Mercedes benz I5 diesel engine

[CJ the noisemaker]

does the MB inline 5 turbo diesel engine have enough oomph to push a FSJ? I kind of figured that it has as much power as a 258, but a little less torque.

[rustywagoneers_com]

My opinion is 'yes'.

However - I can handle vehicles that accelerate slowly.

[Mikel]

http://www.4btswaps.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?26-Mercedes-OM617-amp-Variants

[drlocke]

IIRC the OM617 in my '85 puts out around 84HP and about 184 ft-lbs torque. The format OM617.xxx is used for the different 5 cylinder diesels made--some with turbo and others natural aspiration.

For your proposed application you should consider a mid 1980s or later with turbo. I wouldn't even consider natural asp, as the turbo is more acceptable in performance, and a lot cleaner. This is particularly important if you are considering use of it at higher elevations.

FYI the one I have has nearly a half-million miles on it, and it still functions perfectly well. If the 327 in my Wagoneer were to expire beyond repair I would seriously consider an OM617 series as an option to repower.

[bigun]

Search in the tech area lots of threads about this swap

[drlocke]

Must be a reason. Although the Cummins 4BT could be used I'm fairly certain the OM617 is lighter in weight, and thus avoids a lot of issues regarding front-end suspension. And they are still a rugged motor. Variants of this 5 cyl are used in some Freightliner vans as employed in courier service, and also the Dodge Sprinter in later years...

[bigun]

The only problem I see is that the price of diesel is now more than gasoline and it looks like it is going to stay that way. You would need to make really good fuel mileage in the 20 to 30 MPG to make it pay

[drlocke]

The fuel economy of that engine with a sedan and with automatic is 26MPG. Prolly gonna do about 22 or so in the app discussed. The Freightliner vans do about that according to the folks driving them.

[CJ the noisemaker]

The only problem I see is that the price of diesel is now more than gasoline and it looks like it is going to stay that way. You would need to make really good fuel mileage in the 20 to 30 MPG to make it payWell, upon looking at some specs I can see that the 300SD weighs as much as a FSJ when wet. A diesel engine can easily handle a DD, and If you go Biodiesel, the benefits can make this project worth it.

And 22-27MPG can be expected in a FSJ.

[710 Burner]

2 problems with bio-diesel:
1 reduced power output resulting in reduced mpg
2 Not available here, so home brewing a PITA (your results may vary)
Now that being said, the old MB's will run on veg. oil, but you gotta keep it warm.

[Chumley360]

Now that being said, the old MB's will run on veg. oil, but you gotta keep it warm.

LOL yes, a lot of guys around here are learning the hard way why all the nice WVO conversion kits come with fuel heaters.

[Badawg]

My brother runs a 300TD wagon on half and half and all he had to upgrade was filtration.

That's half veggie, half diesel...

[drlocke]

2 problems with bio-diesel:
1 reduced power output resulting in reduced mpg
2 Not available here, so home brewing a PITA (your results may vary)
Now that being said, the old MB's will run on veg. oil, but you gotta keep it warm.

There ya go. I hear far too much confusion as regards nomenclature on this.

Biodiesel is NOT vegetable oil. It is perhaps made of veggie-based oil but is chemically changed to lower it's cloud point and otherwise make it more like diesel, so it can be burned in most of the normal diesel vehicles. Around here biodiesel is more expensive than regular diesel.

Vegetable oil is very difficult to manage in cold weather, as it clouds at a fairly high temperature, necessitating an elaborate system to convert a regular diesel vehicle to run on it, as it needs to be very warm in order to work correctly. Most of the vehicles I've seen in this neck of the woods set up as such retain the main fuel tank for regular diesel fuel, which must be used at start-up and for a period before shutting down at the end of the day so that all VO is purged from the injection system. Valuable space is taken up for a second fuel tank that is jacketed with circulated engine coolant, along with jacketed lines running to the engine compartment. Many of the folks I know of that have been doing this did it for a while, and then gave up, and sold the converted vehicle. Must be a lot of fuss and bother with all this...

[jMedia]

Check it out, just saw this the other day

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/2148675024.html

[Eric S.]

I've always wondered about this, but what kind of transmission/TC combo would someone put behind it? Will anything bolt up? Or are are you in adapterland?

[Eric S.]

How about a about a scout diesel setup? The 33td was an inline 6 turbo that could move something of similar size, plus you don't have to cobble together the rest of the drivetrain. Then again, i have no idea what side the TC drops.

[Eric S.]

I've always wondered about this, but what kind of transmission/TC combo would someone put behind it? Will anything bolt up? Or are are you in adapterland?

Nevermind. Youtube answered my question:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpXR1rlohXs

[CJ the noisemaker]

I was going to make the wag a 2WD.

[Eric S.]

I was going to make the wag a 2WD.Are you going to redo the front suspension? Or just leave the axle up front there?

[bigun]

http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=127088

[CJ the noisemaker]

Are you going to redo the front suspension? Or just leave the axle up front there?Probably run it without the front drive driveshaft or axleshafts.

[Diesel YJ]

ok you peaked my interest. I was looking around a few days ago trying to find alternatives to the other diesels and find something with decent power, reliability and light weight and bingo. The GF has a 89 YJ that we bought minus the trans & TC but I wanted to yank the engine, body and clean it up from the top down and built a nice all around toy for her. 5.0 or 4.3 gas with auto and such and 31's AT's would make a nice ride for her since she works on on a mountain and her car cant make it up the drive way of the office sometimes (military facility, we are hidden sometimes). But what I was really wondering what an alternative to building a 6.2 Waggy such as 6.9 International but they were not turbo either, so if a Mercedes diesel can get it done in a fSJ Waggy then I am very much interested and I know where to find those motors around here too. If any one can find any more info, pics and videos of these completed or in progress builds please share!

[rustywagoneers_com]

ok you peaked my interest. I was looking around a few days ago trying to find alternatives to the other diesels and find something with decent power, reliability and light weight and bingo. The GF has a 89 YJ that we bought minus the trans & TC but I wanted to yank the engine, body and clean it up from the top down and built a nice all around toy for her. 5.0 or 4.3 gas with auto and such and 31's AT's would make a nice ride for her since she works on on a mountain and her car cant make it up the drive way of the office sometimes (military facility, we are hidden sometimes). But what I was really wondering what an alternative to building a 6.2 Waggy such as 6.9 International but they were not turbo either, so if a Mercedes diesel can get it done in a fSJ Waggy then I am very much interested and I know where to find those motors around here too. If any one can find any more info, pics and videos of these completed or in progress builds please share!

The information you seek is here:

http://mercedesdiesel4x4.com/default.aspx

[Diesel YJ]

Thanks awesome price on the kit. I pitched the idea to the GF and she is on board. A friend of mine located the drive line this past weekend but its going to snow and house hunting is more important then building toys at the moment but nice to know I can put it all together now. Very curios about using the OM617 with the TF727 though. Any idea's? I know the 727 can handle the abuse it it doesn't have the over drive.

[Diesel YJ]

I emailed (http://mercedesdiesel4x4.com/default.aspx) and they said "NO" but nothing else on if someone else did or if they had an interest in making one.

[bigun]

AFAIK the 727 would more than likely handle the MB

[rustywagoneers_com]

I emailed (http://mercedesdiesel4x4.com/default.aspx) and they said "NO" but nothing else on if someone else did or if they had an interest in making one.

They say no on every transmission that isn't an AX15.

Now let's think about that for a minute....

Same bellhousing bolt pattern.
Same crank flange bolt pattern.

Worst you will have to do is monkey with fasteners and spacers for the torque convertor.

However, for my money, I would do a stick swap at the same time if you can convince the S-O to go for it.

If an automatic is a 'must-have' then as I mentioned - fasteners and TC spacers are all you need to worry about.

[Diesel YJ]

They say no on every transmission that isn't an AX15.

Now let's think about that for a minute....

Same bellhousing bolt pattern.
Same crank flange bolt pattern.

Worst you will have to do is monkey with fasteners and spacers for the torque convertor.

However, for my money, I would do a stick swap at the same time if you can convince the S-O to go for it.

If an automatic is a 'must-have' then as I mentioned - fasteners and TC spacers are all you need to worry about.

Where did you find they were the same? I have no doubt they are lazy and don't want to make one. I am just considering swapping one in place a 360 but leaving everything else intact.