I have been trying to find ways to get more horsepower from my 407D truck (1981 model) when I ran into this forum. I was hoping someone has some ideas on squeezing out a little more power; the engine is a 2.4 liter OM616.

Is adding a turbo possible?

Maybe some other simpler tweeks that could be done?

I thought about replacing the engine with a turbo engine from a 300D but some modifications would have to be done to accomodate the longer block. Plus my engine has only 15000 miles, I hate to change it for something in the 150K+ mile range.

I also have a L508D, see picture - these vehicles gets a lot of questions from folks!

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are you in the USA?

Turbo'ing the 616 is possible but with a shortened life span.

There's a British company that put lots of turbo's on the 616 in MB vans. I'm not sure it will be worth it unless you travel at altitude a lot. MB put the 617 in their smaller vans and it fit well. I've had MB vans with both the 616 and 617 engines.
I think the best course of action is resignation.

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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

TheDon - Yes, I am in Sanford FL

Kerry - the 617 engine would be great (double the power, almost), but as I mentioned where would one find a low mileage one? Maybe that doesn't matter

This truck came with a rear axle ratio of 5.9, which limited speed to around 50 MPH (plus a lot of engine noise!). Changing to the 4:10 axle helped a little, I can no go around 60, or even 70 downhill. But the engine just runs out of steam for the load it is carrying, hence the need for more power

The factory OM616 turbo in my Gurkha generates 91bhp and 19.8kg/m torque, good enough to pull the heavy all steel body and returns a superb 34mbp on hwy as well. My vehicle uses the rear diff from the 407D.

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99 Gurkha with OM616 IDI turbo

2015 Gurkha with OM616 DI turbo

2014 Rexton W with OM612 VGT

Nice trucks. The 407D is famous for being very slow even by merc standards.
I've got vehicles powered by a 616, 617 and 314 (like in your 508); the 617 is a gorgeous engine, but I dunno how much difference it'll make for you.
Nice trucks - did I already say that?
Giles