Confession: the MB 617 is a better motor than the IH 6.9/7.3IDI

I know this part of the forum doesn't get much traffic, but I had to post some pics from yesterday of my 85 300TD.
This thing has 440,000 miles on it and just won't quit. We got hit in the front end and bent the frame while on a cross country trip 4 years ago but it made it back to TN. When I got back I couldn't find anything decent locally to replace it with, so I used straps and come-a longs tied to trees to straighten it out and put another clip on it.
I am trying to decide when to retire it now. It has cancer all over but is still complete. I sent the family out with it on a 2000 mile road trip yesterday. These are pics of their departure. If you see them on the side of the road give them a hand. They are rolling north on 81 today.

 

I want to stick one of these into a '54-'56 Ford wagon, with a Tremec 5-speed behind. There are adapters to use Ford or GM transmissions courtesy of the 4X4 swap crowd, and with a Myna or Dieselmeken 6 mm pump they're substantially more powerful without too many modifications.

Eli

 

I am looking for a Jeep Comanche to stick one in right now. I have seen a couple fairlane wagons I have though would do well with one, but I am trying to build my wife's next daily driver and the old american steel seems to need lots of rust repair to get it back on the road.

 

Funny you should say....

On the one hand I casually took for these mechanical MB turbo engines... the v6 in the gf's Jeep Liberty is getting long in the tooth. Is there a MB to Mopar adapter? Would be a shame to lose the 6-speed manual.

On the other hand, it would play into my projects a whole lot better if I could get her to DD a Ramcharger.

 

There are lots of MB mopar adapters out there. I have seen them in full size trucks too, but they are set up as econoboxes, not pullers. It would be like putting a 4bt in a full size instead of a 6bt.

 

You have a link? The Jeep Liberty uses a mopar-patterned V6.

A Ramcharger solution would simply use the 6BT... plug'n'play, and economical enough.

 

There are ax-15 adapters for om617 or om603 into Jeep's. I have one for a 300TDt wagon 5 speed conversion I have planned.

Tons of options here.

http://www.mercedesdiesel4x4.com/

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I've been thinking about a OM 617 Jeep for years. Mr. Koch and son from the link.you posted seem like good guys, I spent some time on the phone with him a few years ago. I'm on the fence - MB TD Jeep or a VW IDI TD powered Suzuki Sidekick...

 

I wish it was a 6.0 v10 that turned 5000 rpm when it has to. My stock 274,565 + who knows miles 617 turbo will scream to 5000 when I ask it.

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Thanks, but the 6 speed I have has the smallblock V8 dodge pattern... (3.7/4.7/5.7/318/360) different from the 4.0L/ax15 pattern afaik.

EDIT: I spoke too soon... looks like they're working on something...

 

We are up to 445K on our 85. Last weekend it actually towed 4 different trailers in one day.

 

Somewhere in the toolbox are the tools my Son made for his 300sd to turn up the pump. That thing was IMPRESSIVE, modded turbo, air to water ic.
Much potential in those. I have a rebuilt head for one here if needed.

 

I remember when he did that. I was following his thread over on Schuman's Automotive site.
We are headed on a 2000+ mile trip in our 85 for christmas, if I can get new floorpans in it. The rust is overtaking the motor big time at this point.

 

Yeah that car impressed me. That takes a lot.

 

Whatever happened to the fintail wagon he had? He bought it and got started but then Henry took his site down.