This past Friday, my loyal and trusty mule caught fire in the driveway and pretty much burned to the ground



Sammy had a VW 1.6td diesel swap, and I had a nice fresh 1.9td AAZ ready to drop in.

I am now starting my search for a replacement. I have kicked around the idea of a Sidekick/Tracker 4 door. They would be a good candidate for the VW 1.9 swap. However, I'm starting to think I'd like something a bit larger... like a Toyota 4Runner.

Now, ACME Adapters already makes adapter plates & flywheels to mate swap the 22r engines for a VW diesel. That makes it a pretty good candidate, although I have a feeling a 1.9 would be a bit wheezy in a heavy 4runner.

What I'd REALLY like is a MB 617 in a 4 runner. I think that would be a great match. I've searched & searched, but I can't seem to find anyone who has done this.

Does anyone here know if these conversions have been done before?

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Jake
1999 e300d PlantDrive WVO/SVO conversion
**note to self: oil changed at 268k kms**
1990 Toyota 4Runner FrankenDiesel swap

Yikes! The Samurai/VW TD swap always intrigued me since I have an odd affection to the Samurais. What caused the fire?

I haven't seen one into a 4runner, but Jeeps and Rovers have been done. I'd think it'd probably be a pretty decent match for the Toyota, roughly the same load as hauling around a TD body???

Just check with your local DVM to see if there are year limitations (body year or newer?) on the engine you could swap in.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

I loved my samurai, short of a disaster like the one I had, I would have owned it indefinitely. What a great little truck. The ACME conversion kit is absolutely supherb... the quality of the product is great and the tech support is unrivaled. The VW diesel is perfectly suited to the size & gearing.

The fire started with a bad ignition switch. Shorted out, starter stayed on. By the time I got the battery disconnected, the ignition switch & wiring were on fire. Spread FAST!

Jeep, eh? I haven't seen any of those. I'd consider a Cherokee swap if there were adapter plates & flywheels available. I can fab up the engine mounts, cooling, wiring. Are there adapters available?

A Rover would be wonderful, but they are spendier than I want for a daily-driver mule to thrash around in. Plus, parts availability would be an issue.

Already checked; none.

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Jake
1999 e300d PlantDrive WVO/SVO conversion
**note to self: oil changed at 268k kms**
1990 Toyota 4Runner FrankenDiesel swap

Are you set on a 4runner? I think something like an old scout or a jeep would be easier. Certainly more people have forged ahead with such swaps in those vehicles. You're probably aware of the adapter made by 4x4labs for chevy trannies.
Basically you can bolt up whatever you like if you want to make an adapter plate which takes the place of the stock plate. Then use the stock flywheel/pressure plate with a clutch disk that is compatible with the tranny.

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For Sale: 1982 MB 300TD
1995 Chevrolet Suburban 6.5TD

Sold: 1980 IH Scout Traveler- Nissan SD33T Diesel

Damn. That sucks. I think they're neat little trucks with a seemingly infinite amount of off-road upgrades. I've seen the Rocky-Road kits, I'll have to check out the ACME since it's something in my endless list of things I want to do when time and money permit. Right along with a Cummins 4BT into a full-size Cherokee/Grand Wagoneer.

I haven't seen any adapters for Jeeps but there are a couple of guys on this site who have done the swaps in Wranglers and Cherokees. I don't know if they've tackled the transfer case/4x4 aspect or not. Some are running 2WD only. There is a guy, MercedesRover, who has a nice Land Rover and makes some parts for the conversion.

Lucky! CT is a pain as far as the DMV goes, at least on vehicles that still require emissions checks. The engine has to be body year or newer. In pre-emissions vehicles it's almost easier to get it through the registration process in stock form then transplant in whatever you want.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

I'd love to put an oil-burner in my Scout! An 800TDI is intriguing.

I wonder if he could work sideways with the 4x4lab kit since there are a lot of SBC into Toyota kits out there. Might end up with a multiple kit connection but it might be a bolt-on application.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

Yes I've seen that 4x4labs adapter... just wish they had one for Toyotas! I'm not "set" on a 4runner, but so far they are looking like a good match. I want something I can beat & thrash in, something I can leave for my wife to drive now & then, and something I can take on the highway for 6-700 mile trips. Although great vehicles, an old Jeep or scout wouldn't really fit the bill.

Ideally, I'd like to do a swap where the adapter plate & flywheel are already available. I am comfortable doing everything else, but would really prefer to not get into the lining up of engine & tranny and the machining.

__________________
Jake
1999 e300d PlantDrive WVO/SVO conversion
**note to self: oil changed at 268k kms**
1990 Toyota 4Runner FrankenDiesel swap

Here are some that have been done.

Jeep Cherokee.
1987 Nissan pickup
1966 Chevy pickup

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1994 Ford Ranger
1983 Toyota pickup

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plus the whole lucas thing would be fun

That is easy to fix.

Hmmm

The Nissan & Toyota are especially interesting, thanks. Any info/links on how they were done? I'm wondering if they are using the 617 & mb tranny, or if they're mating the engines to the original transmissions.

I've done some searching and dug out a couple good threads:

http://toyotadiesel.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2516&highlight=mercedes

http://www.yotatech.com/f116/89-4runner-server-rack-old-pickup-cap-89882/index8.html


With both of those, the guys made their own adapters & machined the flywheels. I'm going to fire them some PMs for advice. A 4runner with 300d or even 240d power would really appeal to me.


With the 617, they were talking about the engine & transmission (or torque converter) being balanced as a unit. Some were saying that was BS. Anyone know about that?

__________________
Jake
1999 e300d PlantDrive WVO/SVO conversion
**note to self: oil changed at 268k kms**
1990 Toyota 4Runner FrankenDiesel swap

The torque converter is neutral balanced. Any offset weight is on the flywheel.

Thanks! So any flywheel/clutch assembly could be suitably balanced

I was on the 4x4labs site, and it looks like they are scoping out interest in adapters for other vehicles:
that would make it a no-brainer for me. If I could get an adapter & flywheel for a 617 or 616, no way would I go VW 1.9

__________________
Jake
1999 e300d PlantDrive WVO/SVO conversion
**note to self: oil changed at 268k kms**
1990 Toyota 4Runner FrankenDiesel swap

one thing is that the 617 is so long that with a little truck you either need to cut into the firewall or move the radiator.
from the looks of all those pics forced put up, they all had the rad pushed out.(except the nissan, w/ a 616.)

so if you went with a truck which had an inline 6 cyl, it would be easier to fit.

I have a friend in ME that is swapping a diesel into his toyota 1ton.
he has the v6 gasser out, and he has a 617+trans and also 4 cyl TD+ 5spd from a 'pup.

he said the 617 will fit from the rad support to the firewall w/ only 1" clearance, so the rad has to be moved. and there are issues with the oil filter tower.
He is going the isuzu route, because it fits better, and the 5 spd. it will be towed behind a truckhouse, so the Neutral Towing factor is a big benefit.

there are divorced T case's out there that can be mated up to any tranny. I reckon the 721.3xx would hold up to some offroad abuse.

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1984 123.193 372,xxx miles, room for Seven.

1999 Dodge Durango Cummins 4BTAA 47RE 5k lb 4x4 getting 25+mpgs, room for Seven.