Swapping out an early OM617 for a later OM617 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

tomscat1 · #1 03-10-2011, 02:57 PM

I am considering the possibility of, instead of rebuilding my W115 300D engine, swapping in a non-turbo engine from an early W123 (circa 1980).

Any one done this? Any advice would be appreciated... I am looking to do this as simply as possible... leaving the question of upgrading to the newer glow plugs and a turbo to another time, if at all. (I am told the W123 I am considering still has the old style glow plugs.)

I know there may be differences re: location of the oil filter, A/C units.... what other issues should I be looking at?

Thanks in advance.
Tom

Aquaticedge · #2 03-10-2011, 02:58 PM

should be almost the same 617 is a 617 really they only changed a few things with them through the years it seems

Stretch · #3 03-10-2011, 03:03 PM

I think I read somewhere that the oil pan design is different and that the W123 OM617s won't fit with ease. I'm not sure about that though...

Oh yes and here's a picture of a non turbo OM617 - see for yourself - does it look the same?

Picture taken from this thread:-

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=289886

Sounds like you want to bolt on a turbo at a later date - people have done this but there are several differences between the OM617 and OM617a that were incorporated by Mercedes when they did the original modification. If you are going through the effort of doing this job I'd look into making the OM617a fit from the outset.

tbomachines · #4 03-10-2011, 03:30 PM

If you are going to add a turbo, you are much better off just buying a turbo 617 now, the easiest way to go (by far) from NA to turbo is to swap in the turbo engine.

tomscat1 · #5 03-10-2011, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Army

I think I read somewhere that the oil pan design is different and that the W123 OM617s won't fit with ease. I'm not sure about that though...

Oh yes and here's a picture of a non turbo OM617 - see for yourself - does it look the same?

Picture taken from this thread:-

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=289886

Sounds like you want to bolt on a turbo at a later date - people have done this but there are several differences between the OM617 and OM617a that were incorporated by Mercedes when they did the original modification. If you are going through the effort of doing this job I'd look into making the OM617a fit from the outset.

Great pic! Thanks. The oil pan looks pretty close, if not the same, from here... oil filter is very different, of course.

I am not really planning on adding the turbo.... I know they did make a few changes when MB added it. I would like to just keep it simple and not deal with any of that.

Thanks again.

tomscat1 · #6 03-11-2011, 08:48 AM

This pic is for comparison purposes, although the quality (circa 2000) is not nearly what is available today. That is my 1975 W115 300D engine. This image was scanned from the original picture.

BTW, I titled this picture: "The Catch of the Day".

Stretch · #7 03-11-2011, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomscat1

This pic is for comparison purposes, although the quality (circa 2000) is not nearly what is available today. That is my 1975 W115 300D engine. This image was scanned from the original picture.

BTW, I titled this picture: "The Catch of the Day".

Ha ha I once caught an engine that was THIS big...

...that oil pan does look similar so I guess I've got confused with the position of the oil filter housing...

(Someone set me straight please)

rs899 · #8 03-11-2011, 01:18 PM

The later OM617.952 upper oil pan is ribbed and its thicker ( including the ribbing). The OM617.950 and presumably the 912 uses a smooth upper oil pan. The ribbing MAY interfere with the subframe on a W116. I don't have a W115, so I don't know if there's anything in that area that would intrude.

tomscat1 · #9 03-11-2011, 01:23 PM

Interesting to compare the ...er... angle of the dangle, so to speak, of the two pics.

If you notice, I did not use the load leveler. I used a yellow poly strap, wrapped around the engine just behind the front oil sump, forward of the injection pump. To my eye, the lifting angle of removal is a little steeper than in your pic, just based on the natural weight of the engine and tranny. It came out with no problem clearing the firewall, front subframe and front radiator frame.