Manual Trans for 5 cyl 3.0 Turbo Diesel

[Mb300se65]

Dear Friends:

I'm building a frame-up 4X4 and want to use the 5 cyl 3.0 Lt Turbo Diesel engine bolted up to an NP 435 trans and NP 205 transfer case. I've had an adapter fabricated using the 4 cyl 2.4 diesel bell housing, flywheel and clutch assembly that mates up perfectly, but have been told I'm going run into some major issues with that flywheel, as the one in the 5 cyl 3.0 and 4 cyl 2.4 are balanced differently, which make a lot of sense.

I spoke to my local Mercedes dealer and learned a European version car was offered with a manual trans using the 5 cyl 3.0 engine and I'm thinking obtaining one of these flywheels may solve my problem. Do any of you folks know what car this would be and how I might go about picking up a used flywheel in Europe? My engine is out of a 1983 300D Turbo model #123.133, which I believe had a #617.952 engine number.

Thanks,

MB300SE65

 

[Bolide]

Mercman in Southampton would be my first port of call (http://www.mercman.net) but shipping is likely to be expensive

You'll also have to have the crank & flywheel rebalanced but I reckon you know that already

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[Mb300se65]

Thanks Nick!

I've heard the flywheel and crank are balanced as a unit, but was unsure if they needed to be rebalanced together if you replace the flywheel.

I was hoping they balance both individually to within certain specs and that way I could safely use a flywheel off another engine.

If I need to balance the crank and flywheel together I'm going need to tear down the engine and I hadn't figured doing that.

Can’t I take a flywheel from a manual trans configured engine and interchange it with one originally set up for auto without rebalancing?

MB300SE65

 

[Bolide]

Thanks Nick!

I've heard the flywheel and crank are balanced as a unit, but was unsure if they needed to be rebalanced together if you replace the flywheel.

I was hoping they balance both individually to within certain specs and that way I could safely use a flywheel off another engine.

I'm sure they will be balanced individually. But the final balance would be as a unit and you might as well do the same

If I need to balance the crank and flywheel together I'm going need to tear down the engine and I hadn't figured doing that

Your machine shop or balancing shop should be able to help here. Nowadays they like to balance all the reciprocating / rotating parts together so why not do that?

Can’t I take a flywheel from a manual trans configured engine and interchange it with one originally set up for auto without rebalancing?

I'm sure you can. But once it's together it's a little late for balancing

You could just use the existing flywheel and get it rebalanced. But I suppose you can't - you have an auto flywheel


Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[Mb300se65]

I'm a total novice when it comes to this and since your reply I contacted my machinist and he's in agreement with you that I need to drop the bottom-end out and rebalance everything as a unit.

He said if I bring him the engine he'd remove the components, balance all of it together and reassemble it with new bearings for $500 USD. That's not as bad as I thought which would be worth it.

Now I need to figure out which Mercedes used the 5 cyl 3.0 Lt Turbo Diesel engine with a standard stick transmission. Can you point me in the right direction so I can start locating a flywheel?

 

[Mercedesrover]

Hey MB300, I'm very interested in your project.

I've got an old Land Rover 88" running on a 616 engine and make an adapter kit to install the 616/617 onto a Land Rover transmission.

I'm just getting started on another project which will be a '67 109 that will get a 617 turbo and an NP435 and a Series transfer case. I'm not sure if I'll adapt an early 616 4-speed bellhousing to the NP435 or make an adapter to mate the 617 to a CJ Jeep 258/T176 bellhousing.

Anyway, I'm intersted in your progress and would love to pick your brain a bit.

Thanks!

Jim

PS: Here's a picture of the 616 in my Rover and one of it done.

 

[Bolide]

That is one pretty 88 - respect is due!

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[Mercedesrover]

Thanks, Nick. It's been a pretty good truck the 7 years it's been on the road. We're leaving next Saturday for a month-long trip to northern Quebec. Something I wouldn't do with a Land Rover engine but I don't have to tell you guys how reliable the little 616 is! Should be about 4000 miles before we're done, over 1000 miles on dirt roads. Here's a link to my site if you're interested: http://www.seriestrek.com

Anyway, I'm just getting started on the next build which is getting a heavy-duty American transmission behind a 617 turbo and looking for any information about such. I didn't think it had been done until I stumbled across this thread.

Jim

 

[mattsurf]

What a great job! My first car was a 1962 LWB series 2a safari (This was in 1989 - so it was pretty old then) - Although I never managed to do the full restoration that I had promised, bit by bit I pretty much rebuit the Landie.

I used to keep a couple of spare half shafts as I kept snapping them - So I understand why you want to use the Toyota ones instead.

Almost did a Conversion with Perkins 4236 engine - My grandad was an engineer there.

.... I really miss it, and just love to see cars like yours fully restored and in better than oringinal state - Enjoy you trip

Matt