Mercedes diesel swap into Ranger

[Moto Mel]

Has anyone here done a swap of this type? I think the Mercedes 4 cyl T/D would be a good candidate for a swap into a 4X4 Ranger.

Any input would be appreciated.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

I thought Mercedes only had a 5cyl turbo diesel? I know the OM617 is only ~120hp... Check out www.4btswaps.com ... It actually sounds like it might be a pretty neat setup... If you could mate it to a good transmission...

 

[littleme13]

i know the inline 6 3.0 was available in the 86 and 87 300 sdl. it shares some parts with the 5 cylinder like glow plugs and injectors im pretty sure. i think it would be a nice little engine to put in a ranger but its kinda long. i know it powered my mercedes at almost 6k lbs pretty nice so id imagine it do well in a ranger. only thing i wouldnt do is put it in a trail rig, it reves pretty high and turbo doesnt spool till about 2200rpms. but when it does hold on.

 

[240cubes]

i was just thinking about this last night! i have an '84 300d and i was sitting in it thinking how it would be pretty sweet in a ranger

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Why does everyone want diesels?

All the diesels that are small enough to fit in a ranger require twice the work and make 1/2 the power of a 351W.

later,
Dustin

 

[Beanmachine7000]

Why does everyone want diesels?

All the diesels that are small enough to fit in a ranger require twice the work and make 1/2 the power of a 351W.

later,
Dustin

Because they get twice the mileage of a 351W... If I was going to put any other gasser in a truck though, it'd be a 351W...

 

[AKBroncoII]

And make torque lower. I was looking at using an OM617 in my BII a couple years ago, had a couple I found for about 10 times less than the cost of a used 4BT and that was for two OM617's, complete. They will rev almost 2K RPM higher than a 4bt and weigh half as much.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I doubt one of those german speed racer diesels are making more torque then a 351W, no matter the RPM. But to each there own.

Im not a big fan of diesels though. Never have been.

later,
Dustin

 

[littleme13]

why the mercedes diesle over a 351?? well here is why i had thought about it when i had my 300 sdl.

35-40 mpg vrs 10-15 maybe 20 if your lucky

most make it to at least 750k miles before rebuild vrs 200k if your lucky

its a shorter motor then most cummins and such

no computers to control the stupid thing

it was different

there are more but i dont want to make this a long post. now here is why i never did it.

biggest reason was cost, my mercedes blue booked at 5k not running when i had it and all it needed was 80$ worth of glow plugs.

parts are expensive

not many performance parts

finding a tranny to bolt to a t-case would have been interesting

so in short if i had a spare engine and truck laying around yes i would have done it but i wouldnt recomend looking for a mercedes engine to drop in. last i checked the complete engine was a couple thousand itself.

 

[AKBroncoII]

I find them cheap up here military surplus. Used them in the SUSV's which is a tracked rig. One could always run a divorced case were it long enough.

 

[AKBroncoII]

http://www.4x4labs.com/productspecs/dieselFAQ.html

 

[Moto Mel]

WOW! This is getting more interesting with every post that comes on here. The local Pic-N-Pull yard will sell complete engines for $190 or so including core charge. That includes everything attatched to the engine, turbo, injector pump, starter and alternator. I'm really getting hot for this conversion.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

I agree with Dustin about the OM617, I believe it only makes about 120hp and 170lb/ft of torque, a 351 would whip it up and down... Although one of those VM Motori units from the Jeeps would be nice...

 

[rusty ol ranger]

why the mercedes diesle over a 351?? well here is why i had thought about it when i had my 300 sdl.

35-40 mpg vrs 10-15 maybe 20 if your lucky..

You got me there.

most make it to at least 750k miles before rebuild vrs 200k if your lucky

You can get more then then 200K from a 351, plus with parts (and whole engine) availiabilty could replace it 3 times cheaper then what it would cost to replace the mercedes once.

its a shorter motor then most cummins and such

So is the 351W

no computers to control the stupid thing

Carburators...remember those?

it was different

Theres a fine comprimise between being unique, and just throwing money away, this swap would be teetering that line hard.


If all you want is fuel economy, swap in a 2.3L with a 5sp and some high gears, youll get more MPG then the diesel and be a helluva lot cheaper and eaiser.

If you want power a V8 is your best option.

later,
Dustin

 

[Beanmachine7000]

If you're just going to swap for a DD the OM617 would be neat, but only being able to wring 200lb/ft out of a diesel isn't that great if you're going to use it like a truck... I'd suggest something a little bigger with more torque... 170hp wouldn't be bad, if it came with the 300+lb/ft of torque like it does in a 4BT...