om617 swap in a willys wagon
 

Hi I am not new to this site but have never posted anything on it!!
well i am in the process of building a 1958 willys wagon i have a om617 motor and 4x4 labs adapter to a toyota trans/transfer case . hear is my ???? what axle ratio would you recommend, i am runnung 31x10.50.15 tires, the stock axles are 4.89 which should give me approx 2750 rpms at 65 mph. i also have a rear axle from a isuzu rodeo with 4.10 gears and a scout front axle with 4.09 gears in it. i have been building jeeps and street rods for 40 years just never installed a diesel before. dont want to redo this once it is finished
Thanks
Marv.

2,800 rpm is the sweet spot for a OM617. Not sure which transmission you are using. If it has an overdrive. Use that as your final drive trans ratio, determine tire height and go online to one of the calculators.

transmission used
 

I am using a toyota 5 speed overdrive the rpms is in overdrive with 31/10.50/15 tires
approx 2750 rpms at 65 mph

What differential gear ratio. With my 700r4 i am using 4.88.

gears
 

I have 4.89 gears in it right now, 5 speed overdrive toyota transmission and transfer case and 1985 om617 benz motor. 31x10.50.15 tires.
i also have a isuzu rodeo with 4.10 gears but i thinkthat would be tooo fast of gears.

If these are the 58 Willys differentials. You are going to have to upgrade the brakes, springs and shocks. Lots of extra weight to have to bring to a stop. Especially if you are going 65 or 70.

If this is the data from 5th gear, then I would leave it as is. If anything, you will need to run higher rpm's at crusing. These OM617's are a high revving motor that don't like anything much under 2500 rpms with good power in the 3000-3500 range. The question to me is if your OM617 will have enough grunt to push your un-aerodynamic and heavy Willys at 65 at 2750.

om617 swap more problems
 

I have this om617 motor and w 56 toyota transmission and transfer case installed in this wagon, now i have a major problem.
in order for proper installation,the front of the motor has to be up in the front and you can not get the rear of the transmission up high enough. the way it is setting there is like a 6 degree slope,and the front flange is pointing upin the air to high. it appears that this motor/trans combo needs to run almost level, and it is too close to the front axle for safe operation. has any one ever had this problem with this swap??
i am about ready to look for a 4 runner to swap this motor in . I dont want to do this but i am running out of ideas. any help would be wonderful.

Explain why the front of the motor has to be high for proper installation? How about some pictures?

I suspect the front sump oil pan on the OM617 is in the way of either the steering or front differential? If so, there are some creative ways to modify the small metal oil pan and also the oil pump pickup to gain some more clearance if that is your problem.