Have a 83 500SEL that had a 300D non Turbo installed.

[SD300]

Hi All
I picked up this 83 500SEL with a 300D non Turbo engine dropped in.
The power is not bad , nothing likes what it would have done originally, that lay rubber for a 1/4 mile.
But power is still much better than my 78 240D 4spd. When going up hill.

My main Question is the engine seems to shake very violently like a wet dog when idling or in gear, I havent look under as what kind of engine mount of if any left. So tomorrow I will try to look under to check her out.

Anybody had similar experience with diesel conversions?
Any info will be appreciated.

Nonetheless the car will be great when i have all the bugs ironed out.

[Brian Carlton]

When the five cylinder shakes badly at idle, you can bet that the engine needs motor mounts and, possibly engine shocks as well.

It's an inherently unbalanced engine and it needs to be damped fairly well, otherwise it will shake your teeth out.

[RUYSENAARS]

Also IP pump could need some adjusting! Mine shook alot until I adjusted the IP! MUCH smoother. I had replaced the mounts and shocks, still shook!

[Brian Carlton]

Originally Posted by RUYSENAARS

Also IP pump could need some adjusting! Mine shook alot until I adjusted the IP! MUCH smoother. I had replaced the mounts and shocks, still shook!

Was that an adjustment to the IP timing.........or the timing of a specific cylinder?

[RUYSENAARS]

Well, actually there is a screw in the back of the IP. I believe you have to loosen a bolt, and then turn the screw clock wise. Do this with the engine running, and only turn it a half-turn at a time. Then test drive for a while! But don't do this UNTIL you change the engine mounts, and shocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Brian Carlton]

Originally Posted by RUYSENAARS

Well, actually there is a screw in the back of the IP. I believe you have to loosen a bolt, and then turn the screw clock wise. Do this with the engine running, and only turn it a half-turn at a time. Then test drive for a while! But don't do this UNTIL you change the engine mounts, and shocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yes.......that's the rack dampening bolt.........it also can have a beneficial effect........but.........with bad mounts and shocks........it's useless.

[Bajaman]

A rough idle can also be caused by a missing cylinder. How's the smoke at idle?

[Panzermann]

Originally Posted by SD300

Hi All
I picked up this 83 500SEL with a 300D non Turbo engine dropped in.
The power is not bad , nothing likes what it would have done originally, that lay rubber for a 1/4 mile.
But power is still much better than my 78 240D 4spd. When going up hill.

My main Question is the engine seems to shake very violently like a wet dog when idling or in gear, I havent look under as what kind of engine mount of if any left. So tomorrow I will try to look under to check her out.

Anybody had similar experience with diesel conversions?
Any info will be appreciated.

Nonetheless the car will be great when i have all the bugs ironed out.

So, I guess my 240SD idea which I raised previously in a thread raises its head again. non-turbo 617 engine is 77 hp, versus 62 for the 4 cylinder 616. Do you actually have a measure for you 0-60 time in your 1983 300SDL (and do you have the nifty "DIESEL" , as opposed to the "TURBODIESEL" plaque applied to the rear of the trunk lid?). What kind of mileage do you get? The SEL body weighs a bit more than the SD body, butprobably not enough of a difference to justify use of the 616 engine.

Who did the conversion?

[boneheaddoctor]

You also don't know how well the people who intalled it did the job quality wise....stuffing in an egine is easy....doing it correctly isn't. Thngs like the motor mounts, engine shocks and rack damper all come to mind as things to consider.