Hello all,
I recently swapped an OM617 into a 1985 Jeep Wagoneer. I fabricated an adapter plate to connect the OM617 to the stock A904 transmission so I could keep the four wheel drive. I welded plates to the frame for the motor mounts, and modified the pitman arm to clear the oil sump. The engine was sourced from a 1982 300SD with a rotted out frame. The engine had only 109,000 miles when I pulled it. I netted 18 MPG on my first tank of fuel. The current tank will be even higher. This vehicle is my daily driver, I have just over a month since the conversion. Here are some pics of the vehicle.

 

Good Show!! Keep the photos coming. Also a more detailed writeup of what you did would be good, too. I'm sure there are a lot of folks out there that would find this very interesting - including ME.......

 

Here are some more pics. I welded square tubing to the torque converter to adapt it to the Benz flexplate bolt pattern. I modified the bellhousing flange on the trans to accept the factory Benz starter. I made an aluminum bushing to adapt the snout on the torque converter to the diameter of the crankshaft. I used the oil pressure and temperature sending units off the gas engine. I wired up the glow plug relay just like it was in the SD. The exhaust is 2 1/2" pipe with a Thrush turbo muffler. The oil cooler is mounted just under the front bumper. The radiator is for a 4.0 Jeep, it cools the 617 just fine.

John

 

Thanks Forced,
Maybe I will go with a glass pack. I had a straight pipe on it, but it resonated in the cabin too much at higher RPM's.

John

 

Keep us posted on your project.

 

I bought an adapter kit from Bendtsen's Transmissions to connect a 700R4 to the OM617. The kit comes with an adapter plate, custom torque converter, and a gear reduction starter. All I need to do is bolt it on. I bought a 700R4 out of a Blazer with the transfer case that goes with it so I can keep the four wheel drive. I pulled the old trans and transfer case, started installing the adapter kit a couple nights ago......

John

 

jlguler,

I am just getting ready to do the same thing. Did you have vibration issues with the mods you did regarding the torque converter? Is this why you ended up buying the tranny adapter? I too want to keep the costs down and I was thinking of having to do some mods much like you have done, but I would appreciate any forward thoughts so that I can TRY not to be redundant with the process. Any thoughts are appreciated. Ben