Hello,

My friend is buying a 1968 (but the owner says 1969) 200D finback with the intention of setting it up for WVO (with my mechanical help). Currently, it is all original, in good shape, except for the no-start condition. Even with starting fluid, it doesn't seem to pop, at least not enough to get started. Now, given that these vehicles don't exactly have the power to get out of their own way, we are considering a few options as far as retrofitting. The number one, of course would be to drop in 240D guts and call it a day. I know a few folks in Berlin who have done this with slightly newer 200D's, however I'm not able to find out the particulars of their installations. The other that has been mentioned to me is changing the injection pump for one from a 240D. Does this work?

A few questions that I have are:

If we went the engine swap route, what hitches could we expect to run into?

Would we have to fab custom engine mounts?
Are there adaptors available?
Would the mounts just fit?
Would it bolt up to the existing transmission?
Would we need an adaptor plate, and if so, where could we get one?
Since I have easy access to a 240D 4-speed, would it be easier to install it with the new engine?
If I did that would the driveshaft mate OK or would we have to custom make a driveshaft?

Is it possible to put in an injection pump from a 1982 240D? What sort of a job is that? What are the book hours? Worth it? My friend is trying to save money.

As far as just getting the vehicle running, do you have any suggestions for what to do? What are the likely suspects? Gum, goo, rustflake in pump?

Please shed some light on the subject so this beauty can see the light of day.

Thanks for your help,

Michael Obermayr

Probably
I doubt it
I doubt it
Maybe
Custom fabrication
Probably
It would probably need a custom length driveshaft
I seriously doubt it.

Stuck plungers in the IP. Take a look at the post about halfway down the page HERE by benzgirl

I beg of you not to ruin a nice original example of one of these cars by running it on garbage.

__________________
1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

Check out Fat Franz. He transplanted a normally aspirated 617 into a 1966 230S. I think he's run into some issues with licensing the car, though.

__________________
1984 300TD

Hi Obermayr, nice cars, those fintails.
Last production year was 1968, so it's probably a 68 then.

Most of what bgcast says is true, if you interpret it as:
"I doubt it" = No/Not available = custom fabrication
"Probably" = Yes

As for the licensing this is really not an issue, just haven't done it yet.. costs about $220 to re-license it here in Sweden as a diesel car, it was a gasser before.

I've seen short fintails for sale here, converted both with 240D/616 and 300D/617-engines, but the latter sound really tight. Might go if you move the radiator a bit forward. Good luck with the conversion, although I wouldn't do it since the car already has a great diesel engine. Fix the starting issue and she'll be fine. 0-60 in 29 seconds, true power! lol
If you decide to convert, you'll run into three issue..
Engine mounts, don't match. You have to do custom ones.
Drive shaft, wrong length. Check out a reputable drive shaft shop before you begin the conversion.
Oil filter can, interferes with the shifter linkage IF you have the column mounted shifter.. Solution, move the oil can OR get a 200D/220D engine that has been in a W114/115-body, they have the oil can up front.

ps. sorry if I'm a bit incoherent, Rudolf Diesel just had his 150th birthday last week, and the only appropriate thing to do was to go to a 6-day party trip to Berlin, where he invented his engine.. just came back yesterday and still a bit tired.. just ask if anything remains unclear.

__________________
Tomas, Sweden
1966 Mercedes Benz 230S with OM617.912, automatic. Disk brakes from W108
1983 Mercedes Benz 300TD grey, OM617.912 and 5-speed manual
1983 Mercedes Benz 300TD blue 7-seater, OM617.912 and 5-speed manual

If the car has been sitting for a while, quite a few members have had success with pull starting as opposed to using the starter. I would give it a try before abandoning the existing engine after checking the usual suspects such as glow plugs and lack of fuel.

__________________
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

Thank you people for your replies! I appreciate the input, will try freeing the sticky plungers...

Suppose we kept the car as original as possible, which means keeping the engine, what is a less invasive/destructive way to add horses (to make possible the urban driving and crazy merges here where we live)?

I'd consider many different things...and what of your turbo, bgkast?

Noted, on your plea to not do the WVO conversion...would consider other things such as running a mix of diesel and highly filtered rice oil from some good sources I have, even possibly making biodiesel. The only thing I hate about biodiesel is dependence on methanol, which could get capriciously pricey if popularity rises. Cheers, anyhow...

As bgkast said, keep the car stock. There are getting to be fewer and fewer of these classics around the way it is. Not a fan of WVO conversions either. I would think that it would not be healthy for any engine in the long run. Just my opinion.

To be honest, if you want more power, pass on this car and get nothing older than the W123 series. These cars are not fast and were never meant to be. Adding a turbo to a motor that was never intended or designed to have one is asking for trouble.