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87 300D purchase (The swap begins)

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inkblotz
Posts: 8202

87 300D purchase (The swap begins)

Post#1 » Tue Aug 30, 2011 1:16 pm

Since I purchased my 1991 463 300GD N/A 603 diesel I have been on the lookout for a possible 603 turbo transplant. Well I found it, a 1987 300DT with 140,000 miles on it. I picked it up at an auto auction for $850. And yes nestled in the engine bay is the notoriously bad original Trap Oxidizer. Well I thought for $850 how could I go wrong, so I bought it. The car cranked right up and idled good but lacked power under load. So because of much research I called the local Mercedes dealership regarding the Trap Ox recall that started in 96. The service advisor looked it up and said yep bring it in we need to replace it for FREE!!!! And she continued if the turbo is damaged because of it we must replace that as well for FREE!!!!

I took it in and sure enough I am getting a new turbo system, the trap OX will be replaced with a special pipe and if the exhaust is in bad shape they will replace that as well.

Best $850 I have ever spent.

The interior is nice except for some cracks in the dash and it needs a repaint.

The engine does have the dreaded #14 head however, again through my research I discovered that my 300GD has the new turbo head. Mercedes did not make a N/A head they just used the turbo motors head in the non turbos. Soooo I now have all the elements to cobble together a turbo diesel for my G, using the bottom end from the sedan, the head from my G and the intake and exhaust manifolds and New turbo from the sedan. And to sweeten the deal I have a brand new 350SD Fuel injection pump (that I picked up a few years back) that I can install if the sedans pump proves to be to anemic.

What a country.

Mark
Attachments
Engine.jpg
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Last edited by inkblotz on Mon Dec 24, 2012 10:21 am, edited 2 times in total.

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prbmeat
Posts: 398

Re: 87 300D purchase

Post#2 » Tue Aug 30, 2011 2:12 pm

Dude. Nice score. I had a 1998 S500 way back when and someone ripped the hood ornament off ... not a terribly shocking event while living in the bowels of SF... but that nearly cost $300 at the dealership to be replaced!

You still have your intact! Although off-camber ... but still intact my brother!

You lucky duck. Sounds like you have all the goods for the turbo upgrade now.

Get after it and Giddy Up!

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offroad-world
Posts: 9813
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Re: 87 300D purchase

Post#3 » Tue Aug 30, 2011 7:40 pm

hi mike .

congrats :mrgreen:

seems YOU will have a lot of work in future now , cross my fingers for your project working well .
you have lots of knowledge and do perfect research , so go on and keep us updated .

mfg. guido .

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Fernando BR
Posts: 2085

Re: 87 300D purchase

Post#4 » Tue Aug 30, 2011 8:39 pm

Mark , its nice to see you found a nice engine. Go ahead and use it with peace and health. Oh..i realy like 602/603 engine music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4oZFI9hSvo

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DesertStar
Posts: 2184

Re: 87 300D purchase

Post#5 » Tue Aug 30, 2011 9:32 pm

Great find Mark. Careful planning and patience pays off.

Mike

hus55
Posts: 1541

Re: 87 300D purchase

Post#6 » Wed Aug 31, 2011 2:33 am

happy days mark !!!

keep us updated. as guido said, you always research thorough and do a good job.

rgds hus.

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inkblotz
Posts: 8202

Re: 87 300D purchase

Post#7 » Wed Aug 31, 2011 3:42 am

Thanks all it should be a good fall/winter project. I can't wait to get it back from MB to see how she performs.

I will post photos of the engine with its new accoutrements.
Mark

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inkblotz
Posts: 8202

Re: 87 300D purchase

Post#8 » Wed Aug 31, 2011 5:14 am

The main difference is that the turbo pan has an extra side pan attached for more oil.
Note the top illustration with the side pan. The bottom ill is my Pan.
Mark
Attachments
Screen shot 2011-08-31 at 9.13.38 AM.png

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Fernando BR
Posts: 2085

Re: 87 300D purchase

Post#9 » Wed Aug 31, 2011 8:19 am

Mark , would you please explain why you need the 300GD head and not the sedan head? Electrical systems etc,,,,??????

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inkblotz
Posts: 8202

Re: 87 300D purchase

Post#10 » Wed Aug 31, 2011 10:14 am

The early 603 heads had (due to high pressure) a tendancy to crack. The #14 head was on that list of cracking heads. The #18 head that I have is far more robust to handle the added pressures of the turbo. #17-26 are the better heads the latter being the best. There are no additional electrical ports. It is pretty much a plug and play.

Mark
Last edited by inkblotz on Tue Sep 06, 2011 3:27 am, edited 1 time in total.

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