They must not be too concerned about it....I see plenty of blue-spewing vehicles out on the roads....

__________________
-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)

Ditto. A 86-96 Jeep Cherokee would be the PERFECT vehicle for this. They are plentiful, so they can be purchased cheaply - especially with a dead engine or tranny. They can be had in 4 door or 2 door configurations, but both have the same frame, suspension, and wheelbase. The standard engine is a 4 liter inline 6 and a LOT of them came with the AW4 automatic tranny - which is very comparable in size to the MB 4 speed automatic.

All this adds up to an engine bay and frame that are perfectly sized for the 5 cylinder OM617 and MB 4 speed auto. Curb weight is about 3450 - also very comparable to the 300 series diesels. The 4 liter inline 6 gasser engine is a bit lighter than the OM617 - probably a couple of hundred pounds - BUT that can easily be compensated for by swapping in a set of junkyard front springs from a V8 93-98 Grand Cherokee. This is a common swap to lift the front end of a "regular" Cherokee an inch or so - and they fit perfectly with no modifications required.

There is also a WIDE range of rear axle ratios available in the "regular" Cherokees - the stock ratios offered were 3.07 (I6 & 5 speed manual tranny), 3.55 (I6 & AW4 automatic), and 3.73 (I4 & 5 speed manual tranny) and 4.10 (I4 & AW4 automatic tranny). However, you can also get gearsets for the stock axle in 4.56, 4.88, and even 5.13

Stock tire diameter is around 28" but you can increase that up to as much as 30" without having to lift it or enlarge the wheelwells, and you can run tires as big as 32" diameter by doing some simple trimming of the wheelwell openings. So between the available axle ratios and tire options you can adjust the gearing to just about anything to want to match the powerband of the OM617 & 4 speed auto.

Personally I think the 3.07 ratio with stock tires (225/75/15) or maybe slightly upsized tires (245/75/15) tires would work out just about perfect for the OM617/auto combo.

__________________
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

If my 300SD gets total in a way where the engine and the trans is no damaged, i might considerer swapping into a Cherokee..

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Current Garage
2008 Mercedes GL320 CDI 188k mi Repair/Work in progress
1994 S350 160k mi Garage Queen & prepping for repairs
2005 E320 CDI 203k mi Healthy & Daily Driver
1994 S350 357k mi Retried as parts car
1984 300TD 214k mi Blown OM617 Poss OM603 Swap??

Sold
1987 300SDL 200K+
1994 S320 181K mi
2008 E320 Bluetec 127k mi
1999 S420 130K mi
1980 240D 360k mi
15+ Others that has come, stay and gone

GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
1995 E320 SE 220k mi
1984 300SD 350k mi

I considered doing this in my discovery. Problem was that I'd be dropping 50hp from the stock engine, the stock engine is much shorter, the stock engine (aluminum-block V-8) is much lighter. The original truck is a perfect 50/50 weight distribution also, hated to mess that up.

Biggest problem is adaptors, which will cost more than the engine you're installing, to adapt to other transmissions.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

but how to maintain 4x4 capability with the mercedes tranny?

I know some datsun\nissans had divorced T case's. but not sure if you could squeeze one under a cherokee. maybe a 4 door.

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1984 123.193 372,xxx miles, room for Seven.

1999 Dodge Durango Cummins 4BTAA 47RE 5k lb 4x4 getting 25+mpgs, room for Seven.