Anyone had the nerve or enthusiam to chop the back off a sedan and make van or pickup out of it? I'd like to see pix. I keep thinking that I'm gonna take one of my older cars and hack it behind the drivers seat and splice a van (minivan) body to the back of it.
I want the economy of a diesel and the utility of a van.

Its a unibody so cutting the core structure is going to weaken the whole car.

Could you not weld the unibodys together?

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Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

As long as they would add one additional commandment for you to keep thy religion to thyself.
George Carlin (Wonder where he is now..)

1981 240d (engine donor 1983 240d) recently rebuilt engine hurray! - No more.. fought a tree and the tree won.

pearl black 1983 240d 4speed (Converted!@$$%) atleast the tranny was rebuilt.

It would still be weak.

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

Yep, won't work.

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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)

Much easier to mount the diesel engine in the van than to xfer the van body to a new frame or hacked unibody. Also much safer to transplant the engine/transmission.

Wouldnt it be easier to put a mercedes drivetrain into a van or pickup?

I have seen W123 Wagons converted to pickup like vehicles,

Also you could just spend the money get yourself a G-Wagen pickup or SUV.

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1984 Euro 300SDC, (4spd standard)
1986 Toyota Landcruiser Diesel HJ60 5spd X2

Gone but not forgotten (some sold, some stripped)
1983 300 SD, 1985 300 SD, 1983 240D, 1986 300 SDL, 1985 300 SDL, 1983 300 D, 1984 300 D, 1985 300SD, 1987 300 SDL, 1983 300 SD, 1985 300 TD Euro, 1983 380SEC, 1990 300 D, 1987 300D, 1982 300D, 1982 300D, 1994 E420, 1987 300 TD, 1987 300 D, 1984 300 D

Yeah, unibodies are made of stamped steel pieces. Structural welding isn't really recommended. It tends to make the thin steel brittle and fracture prone if its not done right. Plus, the load-bearing structural members aren't very likely to match up/line up very well.

I have seen where someone took a 300TD wagon and welded the rear doors closed, filled in the seams, and cut the roof off behind the B pillars. I think they used the lower half of the tailgate to close in the rear of the bed, and cut and fit a second tailgate to close off the area between the "cab" and "bed". They did a really good job and it looked pretty slick. Kind of a Mercedes El-Camino or Ranchero.

For a van, I think an early 90's Ford Aerostar would make a good body donor. Nice mid-sized package, and they had a V6 and RWD, so an OM617 turbo with automatic should fit into one...

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1984 300 Coupe TurboDiesel
Silver blue paint over navy blue interior
2nd owner & 2nd engine in an otherwise
99% original unmolested car
~210k miles on the clock

1986 Ford F250 4x4 Supercab
Charcoal & blue two tone paint over burgundy interior
Banks turbo, DRW, ZF-5 & SMF conversion
152k on the clock - actual mileage unknown

I don't mean to be Mr. Obvious, but why not just get a wagon, Or a MB van like a 407D?

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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

It would be a death trap.

If you want a diesel MB van just buy one, they are called Sprinters.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

actually I'd like a 407. I would not like a sprinter. And that's where the issue lays. I'm in the hunt for a fixer upper.

See attached 407D and 508D. I keep these in Sanford, FL

I talked to a person in Georgia that also has a 407D, not sure if he would part with it

Attached Thumbnails

 

Near sea level and no hills. Is that a coincidence?

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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

While the Sprinter vans/buses (and the selection of older 300, 400 and 500-series chassis) have their charm, I think the vehicle of choice here would be an ex-ambulance. Here's a selection of a couple that's currently for sale around here. No W123's this time but they appear from time to time.


W115 chassis with OM617.910 transplanted - $1600


W115 chassis with 6-cyl gasser, also $1600


E280, unknown engine, transplant possible .. $3600

Ambulances for the win!

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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

I did a complete MB diesel drivetrain swap into a 86 F150. Was a project for my boss that I was to drive. Nearly killed me several times until I was fired for not wanting to operate the vehicle any longer. HA.

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Vehicles:
2002 SLK 230
Gone but not forgotten:
1983 300D
1981 El Camino 'OILBRNR' - 6.2L diesel
OM617 powered '86 F150
1984 BMW 524td
2001 VW Beetle TDI
1994 Sunurban 4x4 6.5L diesel