so I picked up a 87 sdl .thinking it had a 617 in it, to my surprise is a l6 .

would this unit be a om603?

I picked it up for a engine swap. possible to ditch the ecu ? as far as I can tell this is a mechanical IP .

I saw a long time ago,where people were doing that to much newer engines.

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran

You can ditch the ECU if you really want on a 603 but IMHO it is better to keep it at least for the injection pump controls. There is a sensor and actuator on the IP that helps regulate the idle, which is particularly useful if you are heavily loaded with ac and pulling power from the alternator.

Engine will definitely work without it, but you will bog down the idle if your accessory load goes up.

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The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

I won't be running ac, possible to get a shorter belt and remove the compressor?

Also ,what are are the boost figures for the 603 ? I find a lot of 606 info , possibly I need a better key word than om603?

Also if I keep the ecu, is the tach output digital?

Go to this site
W124performance.com
More stuff on the 603 than you can read in one sitting

The tach does come through the ECU on these. The ring gear sensor counts the 144 teeth on the ring gear and outputs 144 pulses/rev to the ECU. The Tach and Klima are fed from the ECU so I am not sure what the ECU does to that signal - just condition it, or change it to something else.

__________________
The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

Last year for the 5 cyl turbo-diesel (OM617.952) in 300D cars in the U.S. was 1985. The 1985 CA is a bit unique - intake, exhaust, turbo, transmission, due to its 1-yr only catalyst.

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1984 & 1985 CA 300D's
1964 & 65 Mopar's - Valiant, Dart, Newport
1996 & 2002 Chrysler minivans

Hey thanks gents . I will look on that Web site and read as much as possible. Would you say 280,xxx miles is a lot? Should I plan to run this for a few years then swap for a 24v? I almost got a big body e300 for 1800 bucks I was a bit slow on the phone.

What's with the odd ball turbo mount on my 603? Any of you had a success at getting rid of that part?

So this 603 has a weird turbo mount . I guss where there used to be a oxedizer? Any one removed this odd ball leg and mounted a differ an if old or anything ? Pics would be super nice if anyone wants to share .