Mission accomplished!!! (1994 Suburban w/ Mercedes turbo diesel swap)

[max_frontal_area]

Originally Posted by Christ

The 1985+ 617's made ~120HP w/ the turbo from the OEM spec. They could be turned up and the wastegates locked to make up to ~150 or so

oops, 148HP was the L6 with aluminum head that came in the 86 300SDL

the turbo in the OM617 was too small. at high, sustained rpms it works like a blow drier and without intercooler your mpg will suffer.

the earlier (70s) burbs came with the 350 IDI which GM put in their vans as well. years later in the newer model they fitted them with the 6.5 IDI, they might have also used the 6.2 but i am not sure. yes pseudodiesels can be terrible as in the case of the 350, but quite good too as in the IDI VWs.

[rmay635703]

I have owned a pair of 6.2 diesel suburbans, no real complaints save the crappy 700r4 transmission. The 6.2 was not a pseudodiesel and the 350dx was not really one either. The main issue with the 350dx was a lack of a fuel water separator and water sensor; any water and you blew the injection pump and heads. My father owned a 79 350dx diesel and once the goodwrench went in the thing went forever, the guy who bought it from him in 91 still has it on the road, go figure.

A suburban can hit around 30mpg on the highway with a 6.2 and a 5sp manual but high 20's are more common in that combo. My 700r4 6.2 delivered 26mpg until it crapped out.

The main weakness of the 6.2 is that it has a cast iron crank and that is where most of the failures come, if GM would have pulled its head out of its arse during the 5.7 fiasco they would have realized that saving $25 to cheap out on something critical wasn't worthwhile.

Ah well.

Originally Posted by max_frontal_area

oops, 148HP was the L6 with aluminum head that came in the 86 300SDL

the turbo in the OM617 was too small. at high, sustained rpms it works like a blow drier and without intercooler your mpg will suffer.

the earlier (70s) burbs came with the 350 IDI which GM put in their vans as well. years later in the newer model they fitted them with the 6.5 IDI, they might have also used the 6.2 but i am not sure. yes pseudodiesels can be terrible as in the case of the 350, but quite good too as in the IDI VWs.

[max_frontal_area]

yes i have talked to someone that was getting close to 30mpg.
i have found that if an injector has been placed where normally
a sparkplug woulda been it is either a pseudo-diesel or was strongly
inspired by a gasser. purpose designed diesels place the injectors
near the top of the cylinder head or with the nozzle injecting nearly
perpendicular to the piston.

[Christ]

Perpendicular to the travel of the piston, or to the piston's head? (I think you mean directly above the piston, as in a Hemi-type gasser.)

I'm still thinking about replacing spark plugs with injectors and making a Ford 300 inline 6 into a medium output TD. It's a completely iron engine, so I think it should hold up with better pistons and higher compression.

[Heynow999]

Any updates?

[Torontocity]

i am pulling out the engine hopefully this week...Depending on weather...i have no garage... i got a Diesel torque converter made and i rather pull the motor than the tranny...will post full video soon as done.

[Torontocity]

Job is almost done ...Rain came and hold me up. I'll be posting a new Video in a few days...
see all here Flickr: Torontocity's Photostream

[Torontocity]

Tour of 300SD on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

It's not so smart to underestimate the good old OM617.

Some few things that can be moved by that
Ford Landau (one of the Brazilian versions of the Galaxie)


Chevrolet Veraneio (Brazilian version of the Suburban, but this sample is not fitted with the 617)


Mercedes 3-ton truck (Brazilian version however was fitted with a 4cyl 3.8L OM314)

[oil pan 4]

Any one ever get any milage figures from this swap?

Doesn't seem like it would beat a traditional chevy diesel in a chevy like I have by very much, if any.