Diesel applications for hot rods

I think I'm sold on doing this swap. All the arguments seem to be relatively easy to dispute. I know from experience the Mercedes diesels are reliable and relatively easy to work on, as far as diesels go. I'm not just doing this for the gas mileage, though that is a huge reason. I'm doing this because I can get all the parts free or cheap, and it's just something different. I can live with the smoke, smell, vibration, lack of acceleration, price of tuneup parts, and 5 cent price difference between cheap gas and diesel (in my area). I know in the end I will have something neat and different, something reliable and economical, and something that will keep the squares scratching their heads.

 

cummins 6bt in a merc

 

This is a potential "hot rod" diesel.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_AJD-V6/PSA_DT17#Lion_V8

First it's a compact Ford V8 so it's a natural for a hot rod. Second, it will soon be here in vast numbers bringing the salvage yard prices to reasonable levels. Third even the 2.7 V6 and and smaller 3.6 V8 available now make impressive hp and tq.

 

The Mercedes diesel idea sounds interesting and I see them for sale on Craigslist here all the time...hmm.

 

Someone said heavy...

Boy, I'll say... These things would just about double the wieght of anything pre '50...

http://www.adieselengine.com/new_page_1.htm

 

one of the best things about the mercedes diesel is they like biodiesel, frenchfry juice is almost free and you only need to filter it and heat it up to run it, the guys around here are running two tanks, one for regular diesel and a heated one for the waste oil, they switch when the waste oil tank gets up to temp. anyone ever watch prostock tractor pulls? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBT94obAUt0

 

I have to vote for a Cummins 4BT. They are the 4-cyl version of a 6BT which is found in the Dodge 3/4ton trucks so there are plenty of hop up performance parts. The 4BT would be easy to package and I have seen conversion kits to bolt up to Chevy drive trains. They came in many bread trucks and delivery trucks so you can find them at any truck salvage yard.

Another choice I did not see listed was a Nissan diesel. The SD22 was a 4cyl found in Nissan trucks. The SD33 and SD33T were found in International Scouts. The 'T' stands for turbo. They are not 'hot rods' by any means but they are very dependable and economical.

 

There's also the Perkins Turbo'd 4 Cyl that have factory adapters for the Ford small block trans bolt pattern...

 

I recently sold a Dodge that I converted to run on waste veg oil. It was awsome. I've been wanting to do a 30's short bus on a 1 ton chassis (Dodge or Ford roll over). It would make a gteat hot rod hauler/camper.

 

I used to work with A radical Enviromentalist that had a Benz Diesel wagon that had a full conversion to Veg oil. It Was Modified at the shop In LA that Specializes in those conversions. She got most of her oil for free from restaraunts (She would pre- filter out the Fry Crumbs) But on Vacation, she's use Fresh stuff from Costco or Grocerey stores.
Go price a 5 gallon jug of Veg oil at Costco. 3 of those is way less than a Gas or Diesel Fill up.

 

Man, that Vicky is kool!
Ok, so my project is officially underway. Scored an 81 Mercedes 240D off Craigslist for 250 beans. 262,000 miles, runs like a champ, no smoke, impeccably maintained, and a 4-speed to boot! Not quick, but not as sluggish as I thought it would be, it's not bad at all, especially for a fairly heavy midsize car. Rear frame section is rotted, but there's enough great parts on this puppy to sell off and make my money back. It's neat, it's a 4 cylinder, and the motor will actually look pretty neat when I'm done, with swirl polished valve cover and such.
Next step-found an old mail jeep with LEFT hand drive, which is kinda unusual since most of 'em were RHD. Plus, it's 2 wheel drive with a Dana 44 and straight axle front end. There's my chassis.
The body will be made from several different pieces I have laying around plus some bits from the Jeep body to make a little 2-seater roadster pickup. The Jeep is costing me 100 bucks, and I'll sell off the original motor to pay for that.
Let the games begin.

 

at des moines good guys there was a 50 f-100 with 4cly cumins from a trencher bolted to a dodge 5 speed trans it was his daly driver got 35mpg and would easy go over 100 mph he said its kinda hary on the stock stright axel tho

 

I wondered about taking as long a loop of metal fuel line as possible and with the use of fittings, install it in the exhaust pipe before the muffler. The veggie oil would heat up fast.

 

I posted on another thread about putting a T5 behind a VW
tdi. I think I have a handle on all that. I have an 07 Jetta tdi and have measured the engine to see if it would fit in my model A. No sweat. They make 110 hp stock. There is a guy rally racing one in the UK that is getting 280 hp. I can live with that!
In this area diesel is running about 20 to 30 cents a gallon cheaper than 87 gas.
I still think a Boeing gas turbine would be a better choice for power but I can't find one.

 

I'm definately a cummins diesel junky,we have a chevy and a dodge pick-up which both have cummins in them,then I bought 3 goshen buses for $1200 from the local transport authority,they all have cummins 6BT engines and allison tranny's.One of these powerplants is going in my 57 suburban,on another I'll cut the bus body off and put this 55-56 Ford coe cab on the chassis.All in a days work
The cummins powered Merc a few posts back is cool,I've seen/heard that thing down at the Moab car show.
Our old bus has a detroit 6V92T in it,2 stroke screamer,very cool sound,gets 7mpg 40ft long and weighs 25000lbs thats nearly as good as a Ford 460 in a 1 ton pick-up
Nothing wrong with diesels in hotrods and customs as long as they are done right.

 

Where might one find more info about these turbo-mechanical injected Mercedes Benz diesels?.................

When did they make them?
What did they put them in?

 

http://www.mercedesshop.com/shopforum/index.php


http://dieselgiant.com/

http://www.mbzponton.org/valueadded/technical/techdsl.htm

The Mercedes diesel has been around for a long time.
From autos.msn.com:

Mercedes-Benz Diesel History
Mercedes-Benz has been a pioneer of diesel technology with a 70 year history beginning with the first diesel production car in 1936 and now for the 2007 model year offers the E320 BLUETEC as the first diesel-powered passenger car to meet the strict new 2007 emission standards for diesel passenger cars, known as the Bin 8 standard. In the 1980s, diesel passenger cars accounted for 80 percent of Mercedes-Benz sales in the U.S. In late 1997, Mercedes-Benz debuted the first diesel engine with electronic fuel injection, called common-rail direct injection or CDI. This significant advance allowed more precise control of injection quantity while offering the additional benefits of more power, lower exhaust emissions and quieter operation.

 

My Friend,

Diesels are the future, I'll help you, I'm all for it.
I actually know something about them.

Cummins Powered Rat Rod
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVlov_t4fjg
​

DUB​

​

 

Thats a very ignorant statement!

 

I saw a 1950 GMC 1/2 truck with a 6.2 GM V8 diesel in it once and it was cool and the guy got over 30 mpg with it. I'd swap in a GM 6.5 with a turbo hooked to a reinforced TH700R4 tranny. The engine/tranny isn't any bigger than your average big block and probably doesn't way much more.

Josh Quick

 

You might want to look at this other forum, kind of a Diesel Hot Rod Forum, more centered on stuffing the Duramax's into different cars. Worth a look, won't cost ya anything.

http://www.18to1.com/forum/index.php

DUB

 

just checked the milage on my GF's new smart car, 73 MPG, now its only a 3 cylinder turbo with 40 HP(not sure of the torque) but in a little car it could be fun, the computer only lets it run up to 85 mph but do you need to go faster to have fun?

 

Actually, yeah, I do. But, for 73mpg, I can now afford that crack habit to have fun!

 

I have to admit, the diesel subject is very interesting.

I'm thinking pretty seriously about buying one of the 3/4 ton Dodges with a cummins and hopping it up a bit.

 

I've done a little research on the Mercedes 617.952 5 cylinder turbo-diesel.

Bore: 90.9mm (3.579")
Stroke: 92.4mm (3.638")
2998cc/182.87cubic inch
123hp @ 4350 rpm (125hp starting in '83)
170ft-lbs @ 2400 rpm

I wonder how much more power you could get with more boost and fuel?

I can't tell if they came with a stick shift, but I have found out they share a bellhousing with the 240D and that did come with a stick. So it might be possible to add a stick if the 3.0 didn't come with a stick.

The 240D I4 (aka Mercedes OM616.912) was the engine the I5 was based on. So same bore and stroke. I can't confirm a turbo diesel 240D. But they did have a 4 speed in the US and a 5 speed in the UK.

For power it had:
early- 65 hp@ 4200
late- 72 hp @ 4400
97 ft-lbs @ 2400

 

One of the biggest problems is availability of the motors at a reasonable price. They last forever and most guys running them will pay top dollar for one out of a wreck since they know they can put 500K on it without needing a rebuild. Check Flea-Bay, it's nuts.

 

Yes, Mercedes made a 240 diesel...before the 300 came out.
Yes, a five speed is available. They were rare, but they are out there.

I'm looking for a pump guy that has the same curiosity as I do.
I may have to become a pump guy.
All the Mercedes mechanics I've talked to say you can't get anymore from the pump that's on them.
Well, I either need to prove that wrong or find another pump that will bolt on in it's place.

 

I have also thought alot about this swap. Though finding one that looks cool as well as motivates the car has been a concern. The M-B diesels are the ones I looked at, but not the only ones out there for sure. The Cummins engines sound like a good bet.

But they can certainly be made to get up and go, just look at the Audi LMP cars and the Cummins diesel Indy car back in the 50s. They are awsome machines. Don't know how they got them to wind up so much. But the sound is great. Saw the Audis run at Lime Rock and they were great.

 

i have been wondering if you could replace the old injectors with new electronic ones, maybe use a megasquirt, on Mercedes.