I recently picked up an 81 300SD which doesn't run because of an over heated engine. A local yard has offered me a running engine out of a wrecked 83 300SD. The engines seem to somewhat different. Most noticeably, the turbo seems to be positioned somewhat lower on one of them. I would appreciate any opinions on the quality of the two engines (the original engine may be rebuildable as an option). Also, would there be any major difficulties in installing the 83 engine in the 81 body?
My thanks to anyone who can contribute here.

Richard

I belive they are the same engine 81 through 85, I have an 81 SD that shares many chasis parts with my 86 SE. Try runing some engine parts for both the 81 and the 83 through Fatlane on line catalog bet they are the same........
William Rogers......

Engines are the same: 617.952

The turbochargers are the same on all turbodiesels with the 617 motors (Garrett T3) except the 1985, which had a KKK (kuhnle kopp kausch) K03 turbocharger.

On the 85 models I think that the turbo is replaced with the Garrett when the trap oxidizer is removed. Can someone clarify?

Is this just on the CA car models, or on every car? I was under the impression that the '85 Federal Emissions cars didn't have the trap oxidizer. That would mean the turbo would hav ebene the same, right?

__________________
2001 VW Jetta TDI, 5 speed, daily driver
1991 Ford F-350, work in progress
1984 Ford F-250 4x4, 6.9l turbo diesel, 5 speed manual
Previous oilburners: 1980 IH Scout, 1984 E-350, 1985 M-B 300D, 1979 M-B 300SD, 1983 M-B 300D
Spark-free since 1999

I spoke with my buddy who found the engine for me. It seems it might be an 85 300SD out of CA. If so, then that probably explains the difference. Is a CA equipped engine significantly less desireable than a regular one?

Richard

I put a used engine from an 82 in my 81300SD this year. The swapout is not the problem. Both engines were identical on every respect.
The problem I has was with the used engine itself. Came out of a yard in Bakersfield. Good friend in the auto wrecking bizz found it and he very highly recommended the place that sold it to me.
They told me all about what a great motor it was etc. Had a little warranty. Had it shipped in. Installed new oil pump and chain, new water pump. That was when I noticed the gaskets were all looking very dried. Replaced as many as I could get to. I put in a new front seal. At that time I asked about the rear seal and was told the rear seal seldom if ever failed and to go ahead with the install now.
Put the engine in place and right away the rear seal failed and I was losing a quart of oil onto the floor with every startup.
Pulled the engine back out and replaced the rear seal. The old seal was so dry it had lost large chunks.
Next problem was the valve springs and cam followers. Too long to relate now, but I had to replace two cam followers and all of the valve springs. That was from this engine sitting for so long without being turned over.
My evaluation of the problem was that this engine may have been as good as the yard told me, but I believe they pulled it and that it then sat out in the CA sunshine for a very long time, That dried out the seals and with some of the valve springs weakened and failed.
I made several calls to the yard and several times asked just how long this engine had been sitting. I was told anywhere from a couple months to three or four months. Never was able to get any satisfaction. Lesson learned? Be careful when buying a used. If at all possible look it over before buying. It would have cost me less time to drive to CA from here than I spent screwing around with this.
BTW, the used engine probably was not that bad, at least before they let it set for so long. The compression checks out very high and it does run ok....now. Does need a timing chain.

The turbo unit on my '85 CA model is located higher to allow room for the trap oxidizer. The air cleaner is relocated to the front. Iwas told there was a recall of some sort on my model. My brother in law had a 48 state '82 with the turbo mounted lower and the air cleaner above.

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'85 300SD (formerly california emissions)
'08 Chevy Tahoe
'93 Ducati 900 SS
'79 Kawasaki KZ 650
'86 Kawasaki KX 250
'88 Kawasaki KDX200
'71 Hodaka Ace 100
'72 Triumph T100R