque converter or flex plate of the OM617. Does this sound right? Also shortening the drive shaft and possibly a radiator.

Does the chassis/motor mounts have to be modified at all or does the OM617 and its 4 cyl counterpart share the same mounts?

Thanks, and I'll be sure to check out the links.

A 300TD with a 616 engine would be very odd. What do the papers say? You must have a 240TD?
I can understand your quest for more power but a 240TD would be a nice car too, drool, drool:o

Rare, but they did make them. If the engine is in good shape you may want to consider keeping it in stock form since it is a rather rare bird.

The other thing that comes too mind when i think about this is, you would need a head from a 300TD engine for the self leveling system (SLS) pump. Also you would most likely need to change the coil springs to accommodate the extra weight. Exhaust system needs to be changed.

oh yea.. That baby is rare. A 616 with an SLS head IIRC and all the goodies.. It may be the slowest car made by mercedes but it is rare

Does the 240TD have the SLS?

i think yes. but it wouldn't surprise if it didn't.

tom w

Keep the 240TD as-is. It's a very rare car in the states, don't turn it into a slightly unusual 300TD.

although the 240d is rare it is not that desireable. i wouldn't hesitate to swap in the other motors unless the 240 was i pristine shape.

tom w

Personally, I wouldn't hack up a euro-wagon. If you want a 300TD, just go buy one. You should be able to find a decent driver for under about $5K.

Manual 240TD with a stick might not be all THAT bad. Heck my 220D has a towing hitch on it :eek: . Do SLS heads get different cams?

Thanks for all the replies and opinions. Being the owner/restorer of a 1967 SIIa SWB Land Rover, I appreciate the idea of keeping a unique vehicle stock. I think you guys are absolutelky right about keeping it as is, the more I think about it.

And I was skepticle too... I asked if it was a 240td or a 300td, being that it has the 4 cyl/4speed and apparently it is the original set-up. Must be rare indeed. The owner mentioned several times that despite the 616, without all the bells and whistles of the US models (no AC, less electronics (?), etc. etc.) that it goes down the road just fine, compareable to the 5 cyl. wagons. I'm hopefully going to take a look today. We'll see, I guess.

Also, this doesn't have the SLS. Nice and simple... NO SLS, manual windows and sunroof, cloth interior, 240 style heater controls, 4 speed, no AC, etc. He says the engine purrrs incredibly smooth and it drives great.

I can't wait to take a look!

Thanks again!

Sounds like one hell of a nice car. If it's in good shape I'd keep it as is and enjoy it for it's rarity, simplicity, and utility.

- Peter.