While at the local shop and talking to my mechanic after he succesfully and artfully calibrated the dual Zenith carburetors on my 230.6 and reporting my fuel expenses as HUGE he suggested me buying (from him, of course) a 250 (I think a 2500 cc inline-4 no turbo) diesel engine for an "inexpensive swap". The engine starts and idles fine and he says belonged to an MB truck.
Now I have ots of questions and all suggestions are welcome. In the meantime is this doable? What would be the problems? Is this guy going for the cash or is there a quality job to be done that would result in a decrease in my fuel expenses...
My W114, yes I plan this to be my daily driver and plan to keep it for life. LIFE, and I am only 23.
Greetings from Costa RIca and thanks for all your help.
Hi , I don't know of a 250 / 4 cyl diesel . BUT , I have a 280 W114 with a mid 70's 115 - 240D installed , it has the auto trans with a different modulator , but really it would work MUCH better as a manual. I had a manual one of those several yrs ago and it was peppy and economical.
The auto version struggles to push the car and is a little less economical. Still lots better than the tired old gas gussler. And diesel is cheaper than petrol here also.....
ggenovez: I dont understand , how do you do a body swap . .THe car is monococ construction . The body IS the car.
Currently the "petroholic" automobile is doing 3 km/L (which translates to about 6.6 MPG) which is basically nothing. NOTHING.
I have seen the diesel engine and it is an I4, not sure if its a 240 though (it is in a wooden case). The current tranny works.
Going for the engine swap, I think. Body swap is impossible, the engine has been pulled of an MB truck which was refitted a petrol engine and sold to a parts dealer.
I bought the car a month ago and it went directly to my mechanic (mercedes specialist, worked in the local MB dealer shop until brand representation was won by a rivaling company). He checked everything and basically put in a new clutch (cylinders, disc, plate, and bearings), calibrated the carbs and brakes. He says the suspension on the whole thing must be changed, but that will be when i am back on budget!
Engine-wise I do not know what can be added to increase fuel economy.
I am going to his shop on monday to see the diesel engine and will report back.
I talked to the mechanic today, we ran into each other while shopping for badges (mine was stolen yesterday) at the local flea market (black market).
He told me that he will sell the engine to me for US$515, which seems like a good price. Perhaps he will do the swap for no extra charge, provided I supply him with all that is needed: engine mounts, valvetrain cover, and a new manifold. I think this should not exceed US$200.
So far so good.
I still have to go to see what OM number it has so I can check out the correct specs, specially HP.
I once had a 68 W114 230 with an M180, and it didn't really drink that much.
I really think you shouldn't trust a guy who want's to sell you an I4 250D. And how can it be inexpensive? New speedometer, stop wire, start button, transmission, mounts, propeller shaft, differential, fuel system, some rewiring, new exhaust, and all the stuff I forgot to mention. He'll have a hard time getting the exhaust pipes around the bend beside the steering gear. What will he do with the final drive ratio? If that replacement engine is an OM616 and from a truck, how about the fly wheel? Will it fit, or will it require your cash to flow getting a new one.
What will you do if the diesel engine is bad? How can he know by just listening to it? He is either a very experienced mechanic, knowing more than I (quite possible), or a fool.
The golden trap is when you're lured into something, and it's always almost finished, we just need this and that. But then they find out that they also need this too. And this. The further into the project, the more eager we owners will be for a solution and less willing to admit this is bearing way off. It's a natural psychological mechanism that lies deep within us.
I have actually once transformed a W115 220 to a 240D, and I will never ever do it again. Mind you, it was a W115, not W114, which is a differance. And I was young and crazy at the time, which helps a lot.
Besides, having a 230 is much more rare and exclusive than having a 240D. That's my opinion anyway.
Well I am definitely young and crazy: 23 with a two month old ownership of a W114.
Bottom line, I spent about $500 for the car and am willing to pay about the same for the engine. Why a D engine? I want my W114 to be a reliable and economic daily driver, so I am willing to spend a total of around $1500, which is much less than any other decent D mercedes I can buy around here (take it from me, I have SEARCHED). 220's and 240's (W114) are impossible to get in a decent running condition and the good ones retail for at least $3000, I hate W123's and W124's retail for $7000 (250D or 300D).
So, which D engine can I buy and install?
Once the installation is complete how many problems can arise. Is the installation of a new engine a problem breeding solution or a solution in itself?
PLEASE HELP ME ON THIS ONE!?!?!
Once all the mechanic stuff is solved will the performance of the engine chassis combination be good?
If I remember correctly, my W114 twin Zenith 2.8L M130-powered 250 always got around 18 MPG on the road (It's not ON the road that much anymore). Even before a rebuild at 150K miles...
At 6.6MPG, you have a serious problem that needs to be fixed. Slipping transmisson, maybe ?? I can't imagine any fuel-mileage related problem (except the transmisison) that would cost near as much as a complete diesel swap !
edit..
Oh, you said replacement clutch - so you have a gearbox...
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