Help with Sprinter specs?

[Skylinepilot]

I've just bought a 1967 Morris FG campervan as a restoration project. It currently has an old 4L 6 cylinder petrol guzzerling lump (7mpg!!) with a horrid 4 speed box. I plan on removing it and installing a Mercedes Sprinter engine/gearbox and running gear. At the moment the camper weighs near on 4 tons so you can see why I'm thinking about using a Sprinter engine - I'll be using her to go down to the Alps in the summer and winter months and I want to get there as quickly as possible - again, hence a sprinter engine

Ideally I'm looking for a rolled sprinter so if anyone has any ideas where to look for them (aside from Ebay and Google) please let me know. Also I'd love a definative list of Sprinter engines, what year, what van model and what BHP they produce. Obviously they have the specs for the current Sprinters on Mercs www but I doubt I'll find one that new thats been written off thats in my budget. Ideally their V6 engine would be best!

Any ideas?

 

[mister_cee333]

Diesel sprinters were 208, 210, 212, and 308, 310, 312. The "2" relates to 2.7(?) tons gross vehicle weight, and the "3" relates to 3½ tons gross vehicle weight, but the engines are the same. The 08 has 80bhp, the 10 has 100bhp, and the 12 has 120bhp. So a 310 is a 3½ tonner with a 100bhp engine etc. There were also 4** (4½ tons gross) versions with similar badging and engine meanings.

The 08 was a 2.3 litre without a turbo, and was underpowered. The 12 was a 2.9 litre turbo'd and had plenty power. I think the 10 shared the same engine as the 12, but down-tweaked. I might have that the wrong way round tho - the 10 might have been the 2.3 litre up-tweaked. Sorry I can't remember.

Moving onto the cdi's (facelifted version with different front lights etc)... the same theory applies but they were 08, 11, 13 and 16. Meaning 80, 110, 130 and 160bhp respectively. The 08, 11 and 13 (and the c class c220cdi car) all shared the 2150cc engine with different tweaks. The 16 has the 2.7 litre (also fitted to the ml270cdi 4x4). Again the 08 is underpowered, the 11 is competent, and the 13 and 16 are fast.

There are different differential ratios too. The 08 has lower gearing than the 11 and upwards. I believe chassis cabs/tippers/flat beds may also have had the lower gearing. There's a plate on the diff stating the ratio. There was an option of a 6 speed box, but I've never came across one.

Just reading that back to myself it sounds complicated. If you don't get what I'm talking about post back & I'll try to clarify better.

Sorry can't help with any info about petrol versions.

I don't know where you are loated, but there's a decent breaker in Aberdeen called Overton Dismantlers http://www.overtongarage.co.uk/ , there's afair chance you could obtain an engine (and anything else) there.

 

[Skylinepilot]

Thanks so much for the reply it was very helpful. As you seem very 'up' on your Sprinter engines and models do you think you could offer me some recommendations for which models to look for? My bus weighs nearly 4 tons apparently and I want an engine that will shift it along as fast as fast as possible! Any ideas? Thanks. Ben

 

[mister_cee333]

Pre facelift - go for the *12.
Post facelift - go for the *13 or *16. Or have the *11 re-mapped to 130bhp.

Remember the cdi's are common rail so I'd assume there will be more wiring loom troubles transplanting.

 

[Skylinepilot]

Hhhmm struggling to find a 316 cdi, there are millions of 311's but to be honest I really want as much bhp as I can get. What would you say are my other options? Find an ML270 Cdi engine and gearbox (or complete car that has been smashed up) and then pinch the running gear off a 311 or is there an alternative that you can think of?

P.S Wow! Crashed Sprinters with massive amounts of miles REALLY hold their value!! Wasn't expecting them to be as pricey as they are?!

 

[mister_cee333]

According to the merc spec sheet - the 80bhp version has a G20-5 gearbox, but the 110, 130, 160 diesels (and the 143 bhp petrols) have the G32-5 gearbox. The gear ratios for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and reverse are different, but 4th and 5th are the same. The 616 (6 tonner), auto's or sprintshift are different tho.

Axle ratios...

Panel vans (3**'s) - The 308 has 4.85 (which is shown on the casing by a 34:7) and lists top speed of 78mph. The 311, 313 and 316 have 4.11 (shown on the casing by 37:9) and lists a top speed of 93mph. By experience the difference is that the 308 at 70mph its doing 3200 or so revs, but the 311 is at 2800 or so revs.

Panel vans (2**'s) - The 208 has 4.37 ratio, and lists top speed of 87mph. The 211, 213 and 216 have 3.45 ratio and lists 100mph top speed. Remember they might have different sized wheels??

Mechanically everything should be inter-swappable, and you'd think that as the ML270 is the same engine the same should apply. It might get complicated tho, I've no idea if the ECU etc would be looking for info from whatever transmission/sensors/4wd gizmos etc it thinks it should have.

What about asking someone with the right knowledge how much tweaking can be done to the 311 engine as its the easy one to source? It can be 130bhp from factory, so maybe its possible with a modification or two to achieve the 160bhp and save yourself a whole lot of grief.

 

[citroennut]

looks like a lot of work, 'van looks good though, do you have a timescale? the problem is that going quickly, bricks have a lot of wind resistance!! my a class is a slightly more modern brick, same colour though!
simon

 

[fordf350camper]

Did you ever get this done.Do you still own it im looking for one to buy thanks

 

[obduro]

This thread's last response was in 2007, you can be fairly certain that even if he did it has probably been sold on by now.