Mercedes Benz Diesel engine and T5 in my SX4 (frame)- Future Project

[captspillane]

I'm also following yours, Rollguy. Good luck with this swap! Thanks for sharing the information and progress you make. The fact that someone has already taken the time to develop the swap kit is a big deal to me. Thanks for finding that link! If the mating of the AMC flywheel and bellhousing to the back of the Mercedes Diesel works well for you with his kit then it is a game-changer. The Mercedes engine would be a better swap than my SD33T in terms of parts availability. The SD33T is also very common, but not in the United States. I'm seriously thinking about taking several of my "rescue" Eagle bodies and converting them to Mercedes power using two donor Mercedes cars a friend of mine is selling at scrap value.

Phil was dead on about it taking me at least a year to start on my turbodiesel SX4 because I am still using my SD33T Scout for that long. It is the donor for the engine once I take that off the road for its own engine swap. This thread has me thinking about doing a Mercedes conversion first and then selling it once I finally have my Scout and the SD33T Eagle finished. I'm steadfast on using the SD33T because I already have two of them and love that AMC installed the SD33T in a small number of export vehicles they made, so it is reasonable to say that it is the engine they would have chosen if they had decided to make a turbodiesel Eagle back in 1982.

I do object to one thing Phil said.... "almost 400 HP." The 401 I'm installing in my SX4 right now is already built and ready to install at 435 HP and 478 Torque. Those numbers are calculated given the exact blue printed measurements taken during construction. My recent engagement has put progress at a standstill, but my fiance and I are actually going to work together to complete it this summer. We're excited about it.

[rollguy]

I'm also following yours, Rollguy. Good luck with this swap! Thanks for sharing the information and progress you make. The fact that someone has already taken the time to develop the swap kit is a big deal to me. Thanks for finding that link! If the mating of the AMC flywheel and bellhousing to the back of the Mercedes Diesel works well for you with his kit then it is a game-changer. The Mercedes engine would be a better swap than my SD33T in terms of parts availability. The SD33T is also very common, but not in the United States. I'm seriously thinking about taking several of my "rescue" Eagle bodies and converting them to Mercedes power using two donor Mercedes cars a friend of mine is selling at scrap value.

Actually, Eaglefreak found the link for me.  I have the adapter ordered, and should arrive soon.  They also have an adapter for the 998/904.  I am not sure what the difference would be, but the price is the same.  Given the rarity of your Scout, I would leave it stock if it were mine.  Yes the OM617 MB engine is very plentiful and inexpensive.  If you have a source for donor vehicles, then you are ahead of me in that respect.  Being in CA, the running vehicles still have good bodies.  There would be more engine/trans donor cars available in the rust belt.   
I will post some photos when parts start arriving....Rich

[rollguy]

With more research and measuring done, the adapter from Koch Enterprises seems the best way to go, and one will be ordered soon.  I already have the AX15, and most everything else I need.  Stay tuned!

Got the adapter today.  It is well made and should work good.  It will sure save me a lot of work, and also would work great for re-powering an Eagle with a 5 cyl MB Diesel engine.   Koch Enterprises has similar adapter plates that will work with the 999(998), AX5, and AW4.

[carnuck]

A few have done XJ and MJ swaps with that kit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7P6Dg7vflKg&NR=1

http://comancheclub.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=32798

[eaglebeek]

Bump...
I had totally forgotten about this thread from about 3 years ago. I'm curious as to where these projects stand. Capt., I live where IH Scouts were once quite plentiful but have seen only one with the Nissan diesel, and I was too broke to buy it And Rollguy, most (all?) of your diesels run on biodiesel  AIRC. I would guess this one, if you complete it, will also.

[captspillane]

I took my Scout off the road about two weeks ago. I was going to use my second SD33T in the Eagle but it is frozen. I'll keep it to rebuild down the road but for now the one in my Scout is in great shape and doesn't need a full rebuild. I'll pull it and use it for that. It is too tiny of a diesel for the Scout but will work beautifully in an Eagle. I'll be fixing the Scout up first, however, so the diesel Eagle must wait until my Scout comes in and goes back out with its new organs.

I was originally going to put it in a Spirited converted to be an Eagle. I'm now putting it in a 1980 station wagon. I'll end up using it for long trips so I want to be able to sleep in the back. I also want to conform to the strictest interpretation of the PA emissions requirments. Since the SD33T is coming from a 1980 model year Scout it can go in a 1980 Eagle without a problem no matter how strict the inspector is. Most wouldn't care but I like knowing it doesn't matter.