1979 300td turbo? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

snorider · #1 07-24-2014, 02:48 PM

Hey folks,
Well I fed my Mercedes diesel addiction today. Found a very nice 300td wagon with 220k on the clock at a local dirt lot. No rust, but a bad repaint that is peeling badly on two spots, the hood and roof, the rest looks good. The dealer got it on trade in and could not sell it because it literally poured diesel from the injectors. To quote him "I am sick of dealing with this POS". I low balled them on the 2000$ price and got it for 900$. The PO did a ton of work to it installed an SLS delete kit, new brakes, rebuilt front end, rebuilt injectors, new stereo, repaired the climate control. yada yada yada. so I am pretty happy with my purchase so far. It even came with a big box of new and new to me parts, window regulators, new condition owners manual, rearview mirror, trim parts etc. Receipts for the parts total almost what I paid.

I know that it was not until sept of 79 that these cars were offered with a turbo. The badge on the trunk says 300td not tdt so I am trying to figure out if this is a factory turbo, a turbo replacement motor or an A.M. turbo conversion. Does anyone have an under the hood photo of a 79-80 300TDT wagon? Does anyone know if there is a vin code for the turbo, And finally does anyone know where the engine id tag is found on a om617 series?

My son just fixed the diesel leak, he is six. Of course he needed a bit of a boost from dad to reach the return lines but he did great. It was another case of re-used return lines, and now there are no more diesel leaks.

The car has zero blow-by,the loose oil cap doesnt move a bit, cam lobes are really clean, Coolant is clean and it drives and runs great, but it starts like it needs glow plugs.

This has been a dream car for me and I am Stoked about finally owning one.
Now Lets hope it doesn't guzzle oil or anything crazy.

vstech · #2 07-24-2014, 03:13 PM

79w123 would NOT have a turbo. In 79, only the w116SD had the turbo.

Likely there is no pump on the head, only the cam chain follower bolt. I bet it came from a later year MB. post up a pic of the front of the engine, maybe we can spot the OM# it should have a 617.912 if it's a non turbo block. If it's a .950, it's from a w116, .951, from a w126, .952 would be from a w123

winmutt · #3 07-24-2014, 03:15 PM

A. TDT is a NA nomenclature. TD stands for Touring Diesel.
B. No such thing as a 79-80 turbo diesel wagon.
C. Factory turbo diesel wagon looks almost identical to sedan with the window washer bottle and SLS swapped I think.

D. Pics or it didnt happen.

uberwasser · #4 07-24-2014, 03:15 PM

I do believe 1981 was actually the first model year for the turbo 300TD in the US market.

The badge on the back will be of no help. There is no such thing as a "300TDT" per se. They are all marked 300TD regardless of engine. The only outwards difference is the TURBODIESEL badge on the back instead of the DIESEL badge.

as opposed to

It could be a grey market import? I think a turbo wagon showed up in Europe as a 1980 model year.

Or someone swapped in a turbo engine?

Should be pretty easy to find out - punch your VIN number in to the EPC and look at the data card to see what engine code it was originally equipped with. And before anyone says anything, yes the EPC works with VIN's that old - I've run two 1979 cars through it recently and got the data card just fine

snorider · #5 07-24-2014, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winmutt

A. TDT is a NA nomenclature. TD stands for Touring Diesel.
B. No such thing as a 79-80 turbo diesel wagon. OK thanks
C. Factory turbo diesel wagon looks almost identical to sedan with the window washer bottle and SLS swapped I think. OK thanks

D. Pics or it didnt happen. Yes it did

Engine

The vin does not show up in the EPC at least the russians dont have it.
Michael

dieseldiehard · #6 07-24-2014, 04:12 PM

can you shoot a picture from above the climate servo/SLS reservoir area? Also the firewall where the linkage hingepoint is attached? That will indicate whether it was a conversion because the turbo linkage is different from the NA engine.
I can send a picture of my '79 300TD (wagon) that was converted to an '85 turbo engine if you are interested.
DDH

snorider · #7 07-24-2014, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dieseldiehard

can you shoot a picture from above the climate servo/SLS reservoir area? Also the firewall where the linkage hingepoint is attached? That will indicate whether it was a conversion because the turbo linkage is different from the NA engine.
I can send a picture of my '79 300TD (wagon) that was converted to an '85 turbo engine if you are interested.
DDH

I will take a couple photos when I get home. And I would very much like to see the conversion pics.
Thanks

vstech · #8 07-24-2014, 04:30 PM

I can see in the pic, you have the NA throttle rod going under the turbo air filter... so the motor came from a different car, and likely, that rod is going noplace...

also, it does look like you have a SLS pump on the head, but the pic is very difficult to see.
move or remove the upper radiator hose if you can. it's a good time to flush out the coolant anyway... go to the store and get 2 gallons of distilled water, then go to NAPA and get some zerex G05 coolant, and flush out your coolant for proper coolant from the start of your ownership!
and take more pics.
I also see the EVIL SERVO vacuum hose bundle up front, so the car is actually a PRE 81 vehicle.
it looks nice though.

vstech · #9 07-24-2014, 04:34 PM

also, I'd recommend you take a pic near the rear of the alternator to see if the oil vapor drain is present in the oil pan...

vstech · #10 07-24-2014, 04:38 PM

oh, and is that a fuel cap on your valve cover? if so, get it off. it looks silly all sideways like that. get a proper oil cap! (and not one from a v8 car!)

dieseldiehard · #11 07-24-2014, 06:15 PM

AFAIK original oil caps were metal like the one in the pic, in fact I have one NIB I put away to sell for a bazillion bucks on eBay to a buyer wanting to restore a car for a show presentation

It is possible however that particular one is from a gasser, being sideways like that, but I wouldn't worry about that too much if it seals OK.
As was pointed out however flushing the cooling system and putting the right antifreeze is at the top of the to-do list.
And second on the list should checking the 2 small 0-rings on the stem of the oil filter cover, they need to be soft and pliable O/W dirty oil will pass by and not get filtered properly.
my 2-cents DDH

dieseldiehard · #12 07-24-2014, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

I can see in the pic, you have the NA throttle rod going under the turbo air filter... so the motor came from a different car, and likely, that rod is going noplace...

also, it does look like you have a SLS pump on the head, but the pic is very difficult to see.
move or remove the upper radiator hose if you can. it's a good time to flush out the coolant anyway... go to the store and get 2 gallons of distilled water, then go to NAPA and get some zerex G05 coolant, and flush out your coolant for proper coolant from the start of your ownership!
and take more pics.
I also see the EVIL SERVO vacuum hose bundle up front, so the car is actually a PRE 81 vehicle.
it looks nice though.

Hmmm, I couldn't see that throttle rod, you must have better resolution or better eyes

So now its certain that engine is a transplant. Be certain they used the large diameter exhaust on it though!
Too bad the SLS was replaced with something that can't work as good and provide the smooth ride the factory suspension offers.
Still, if the servo doesn't leak the car is well worth that price, with or without a little rust (probably rust somewhere lurking but not yet discovered, if none then you have a great car in which to invest love, money, sweat and tears, maybe some blood and more money to make her look good. I need a little paint on mine, its at 346K now and I would not hesitate driving anywhere the weather isn't hot because no AC

DDH

vstech · #13 07-24-2014, 06:31 PM

One has to wonder which differential ratio is in the car, and if the speedo matches it...

snorider · #14 07-24-2014, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dieseldiehard

AFAIK original oil caps were metal like the one in the pic, in fact I have one NIB I put away to sell for a bazillion bucks on eBay to a buyer wanting to restore a car for a show presentation

It is possible however that particular one is from a gasser, being sideways like that, but I wouldn't worry about that too much if it seals OK.
As was pointed out however flushing the cooling system and putting the right antifreeze is at the top of the to-do list.
And second on the list should checking the 2 small 0-rings on the stem of the oil filter cover, they need to be soft and pliable O/W dirty oil will pass by and not get filtered properly.
my 2-cents DDH

Do you mind if I write you a check for that oil cap? I do think mine is an original cap maybe from a different engine but it has the oil symbol on it.
I am giving it an oil change this afternoon and will check the o rings. I do have a 82 240D as well as a 85 190D so I can relate on the coolant.

The engine is definitely not original but I would love to know the year and .xxx of this OM617. It sure does run nice, just drove 80mph for 50miles to test it out a bit and it is smooth and quiet. Has two oil drips one on each side of the engine, the passenger side is from the pcv return line which is loose and not even attached to the air cleaner

.

Pics

Turbo side: anyone know what that electrical connection was from?

Also the vac connection on the wast gate(I think...sitting atop the silver flex pipe at right) should it be hooked up?

What the heck is this broken tube, looks like climate control related hvac air line?

IP side: found two connections that are loose, one electrical one vac. Really looks a lot better dried out.

Missing connections, Vac has the compression nut upper right.

Also there is no tac signal, at least the tachometer is dead, where does the tach get its signal on these engines.
Thanks for all the information folks this forum is amazing, I am ordering an fsm tonight.

vstech · #15 07-24-2014, 08:29 PM

The throttle rod is the Bowden rod, going to original trans... I hope you don't still have the .118 trans... Turbo will melt it...