Okay, so I have a couple diesel for diesel engine swaps under my belt. now I want to try something a little bolder. I had already posted in here about swapping out a V12 in an S600 for a 603 diesel and it sounds like it can be done mechanically. Now the real dilemma.
Being in California with these Conservative Liberals does anyone have any experience with DMV and registration on this Johnny Cash mobile?
I have heard of people putting diesel engines in a Dodge Dakota and I even saw one in a beautiful 67 Mercury Cougar, but I never had an opportunity to ask about the licensing. I have a feeling that if I walk into DMV and ask them over the counter they will run my photo, fingerprints and DNA off the counter and keep tabs on me.

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1987 350SDL Parts Car
1987 350SDL #2 Sons Car
1991 350SD My Car-RIP 9/7/09
1992 300SD Her Car
1995 E300 Spare Car-RIP 4/23/09
1992 S320 My Car - Soon to be diesel
1990 W250 4x4 Cummins #1 Son's Truck
1993 D350 Cummins My Truck
1999 3500 Cummins Just Another Truck
1987 Executive Cat 3208 Family Wagon

"Growing up is a choice. Growing old is a privilege"

if the vehicle is 25 years and older, you can do whatever the hell combination you can dream of! if its under 25, "legally" the engine has to be the same age or newer with a comparable model configuration in the same year. i "" legally because i've seen a lot of diesel swaps where people just go to the DMV and tell the clerk "its diesel now, please update the title" and gotten away with it.

Hummmm, interesting. Unfortunately it would be a 1995 S600. I'll have to ponder this. Thanks for the info. I'll see if anyone else chimes in.

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1987 350SDL Parts Car
1987 350SDL #2 Sons Car
1991 350SD My Car-RIP 9/7/09
1992 300SD Her Car
1995 E300 Spare Car-RIP 4/23/09
1992 S320 My Car - Soon to be diesel
1990 W250 4x4 Cummins #1 Son's Truck
1993 D350 Cummins My Truck
1999 3500 Cummins Just Another Truck
1987 Executive Cat 3208 Family Wagon

"Growing up is a choice. Growing old is a privilege"

Any engine from the same vehicle class (LDV into LDV, HDV into HDV) can go into any other vehicle if it's the same year or newer provided it has all the engine control/emissions equipment. Depending on which smog check area someone is in, the swap may have to be inspected by a state ref. Just go down to the DMV and sooner or later you'll find someone who knows what forms you need and what steps you need to take.

I put an Izuzu diesel in an old datsun 1toner a few years back. The old petrol motor was junk & not re-useable. The datsun engine number ended up some how on the izuzu. It was checked a couple of years later for a roadworthy. The guy just looked at the number & ticked the form.

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Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

If I can find a 107 in good shape without a sound drivetrain I would like to do a 617 swap with a nearly new extra engine that I have access to.

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This area is typically used to brag about one's current or former automobiles.

It will be LDV to LDV but an older engine. The car is a 95 S600 and the engine would be a 603 from an 87 300SDL. I will take a trip to the DMV and begin asking to see what they say.

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1987 350SDL Parts Car
1987 350SDL #2 Sons Car
1991 350SD My Car-RIP 9/7/09
1992 300SD Her Car
1995 E300 Spare Car-RIP 4/23/09
1992 S320 My Car - Soon to be diesel
1990 W250 4x4 Cummins #1 Son's Truck
1993 D350 Cummins My Truck
1999 3500 Cummins Just Another Truck
1987 Executive Cat 3208 Family Wagon

"Growing up is a choice. Growing old is a privilege"

I don't think you can do that in California. I moved away almost 5 years ago, but I looked into it when I lived in San Diego. The engine you are swapping in has to meet the same emissions standards (or better) than the engine you are removing.

You might be able to do the 606 turbodiesel from the w210 E Class, since it's newer and I think they were sold there. Well, I guess I can't swear they were sold there new, but I've seen quite a few on California roads. Those could have been brought in used, I suppose.

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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!

Yup, the engine has to be the same year or newer, technically. If it's an older engine that is identical to one used in a same year/newer vehicle, then it can probably be used, the refs aren't that thorough, and if it doesn't need to be inspected by a state ref, you can probably get away w/ the 87 diesel, but it technically has to be a certified engine/emissions configuration from another LDV that's the same age or newer.

In New york its simple. On the registration form there is a section where you can ammend the vehicle information. All you do is write in. "Vehicle converted to diesel,permantly installed" And you will be issued a new title which states diesel. A plus is the inspection is then only $10 as opposed to $35. Safety only no emissions and no Dino!

You can also say get Passenger plates on a pickup as opposed to commercial plates(In NY no commercial vehicles on Parkways) by writing in "Cap and seats permanently installed"

Worked for me many times. Mike

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1983 300TD
1983 300sd

It doesn't sound like this is going to work. I'll take a trip to DMV later this week and post what (if any) info I get out of them. I just hate to be told one thing and then do the job and take it in to be told another.....but that's how government works, just like building inspectors. But that's another forum.

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1987 350SDL Parts Car
1987 350SDL #2 Sons Car
1991 350SD My Car-RIP 9/7/09
1992 300SD Her Car
1995 E300 Spare Car-RIP 4/23/09
1992 S320 My Car - Soon to be diesel
1990 W250 4x4 Cummins #1 Son's Truck
1993 D350 Cummins My Truck
1999 3500 Cummins Just Another Truck
1987 Executive Cat 3208 Family Wagon

"Growing up is a choice. Growing old is a privilege"

I'd love to see the look on the smog checkers face when he holds the emissions device up to a diesel tail pipe

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-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.

one more thing to add. Go to your states DMV website and search for what you are planning. I am sure there is a section. Do what it says and print that page. When you go to DMV to register and the counter idiot says no good insist that they call for a supervisor. Then show THEIR page to the supervisor and it will be done. It is amazing how many DMV counterpersons use there OPINION when it comes to transactions.
Years back Four wheel magazine had an editorial on this. Old jeep found in the dessert. 50 different answers on how to register it. They just kept going to different counter people till one did it. They are all experts there.

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1983 300TD
1983 300sd

In Carson City it's really simple. No inspection, so you just don't tell the DMV you did it. For some reason my 240D is titled as a gasser, but it's never caused an issue.

California is a different story. I don't think they'll allow an '87 engine in a '95 car, but you might be able to find some loophole.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.

He would say, "Use the search luke!"...