Om617 to 97 Wrangler swap
 

About half way through the swap, and found this forum, lots of good info on here! I have a 97 TJ with the four banger and three speed auto. I had a 4.3 vortec with a 700r that I was going to drop in it, but ran across an 85 Benz OM617 turbo diesel that a buddy had. Picked it up for nothing by doing some work for him. Since the 700r had just been freshly built just before my daughter rolled it, I decided to use it with the Benz motor. Koch said their kit would not work with 700r, (I think they are coming out with one though, in a month or so) so I ordered one from Bentsen's. I did order the oil pan from Koch. I am using the NP 231c transfer case instead of the 231j because of it being heavier duty. I used a SYE for a 231j, bolted right up, and I can use the speedometer sensor from the Jeep. I have a 4" lift kit for it, but figure I will only get 2-3" with the heavier motor, which is about were I want it anyway.

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https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.die...65af2d9ff1.jpg

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welcome

Looks like its coming together nicely for you. Bob makes really nice adapter kits.

Thanks! The quality of the adapter was excellent, I had one issue with the starter drive hitting the ring gear, but figured it out that it was a mistake I made, not the kit. Once I correceted my mistake, it fit perfectly.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.die...2ce4615f4e.jpg

Here it is put together on a stand I cobbled up. Putting the lift kit on the Jeep this weekend, and if I have time, I may get the radiator mounted, filled up with fluids and start it up.

Looks great and clean with Bobs Kit, looking forward to watching this come to a finished project. Make sure you get the transmission throttle valve (cable) geometry correct so you dont burn up that 700r4. Sonnax even makes a little helper spring for it too.

Fired it up today, fuel return lines rotted, but I had new on hand from Mercedessource, had to bleed all of the injectors, tighten the glow plug connection at the begining of the run, but it finally fired up. I still have to get the turbo intake and exhaust from the guy I got the car from. The car it came out of was not a turbo, and the engine came from a car that was a turbo, so the mechanic didn't want to change the exhaust to keep the turbo! So far, no oil leaks!
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.die...6b33dd72e5.jpg

I tried to upload a video of it cranking and running, but apparently thats not an option here. I will have to get a youtube account and post a link to it.