recently my buddies and i have purchased a 1976 300D as a restoration project.
the idea of an engine swap has come up, and we were thinking of using a cummins 5.9L straight 6 motor and an automatic transmission out of a dodge ram 2500 in place of the NA inline 5.
any thoughts on the idea? maybe a different engine/transmission combination.
That would be an awesome engine to put into the car since you can squeeze 5-700hp out of those things but I think the problem will be weight. I think the 5.9l weighs about 1000+lbs. That engine weighs about half that plus the Cummins is much taller so you'd have fitment issues. I also am quite sure the engine bay is too narrow. Anything can be done but you'd likely have to do way too much fabrication and frame cutting.
Grubeguy, that's absurd. You would need like 10 squirrels all running the same rate on connected wheels. Add the cost of food, adrenaline / methanphademine injections to keep them going at 1000's of RPMs and a transmission that hooks up to a squirrel wheel and he's out a million bucks.
Seriously though, just put in a turbodiesel 5-cyl and taller geared 4 speed auto (or manual) from a 123.
wow, with 700 hp you would be looking at around 3.5 seconds 0-60. that is if you could get the power down.
using the formula: (weight in kg)/(crank hp multiplied by .9) gives you a surprisingly good estimate
now i would hate to tear up a good 76 300d but if you are hell bent on it you can do a surprising amount with fitment of a w123 turbo motor with a larger turbo(s) and propane injection. the non turbo block lacks some of the aux oil passages so i hear.
if you do pull the motor do it gently they are a valued comodity.
The OM616.95x swap won't drop right in. The oil filter is blocked by the steering column. There is also some uncertainty whether or not the width of the intake and turbo plumbing fits on the passenger fender side. The oil needs to be remotely mounted at the very least.
If anyone has done this let me know!
If it was an easy swap I would have done it already.
The OM616.95x swap won't drop right in. The oil filter is blocked by the steering column. There is also some uncertainty whether or not the width of the intake and turbo plumbing fits on the passenger fender side. The oil needs to be remotely mounted at the very least.
If anyone has done this let me know!
If it was an easy swap I would have done it already.
I have been working on a *very* nice '76 300D with a head gasket issue, and the 300SD in my avatar shares garage space with it... yeah. I thought of building a w115 turbo-617 until I started the fun of taking the head off. What he said regarding the oil filter... and no, I haven't measured the turbo plumbing on my SD but I just don't think that will all fit, over there.
That Cummins ain't going in there if a 617.952 won't go in. I've seen troubles fitting a Cummins into the hole where a BBC went in a 1975 C30 dually.
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1981 300SD/15"gen2 wheels for road trips/19" ADR M classics for in town/smoked corner lights/Bosch euro lamps/blackout grille/560 leather steering wheel/serious tint/excessive chrome
ummm y a dodge motor AND trans your goinna have huge issues with the trans my auto teach has a dodge and complains about having to adjust something in the trans every other oil change and my boss had one to and his just gave out at it cost alot to get fixed(college student 1500-200 is alot to me) but yeah i suggest going with soething else
with mine it is a 1976 300d with a ford 302 5.0L form a 1986 mustang had2300 mile on car(engine was bought in 86 by my dad bought the car in 85 so had this car forever im 18 and i have owned it since i was 14) yes it is from the"ugly ones" but i like them so :P it is fuel injected and gets decent MPG but ppl laugh when i but this guys 05 civic(black tinted window big rims underglow ricy stuff) without trying. but yeah it slips the tires good (sometimes the torque is a little annoing near cops because if i move my foot down more the 1/2 inch it slips the tires yeah it is and auto BUT i bought a 5 speed need to mood the bellhouseing to have a hydrolic clutch) so little more control and smoothness(ford auto trans's arn't smooth PERIOD) i love the car because it drives like a mercedes benz but ha the torque of a muscle car(will have intake, cam, heads, headers, custom duel single sided exhaust, injectors, and Engine managment computer adjustable from laptop interface. once i get all the money saved)for now just like a stock 5.0 mustang without smog!
Things still needed: Car "swims" when at freeway speed so front susp. bushings, front end aline., wheel bearings, brakes, emer. brake pads, and finish new interior install, headlight aline, fogilight aline, and badging install
it has replaced my bmw as a daily driver b/c my bmw decieded he did not want to go get parts for the benz and blew the water pup seal out warping the head and cracking the block so e30 is going to junk yard so yeah now i drive my benz or my moms 740il(SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO comfy) so yeah go for it
o BTW i have 16 inch miglia mello bellos on it with pirilli p zero neros and tint(70% front sides 5%rear sides and rear window going with charcoal non metallic) to come after wheel bearings and suspention bushings
Last edited by 76'benz-ford-chev : 02-16-2007 at 01:42 AM.
Engine/Transmission Swap: '76 300D...any thoughts? 
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