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