My Official OM617 Toyota Pickup Repower Thread - Page 52 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

tdoublenastywitit · #**766** 01-02-2021, 10:48 AM

Good luck finding a "mercedes diesel specialist" I think you probobly know have more knowledge than any shop you go-to. But I know what you mean by not wanting to rip the thing a part and having it sitting halfway done in the shop for weeks on end and/or spending the 13 hours a day under the hood trying to finish by Monday! haha

Sweet build and truck, I think the bumper thing is perfect for what kinda truck it is.

Do you have a super pump in it???

OM617YOTA · #**767** 01-02-2021, 04:57 PM

Thank you for the kind words. The nose on the front "works" but looks terrible, and also reduces my approach angle significantly. During the original build I was working on a very limited budget, and that nose was a way to make the original radiator work using only scraps I had on hand. Now I can afford a shorter aluminum radiator, and specialized parts if needed or wanted. Girlfriend bought me a spool gun for Christmas, so while redoing the front end I'll be looking into shedding some weight by doing it in aluminum.

You're right, a Mercedes diesel specialist is likely non existent in this area. There used to be a German auto repair place nearish to me, guy knew Mercedes diesels well. Called him a couple times and a guy named Hans with a thick German accent answered. Turned out to be more expensive than I wanted to invest at the time, but again, resources have now changed. Unfortunately they appear to be closed now.

Onto the valve stem seals, it turns out that removing the cam isn't required! That's an entirely different job than I was expecting, and a local auto parts shop wound up having Elring seals available in just a couple hours! I grabbed them and now I'm middle of the job. Taking lunch at the moment. Not going to jinx myself by guessing when I'll get it done, but it's definitely in progress.

ROLLGUY · #**768** 01-02-2021, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OM617YOTA

............

Onto the valve stem seals, it turns out that removing the cam isn't required! That's an entirely different job than I was expecting, and a local auto parts shop wound up having Elring seals available in just a couple hours! I grabbed them and now I'm middle of the job. Taking lunch at the moment. Not going to jinx myself by guessing when I'll get it done, but it's definitely in progress.

Yes, it is quite easy on one of these engines. Just remove the two rocker shafts and rockers, put the piston you are working on at TDC, remove the top nut, unscrew the jamb nut, then remove the valve spring retainer and spring. The seal can then be replaced, and the process reversed for assembly. Tightening the adjustment nuts more will make it easier to re-install the rockers and shafts (or at least the ones that are under the lobes facing down). All ten valves will have to be adjusted.

OM617YOTA · #**769** 01-02-2021, 08:16 PM

Halfway done with it now and in a good rhythm. I've also been putting a nut back on the valve and then rotating the engine to lower the piston for more room.

Forgot to answer before, definitely no superpump. Best to get everything ironed out and running properly stock before even considering performance upgrades.

OM617YOTA · #**770** 01-04-2021, 10:40 AM

Got 'er done, new valve stem seals in, rocker arms reinstalled, valve lash reset, buttoned back up.

HUGE improvement in smoke on the one test drive I took. Small blue puff when first accelerating, likely from oil that had already leaked down the valve stems prior to replacement and I don't expect it to be there next time. Even if it is and the smoke never improves beyond that, it's a 99.9% improvement over the billowing cloud of blue from before. Very pleased.

The nailing seems better too. I don't dare hope, but am going to be keeping an ear on it.

Lastly, the turbo. The rebuilt one sounds weird, definitely not a smooth hiss when on the throttle and making boost. Anyone have any turbo sound diagnostic videos they could share?

tdoublenastywitit · #**771** 01-04-2021, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OM617YOTA

Got 'er done, new valve stem seals in, rocker arms reinstalled, valve lash reset, buttoned back up.

HUGE improvement in smoke on the one test drive I took. Small blue puff when first accelerating, likely from oil that had already leaked down the valve stems prior to replacement and I don't expect it to be there next time. Even if it is and the smoke never improves beyond that, it's a 99.9% improvement over the billowing cloud of blue from before. Very pleased.

The nailing seems better too. I don't dare hope, but am going to be keeping an ear on it.

Lastly, the turbo. The rebuilt one sounds weird, definitely not a smooth hiss when on the throttle and making boost. Anyone have any turbo sound diagnostic videos they could share?

Does or did this help with "blow-by" at all?

And how long did it take to do the job??

OM617YOTA · #**772** 01-05-2021, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdoublenastywitit

Does or did this help with "blow-by" at all?

And how long did it take to do the job??

Didn't even think to check blowby before and after, that wasn't the priority to solve with this. Right now my PCV is just vented to atmosphere anyway; a catch can and routing the vapors into the intake side of the turbo are priorities though. Clean up that mess.

Job took ~7 hours. An experienced and fully able bodied mechanic could probably do it in half that time.
I followed his video, and you'll see me in the comment section:

https://youtu.be/SCzl8LO0I_E

Dan Stokes · #**773** 01-07-2021, 10:00 AM

I haven't been on in a while (lots of projects and none of them involving Mutt the Race Truck) and it was good to see that you posted.

No clue on the nailing. That's one ailment my 617 doesn't seem to have so I haven't climbed down that rabbit hole. The oil smoke sure sounds like valve guide seals based on my gas engine experience and I suspect the same principles apply here.

The 'Yoda deserves a good home so if you do decide to pass him (her?) along I hope you find someone who appreciates what they're getting.

Dan

OM617YOTA · #**774** 01-07-2021, 03:30 PM

Thank you sir. The valve stem seals seem to have solved the smoke problem, or at least made it 99.9% better. Good enough for me.

Nailing is the next thing, definitely. Seems to improve with a huge dose of cetane boost, but none of my friends who have diesels have that issue.

Going to be moving out of state in the next couple years, and need a truck I can haul decent loads with and trust to be reliable for long distances. I think that's ultimately going to be the end of the Yota.

OM617YOTA · #**775** 01-24-2021, 03:33 PM

Looked at a diesel Chevy one ton recently. Would have done it if not for the rear main seal leak. I passed.

tdoublenastywitit · #**776** 01-24-2021, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OM617YOTA

Looked at a diesel Chevy one ton recently. Would have done it if not for the rear main seal leak. I passed.

Which year and engine? how much?

OM617YOTA · #**777** 01-25-2021, 11:42 AM

Big ole monster, a '96 crew cab one ton dually 4x4 6.5l diesel w/ 140k miles, for $7800. Just absolutely stupid overkill, but also my favorite body style of any truck.

Glad I walked away. Aware of the issues w/ the 6.5l and what it takes to get them reliable, and that they'll never be a 5.9 Cummins or 7.3 Powerstroke no matter what's done to them. Wasn't expecting perfection at all w/ a 25 year old truck and 140k miles, but also didn't want to get sick of one project truck and remedy that by adding another project truck. Like I said, glad I walked away.

Edit:

Realistically a newer F150 would probably be my best bet, I just really............really...............really.............don't want a truck payment. The Chevy I could have paid cash for. Have to find the sweet spot between "cheap enough to pay cash" and "project." The longer I keep looking, the more cash I have saved up.

tdoublenastywitit · #**778** 01-26-2021, 06:41 PM

Get an old 12 valve. You should be able to get a good one at that price. u will love it, Especially since you are into old Benzes, its simple as an om617 but you can actually tune very easily and pull really good power.

And u can get all sorts of parts and support easily

But i too like that body style in the 96 crew cab. 7800 is a good price for that i think but ya id never buy a chevy diesel

OM617YOTA · #**779** 01-28-2021, 11:49 AM

In that price range and age, condition of the individual vehicle is going to be far more of a deciding factor than a specific make or model. Would take a well cared for low miles Chevy 6.5 diesel over a beat to hell 400k mile 7.3l Powerstroke, any day. I'll just keep my eyes open and jump on the right combination that comes along.

I chuckled at "into old Benzes". I don't have any interest in these cars at all. I bought this engine because of the legendary durability and reliability, and while it's been reliable, it's also been by far the most PITA engine I've ever owned. It's run "right" maybe 500 miles the entire time I've driven it. Completely soured me on German vehicles.

OM617YOTA · #**780** 08-09-2021, 10:57 AM

Just pulled the trigger on a '98 Chevy long bed crew cab one ton dually, with the big block gas motor. Again, tremendous overkill for what I do, but my favorite body style of any.

Current plan is to keep the Yota. Going to do the delivery valve seals again, see if that gets it to calm down. If I can get it running right, I'll turn it into more of a dedicated off roader than a utility type truck. If not, it'll probably go up for sale and get moved along.

Setting a calendar reminder for a year from today, and if no progress has been made on the Yota in that time, and I don't really feel like making any more, it's going up for sale. I refuse to have unused junk sitting around.