My first real check of mpg on my 89 420sel swap-29.26mpg!This is local, back and forth to work only,15 miles each way.This is in the Ozark Mountains, is downhill into the valley going in, climb back 1000 ' going home.Road has some curves,speeds up to 60 mph.Tach runs around 2300rpm at 60.I've put just over 1000 miles on it since the swap.
This same engine in my 84 300SD usually ran 26-27 mpg.Granted, I did put in timing chain,guides,bearings,etc,and retimed the pump, but all in all appears to be a successful swap. Is a much better driving and looking car, also quieter inside.
After getting my tach working last weekend, all I've got left to get working is my AC. For that I have to wire in my plug from my td parts car for the compressor, and rewire the KLIMA relay. It'll sure be nice to have AC again!

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84 300SD was driver,now donor for 89
89 420SEL diesel swap
84 300TD parts car,soon to scrap

congratulations!

Sounds like a successful swap. Did you swap the diff too?

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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.

Differential is the stock 89 one, believe it's 2.47:1 ratio. It has slowed engine speed slightly, but I have no problems unless I need to accelerate uphill at 40mph or under. Then I just shift down to get back up to speed.

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84 300SD was driver,now donor for 89
89 420SEL diesel swap
84 300TD parts car,soon to scrap

all that work for a 3mpg gain???



The only good reason I could see to do the swap if you having troubles with the gasser in terms of the fuel injection system

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1986 300SDL, 211K,Dealership serviced its whole life
1991 190E 2.6(120k)
1983 300D(300k)
1977 300D(211k)

Isn't that more like a 100% gain over a v8 powered 420 SEL? 15 mpg V. 30

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/calculatorSelectEngine.jsp?year=1989&make=Mercedes-Benz&model=420SEL

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1979 240D, 4spd manual, Power Sunroof, manual windows, 147k miles, Pastel gray/Black MB Tex.
1991 300D 2.5 - Smokes like it's on Crack!

They get more than 15 on the freeway at 60mph. I got 19 in my 560sel at 60-65mph........

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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

Pictures?

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

auto and 2.47 must be a little different, I run around 1900RPM at 60MPH. congrats on the swap, sounds like a cool project.

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1982 300CD Turbo (Otis, "ups & downs") parts for sale
2003 TJ with Hemi (to go anywhere, quickly) sold
2001 Excursion Powerstroke (to go dependably)
1970 Mustang 428SCJ (to go fast)
1962 Corvette LS1 (to go in style)
2001 Schwinn Grape Krate 10spd (if all else fails)

I just swapped a 2.47 into my dad's SD....and it runs around 2300rpm at 70mph....very quiet. And the acceleration from a standing start is pretty much just as good as with a 3.07....its a bit slower at highway speeds, but very minor since the engine is right in its optimal torque range at 70+ in 4th gear. Excellent setup IMHO. If I can get my hands on a limited slip 2.47 I will put one in my SD too.

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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)

I didn't do the swap for the mileage gain alone. My 300SD had 350K miles on it.Needed paint job,full new interior, all new rubber around windows,doors,etc.Still ran good, but made no sense to spend $5k plus and a lot more labor to fix what I had.
For a total of $2500 and a few months downtime, I got a sharp looking ,good running car which had always been garaged, only had 134K miles on it, and was very well maintained until the timing chain broke on it. I also got airbags, and ABS brakes, and a little more rear legroom.And I still have a parts car with good,rustfree body parts if I ever need them.
As far as pictures, if someone can tell me how to post them, I'll try to get some on.

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84 300SD was driver,now donor for 89
89 420SEL diesel swap
84 300TD parts car,soon to scrap

My stock SDL gets around the same mileage (28-29) with Amsoil in the motor, trans, and rear. Got slightly less with the conventional stuff when I first bought it. Drove it from MA. to Fla. and back this past winter with four adults and the dog and got around 27mpg. That was going 75-80 most of the way.

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1987 SDL. The best there ever was.

Yes, the converter doesn't lock up and slips giving the extra RPM.

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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

What did you do about the car being recognized by the DMV as having a gas engine, won't they be expecting the car to be smogged?

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"spreading a trail of obnoxious where ever we go"
1981 300sd w/ 341,500 miles

http://www.wecrash.com/pics/ddda_banner.gif

Congrats on the successful swap. Did the 617 with stock motor mounts drop directly in place of the V8 or did you have to make new mounts?

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Ron Schroeder
'85 300 Turbo Diesel 2 tank WVO
'83 300 Turbo Diesel 2 tank WVO
Some former WVO vehicles since ~1980:
'83 Mercedes 240D
'80 Audi 4000D
'83 ISUZU Pup
'70 SAAB 99 with Kubota diesel
'76 Honda Civic with Kubota diesel
'86 Golf
Several diesel generators
All with 2 tank WVO conversion
LI NY

In NY, if the vehicle is prior to OBDII, you just have a change of registration to Diesel and it gets updated in the database so it comes up as a diesel on the inspection machine.

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Ron Schroeder
'85 300 Turbo Diesel 2 tank WVO
'83 300 Turbo Diesel 2 tank WVO
Some former WVO vehicles since ~1980:
'83 Mercedes 240D
'80 Audi 4000D
'83 ISUZU Pup
'70 SAAB 99 with Kubota diesel
'76 Honda Civic with Kubota diesel
'86 Golf
Several diesel generators
All with 2 tank WVO conversion
LI NY