Local shop is pushing pretty hard to sell me a 300D (late 70s?) that has a bad motor. This is the non-turbo 617, auto. The car doesnt look too bad and he will take a few hundred for it.

Any recs on where to find a motor? Will a later turbo motor fit? How much mods to make it fit? Is it the same transmission for both motors?

The ebay turbo 617s are mostly over $1k, which is a little pricey considering there are still other issues that may pop up.

Thanks

car-part.com, this and other forums. Preferably you can buy a complete car for a donor, so you can verify the health of a running engine and also make sure you have all the bits and pieces to make the swap. You want to get the transmission, rear-end that go with the turbo motor.

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Respectfully,
/s/
M. Dillon
'87 124.193 (300TD) "White Whale", ~392k miles, 3.5l IP fitted
'95 124.131 (E300) "Sapphire", 380k miles
'73 Balboa 20 "Sanctification"
Charleston SC

I'd go with a turbo engine. I've owned an NA. Definitely not good at elevation. X2 on a complete car. You may find a wrecked car in a junkyard with a good engine.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Playing devil's advocate, are you looking for a project or is there something special about this car? You might be better off starting with a nice 82-85 300D that needs work.

Can you confirm late '70s is at least '77? I don't think it's an easy matter to drop a turbo 617 into a 115.

Sixto
83 300SD
98 E320 wagon

where in AZ are you? There are a few of us in/near Tucson area with old benz diesel experience. Not that I'm any sort of expert, but i've learned a few things over the years of owning these cars. A replacement turbo engine for a 123 car should be fairly easy to find. But like Sixto mentioned, is this a 115 or 123 car you are considering?

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2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Cummins Turbo Diesel 4x4
1994 GMC S-15 pickup 4.3 5MT
1985 300 SD
1978 300 CD
1962 220-S Fintail - awaiting restoration

Its a 123 but I am not up on determining the year by sight. Suspect its a 78,79,80.

I would prefer a na diesel over the turbo so as not to have to mess with a trans and diff change also.

No particular attachment to the car, just thinking if its a $1500 fix it could be a clean (not great) car for under $2k.

For a reliable driver, I agree w/ you on staying non-turbo. Those were the cars that got the million-mile reputation. Turbo adds much complexity. I think you can plan on paying much less for a used engine, so go ahead and buy it. After my 1985 turbo engine failed (330K mi, chunks missing from several pistons), I also saw the $700+ ebay prices, but waited. I bought a 1984 w/ "cracked frame" for $400 for the engine, but found the damage easily repairable so fixed it, later found an engine on craigslist for $300 w/ starter ($100 value) and other accessories and it proved recently rebuilt (>400 psig all cyl), so now have two working 300D's.

I don't know if you could install a turbo engine (if easier to find) and run it non-turbo, i.e. bolt up your existing manifolds and tranny. I know the pistons vary, but I think that is just for the oil squirters underneath in the turbo. With squirters, it might go 2M miles w/o turbo.

I hear many have installed a GM small-block in old M-B diesels, but that is sacrilegious to many diesel lovers here.

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1984 & 1985 CA 300D's
1964 & 65 Mopar's - Valiant, Dart, Newport
1996 & 2002 Chrysler minivans