Engine mounts...OM617 vs g@$$er
 

While out on a walk, I had an idea...probably something that I wouldn't be capable of doing for a loooooooooooong time, but I figured I'd ask now before I forgot and before the idea progressed too far.

Are there any gas engines that mount to the frame in the same place on the chassis as an OM617 with the same style mounts? i.e. if I had a gas engine (what engine? I'm sure they're not all the same :)) sitting in a car, would it be feasible to pull that engine out and mount an OM617?

I'm not concerned with hooking the tranny to the engine, and this is still in the earliest stages of brainstorming...

Thanks!

BTW, the project idea gets to remain a secret, just in case someone sees it and likes the idea so much that they do it before I get a chance to. :)

Wow! a 300CD w/ a 4.2L V-8 from the 420SEL would be a nice car to drive! Especially coupled w/ the 420's gearing... 80mph cruises on the interstate would be much more satisfying.

All Benz engines use the same mount spacing and location -- just drop it in. If a V8 was used in the body style, it will fit with no modifications, if not, you will have to "fit and see".

I believe an M116/117/119 will fit in a W123.

Tranny mount will move on the slide to fit the tranny, the only other mod will have to be the front part of the driveshaft to fit for length.

Peter

Are you asking about using your OM617 in another car or putting a gas engine in your W123?

Consider the variety of engines that came in the W123:

- M115 (200, 230)
- M123 (250)
- M110 (280/E)
- M102 (200, 230E)
- OM615 (200D)
- OM616 (240D)
- OM617 (300D/t)

About the only commonly available gas engine is the M102 out of a 190E. There are M110s out there but bringing one back to spec is an expensive proposition and they're maintenance hogs as I understand.

As for dropping in an OM617, it should fit in just about any RWD or 4WD frame that takes a front sump engine. Except maybe a Pinto :)

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD ... any takers at $1100?

Oh c'mon people, haven't you been paying attention? The Warden loves his Diesel engines. And he's scared of aluminum, so we know it won't be an OM603. He probably wants to drop the 617 into a finnie or a ponton or something like that.

Hey Warden, you know there's a reason they never made a Diesel convertible. Soot all over you ain't exactly fun. But you just might be Diesel-crazy enough to do it.

Wouldn't a nice 280SL look good on you with a 617 diesel driving it.
Just think of the fumes wafting over you as it cruises down the highway.
Hmmm. Come to think of it I have a very nice 617 and auto trans ready to go in the garage. Maybe?

I'm not at liberty to say more :D, but Rick's partially right; I'm thinking on the lines of taking a gas-engine Benz, pulling that engine, and putting an OM617 in.

I bet he's doing a convertible. FYI, I'm pretty sure the hoodline on all the SL's is too low to work out. You have to take that into account as well.

See if this makes sense:

- The W115, W116, W123 and W126 had the OM617

- The W114 is the 6 cylinder version of the W115 so the W114 should take an OM617

- The W100 shared the M100 with the W116 so the W100 should take an OM617 (600D 3.0!)

- The R107 shared all gas engines with the W116 and W126 so the R107 should take an OM617

- The W108/9 shared the M116/7 with the W116 so the W108/9 should take an OM617

- The W111/2 shared the M129 and M180 with the W108/9 so the W111/2 should take an OM617

- The W113 shared the M129 with the W111/2 so the W113 should take an OM617

- The W105, W110, W180 and W187 shared the M180 with the W111 so the W105, W110, W180 and W187 should take an OM617

- The W186 and W189 shared the M189 with the W112 so the W189 should take an OM617

- The W198 shared the M198 with the W189 so the W198 should take an OM617 IF you can tilt an OM67 45-degrees to the US driver side and fit a dry sump system (Diesel gullwing!)

- The W128 shared the M127 with the W111 so the W128 should take an OM617

- What's left are the W120, W121 and whatever the 170s are.

That should cover it from 1950 through 1985, should be easy to extend the OM617 through the OM603 and OM606 into the late 90s :)

If you want a challenge, drop an OM617 into a W201

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD ... any takers at $1100?

I would love to have an old convertible Benz with a diesel engine! I love the way those cars look but will never buy one because they are so expensive and I'm afraid it will just cost too much to repair as the engines rack up the miles. Maybe the engine repairs aren't that bad on those cars - I don't know; but I can't imagine the engines being as reliable and simple as a Diesel.

Scott

mercedes offers new diesel convertables here in europe. i havent been paying attenion to the model designation, but i always smile when i see a sporty looking mercedes with a CDI badge on the back.

i think that volkswagen used to make diesel rabbit convertables....maybe the aerodynamics pushed the soot away from the car, imagine that.