Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Dave
Another possibility would be the Mercedes-Benz I-5 turbodiesel out of a Sprinter van. These are just now becoming available at recycling yards. Sprinters get fabulous mileage but as a van they are slow, slow, slow. Getting the DIN bellhousing to match up to your Japanese transmission might be a machinist's nightmare. You'll need to regear the rear axle. Details, details.
An engine that gets nearly 30 MPG out of a van should give you staggering MPG in a Z.
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have fun doing that swap.
Here is what you could put in that is from a Mercedes and is diesel.
the OM617.952 is the famous 5 cylinder turbodiesel with the iron head. Indestructable but slow. It can be modified to get more power (
www.superturbodiesel.com ) The finnish have gotten close 300 hp out of this 5 banger
The OM60x series ( OM601,602,603 or the 606 twin cam)
the 603 is found in the 86/87 300SDL, the 601,602 are the same as a 603 but with one or two cylinders loped off. They are all mechanical injection but do yield a solid 30 mpg on the highway. The 603 will give 30 on the highway in a big S-Class. The smaller engines will yield more because they were put in smaller cars. They do have one computer for idle and EGR, IIRC. Finnish have squeezed 400 hp from this one
Downside of this engine, the head is aluminum and if overheated the head likes to warp or crack. So records are a must. Plus some of the early cast heads are said to be more prone to cracking (#14 head IIRC) so some upgrade to the #22 head.
The big daddy, the OM606 is found in the later W124 chasis E300D's and are non turbo's. They recieved a turbo in the E300D ( W210 chassis) in '98 and in the '99 model year and will give a low 30's to mid 30's on the highway if driven normally. The downside is the injection pump does not have a mechanical govenor, but the finnish( diesel tuning gods) have proven the OM603 injection pump can be used on the 606 with no ill effects. Tuned properly it will put 500+ hp and ooooh soo much torque to the wheels
However, the biggest drawback on this the glow plugs. They sometimes like to get stuck in the head and snap off. This is largely due to the fact they are longer than the plugs used in the 617/60x series engine. Why, because the twin cam setup. When they break off its not the end of the world. Mercedes has an extraction kit to get it out ( check out youtube for a vid of the procedure, it's very interesting) But if the kit fails or you fubar it ( you can do it at home with a left hand drill bit and tap but, you have to be perfect!) You will have to take it to a machine shop to be removed or if you dinked up the head, plop down 3k for a new head.
here is the break down
om617 - Durable, tunable( takes some work but proven), but slow compared to the rest... rated 123 hp, 175 ft lbs
om603 and 60x series. A modern diesel engine that puts out a very good amount of power
stay away from the OM603.97. It's a 3.5 version of the 603. All of Mercedes's diesels use cylinder liners instead of a straight up bore into the block. But the 3.5 is sans liners and likes to suffer from bent rods, no one can pinpoint the reason why but every 3.5 is prone to it and if they were not given the upgraded rods they will bend eventually. But the crank from it installed in a 603 will yield a nice stroker motor
om606, the most efficient and modern of the diesel but most complicated electrical wise. also, most expensive if found.
So, if you want to go the diesel route, let me know.
for those interested, I did not cite any source other than personal knowledge ...