And speaking of our exhaust systems...
Does someone here know what size it that pipe? Is it metric? 60 or 70 m.m.?

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Thanx,
Alberta Luthier
1983 300CD ('Stinky')155k miles, 2.47 diff, EGR removed, AAZ injectors with 265 nozzles from Sean,and vogtland lowering springs.
1984 300SD ('Old Blue')150k Klicks from Japan originally, came with rear head rests, no sunroof and never had an EGR

Awesome project - It's great to see someone putting the best diesel engine ever made into a truck chassis. In my opinion, its too bad Mercedes never made a pickup truck using the 617, or maybe the 603, even better. Though I love my 300D, I think the diesel really cries out for off road/hauling use.

With fuel prices at record highs, I think that Mercedes could take a bite out of the pickup market in the US if it put a Bluetec diesel into a truck. I'm guessing that this hardly fits the brand image, however.

Seems that light truck engines are usually designed for more low-rpm operation, more idling, more internal forces than their car equivalents. I'm not sure the bluetec is the perfect choice, more likely the ??? engine that is in the sprinter.

I would love to put a 603 in a LandRover, feel that it would be a good match and not much less HP, but the additional weight is one detractor, with all of the complexity of mating it to a ZF transmission, ... if I had the resources.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

I suggest a turbo muffler. It will growl but not wear you out on the highway.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I second this comment 100%.

I'm in 100% the same situation.

I'd say go for it.

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Awesome, a fellow straight pipe runner!

Its barely noticeable inside the car. My dad's SD has stock exhaust and sure its quieter, but my car sounds better. I'd say cabin noise goes up maybe 10% over stock at the absolute most. Probably less. Outside noise while accelerating behind the car is probably 60% louder than stock, which is almost no noise at all. On the freeway you can't tell much difference at all. The engine is already loud. Especially when cruising at 80mph (like I usually do).

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Thanks for all the comments. I'll probably take a shot without it and see what happens. I'll run the pipe in a way that I can add a muffler if I need to.

I have a 616 in my short Land Rover and it's been perfect. It's a little lacking in the highway department but it does everything else very well and returns 25mpg all day long. Even better off-road. This truck is a long wheel base and with 125hp and the gearing I've chosen, I hope it'll cruise at 70 all day and still have good off-road manners. Guess we'll see in six months or so....

jim

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