Diesel into my 95 Chebby wagon? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #1 05-10-2009, 11:01 PM

Took a trip this weekend with my 95 chebby wagon, pulling my utility trailer with my Miata autocrosser up on it.

I kept daydeaming of having the wagon with a mb diesel in it. I was thinking of a 606 non turbo or possibly one of those that come in the sprinter van.

Any thoughts on this idea?

I'd love to do a 617 turbo (I have a spare in fact) but I don't think it would have enough power to pull my travel trailer.

Skippy · #2 05-10-2009, 11:05 PM

It should be doable. The engine compartment should have plenty of room. You'd need to do a little custom fabrication for engine and transmission mounts and a few linkages. I think a 6.5 would be a better engine choice for the type of use you're talking about.

Or you could just use your Dodge.

TheDon · #3 05-10-2009, 11:07 PM

No Tom.. no...

put a 6 speed in there and some headers...

t walgamuth · #4 05-10-2009, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skippy

It should be doable. The engine compartment should have plenty of room. You'd need to do a little custom fabrication for engine and transmission mounts and a few linkages. I think a 6.5 would be a better engine choice for the type of use you're talking about.

Or you could just use your Dodge.

Yeah, probably the better way to go.

I love the look of that smmmmoooooothhhhh wagon though!

t walgamuth · #5 05-10-2009, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

No Tom.. no...

put a 6 speed in there and some headers...

The six speed is definately attractive to me but the cost of it is fierce!

catmandoo62 · #6 05-10-2009, 11:59 PM

there is a guy over on diesel page that put either a 6.2 or 6.5 is his buick wagon.supposedly getting upper 30's for mpg's

Skippy · #7 05-11-2009, 02:28 AM

I saw a magazine article not too long ago that showed a Durmax stuffed into a 60's Impala. I think there's some youtube video of it as well.

t walgamuth · #8 05-11-2009, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catmandoo62

there is a guy over on diesel page that put either a 6.2 or 6.5 is his buick wagon.supposedly getting upper 30's for mpg's

Yes, I looked at that thread last night. I am reluctant to use a six point two. I have owned about five of them and am well familiar with their plusses and minuses. While a six two would keep it all gm, the six twos have a rather weak injection pump and are not overall a really tough durable motor like I have gotten used to with the benzes.

I also like the accessibility of a straight six.

Remember his mileage is in Imperial gallons which are at least twenty percent larger than a us gallon.

The only way I can imagine his claim for towing mileage is if the trailer has less frontal area than the car and is very very streamlined. His other mileage figures seemed attainalbe.

t walgamuth · #9 05-11-2009, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skippy

I saw a magazine article not too long ago that showed a Durmax stuffed into a 60's Impala. I think there's some youtube video of it as well.

The duramax does not interest me. They have some weak areas and have the disadvantage of being a v engine with two heads, and two of all the other things that go on a head.

#10 05-11-2009, 08:10 AM

I personally would think a cummins diesel would be your best bet. Or...you might try a 4 cylinder diesel from like a Box delivery truck. Best wieght for performance ratio and they are made to haul heavy loads. I know Cummins made a 4 cylinder and just about everyone else did as well for delivery trucks. Keep us posted.

catmandoo62 · #11 05-11-2009, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

Yes, I looked at that thread last night. I am reluctant to use a six point two. I have owned about five of them and am well familiar with their plusses and minuses. While a six two would keep it all gm, the six twos have a rather weak injection pump and are not overall a really tough durable motor like I have gotten used to with the benzes.

I also like the accessibility of a straight six.

Remember his mileage is in Imperial gallons which are at least twenty percent larger than a us gallon.

The only way I can imagine his claim for towing mileage is if the trailer has less frontal area than the car and is very very streamlined. His other mileage figures seemed attainalbe.

the guy i was talking about was from texas so i doubt he was using imperial gallons..

LUVMBDiesels · #12 05-11-2009, 09:26 AM

Tom,

With the amount of parts available for a SBC you can make your 5.7 liter do what you want it to do. Try headers, a chip(power programmer) and a cam to get either more torque or power. I would hate to see you yank it for a diesel as much as I love our MB Diesels

There is a programmer that will let you change the settings in both the engine and transmission from towing to economy to performance.

TimFreeh · #13 05-11-2009, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

....and are not overall a really tough durable motor like I have gotten used to with the benzes.

I also like the accessibility of a straight six.

Have you taken a look under the hood of your Dodge pickup? You might be surprised to see what you find.

Mercedes makes a nice light duty Diesel engine but compared to the Cummins B series engine a 617 looks.... shall we say pretty weak?

Every time I tow something with my Dodge/Cummins setup I marvel at how well it works, I can't imagine a suburban with a 125 HP OM617 or even a OM602 or 606 would even be close to what you already have.

awsrock · #14 05-11-2009, 01:00 PM

There's a 606 NA as well as a 603.97x for sale on Craigslist in Chicago. I think the 606 was $1200 and the 603 around $2500. In case you're interested