FS: SVO conversion parts for 300SD including custom tanks
 

All these parts are were mounted and the coolant loop was flushed with coolant, but the system was never used because of an unfortunate string of engine failures on diesel fuel. I'll explain in more detail after listing the parts. All parts will be cleaned with cut off pieces of hose removed and shipped by whatever method you prefer from Bozeman, Montana.

1: 2 regular 3 way frybrid valves.
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/p...VOparts011.jpg
Retail for 2 is $160, I'll sell for $100 plus shipping.

2: Hose in hose heat exchanger. Assembled with aluminum aviation fuel line inside of a coolant hose with stainless steal fittings.
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/p...VOparts001.jpg

http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/p...VOparts002.jpg This was made with well over $100 in parts and has been leak tested. I'll sell for $70 plus shipping.

3: Final flat plate heat exchanger based on a VW oil cooler (as sold by frybrid). This includes the heat exchanger and mount, a section of aluminum tube to wrap the filter and a custom stainless steel insulated box to cover it all. I will also include a temperature gauge mounted to the fuel output and all the fittings necessary. Most of the fittings are stainless with some brass ones where stainless wasn't available.
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/p...VOparts007.jpg
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/p...VOparts010.jpg
This was bled with coolant but never used. I'll sell the whole combination for $65 plus shipping.


4: Fattywagon injection line heater. From their website: Retails for $30, I'll sell for $20 plus shipping (won't be much)

5: Now for the intersting stuff. These parts were originally sinstalled on a 1984 Mercedes 300SD as a conversion kit that used the main tank for VO. The main tank was modified by pulling it out and mounting a heat exchanger on the top corner. The exchanger was mounted by pounding the corner flat and welding a rectaugular mount with threaded holes. A heat exchanger was made using currogated aluminum tubing and it was mounted to a plate that bolts to the rectangular mount on the top corner. Here is a picture of it in the car:
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/p...4/car1of10.jpg
There is also a custom 8.5 gallon tank that fits in the trunk on the side behind the quarter panel, shown mounted and removed here:
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/p...4/car3of10.jpg
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/p...VOparts004.jpg
I will sell the 2 tank combo for $350 plus shipping including fuel pickup and tank heat exchanger or either seperately for $175.

If you are interested please email me at John Parker: jparker at montana dot edu or send a PM here. I will respond faster to email. I will sell everything here for $900 plus shipping too.



Here's the story on this kit.
I bought a 300SD in the early summer of 2007 with the intention of doing a VO conversion on it in the summer. After talking with some people at Montana State University I decided to sponsor a Mechanical Engineering senior design project to have the conversion done by students. Since a standard conversion isn't really that complicated the students' faculty advisor and I added some more stipulations. We wanted a modified main tank to give extended range on vegetable oil. We wanted a custom smaller diesel tank that would fit in a convenient spot. We also wanted a fully automatic control system and for the system to be effective in the cold Montana climate.


Everything went well and the project was underway by the fall of 2007. It was then I decided to make one more trip to Salt Lake in the car before the students tore out that tank and started the conversion. Before the trip the temperature sensor for the coolant temp gauge broke. Then the thermostat broke during the trip and the car overheated, but we didn't know till it was way too late and the car had badly overheated. It blew a head gasket. When getting that fixed I discovered one of the cylinder sleeves had somehow descended into the engine and the engine was effectively ruined. ($2400 to repair)



I bought a new engine from someone in town that supposedly had run great the last time it was in a car. This engine went 40 miles and bent a rod.

Broke and angry, I gave up. Now I'm selling the car and it's two blown engines seperately, but would like to see the VO system get some use in someone else's car. It has been leak tested for the 40 miles that the second engine lasted but I never had a chance to actually burn any VO before the engine died.



The highlight of this kit is a modified 300SD main tank with an aluminum heat exchanger (aquatico curragated tubing) installed in the upper corner. This tank was modified by senior ME students by hammering the upper corner flat and welding a rectangular mounting plate to the tank. I haven't removed the kit from the car yet, but when I do I will have a picture of the heat exchanger that fits into the tank. Another highlight is the diesel tank. It fits right inside of the right rear quarter panel and has 8.5 gallons of volume. It was made by a faculty member out of stainless steel. It takes up very little space in the trunk giving more room for stuff and extra VO for long trips. Unfortunately this tank doesn't have a return line plumbed, but that would be a easy modification once the kit is removed if you want a return line. Most of the fittings on this conversion are stainless steel with the exception of a few that are brass.

If you want the car and it's 2 engines also, make me an offer for the whole package.



Thanks for looking. I've lost my shirt on this project and would like to see it carried through by someone who has better luck with these cars.

John Parker: jparker at montana dot edu