And another OM617 conversion...
 

Been working on installing a OM617 into 97 Wrangler. Ran into a snag tonight putting the Th700r4 onto the adapter. Everything lined up great (Bendtson Speed Gems adapter) Checked the starter clearance after putting on the flex plate, lined up perfectly, put the torque converter on, didn't recheck it. Bolted up the transmission, can't turn over the engine now. Loosened the transmission bolts, motor turns, but ring gear is hitting something. At first I thought it was hitting the transmission housing, the clearances are pretty tight. Went over to the other side of the motor, noticed the starter drive is hitting. Pulled the transmission back off, drive is still hitting. The instructions say to use a spacer (which they did not provide) only if necessary. The drive gear does not look like its fully seated, but I don't have anything to compare it to. It is a GM mini starter, and fell apart when I first picked it up out of the box. I'm wondering if the gear was supposed to be pressed in.

Blew up the picture that Bendtson's had of it, looks to be correct.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.die...95cc2c444b.png

Figured it out, took it back apart, the torque converter wasn't seated all the way. It was bowing the flex plate in. Everything clears now! Ive done a lot of manual transmission installs, but this is my first automatic install! Now to build a stand to test it all on before the install.

Cobbled up an engine test stand today, once I get the radiator mounted, should be able to fire it up this weekend.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.die...0d4b51028b.jpg

Looking good.

Thanks! Glad I found this site, lots of good info on your build and others. I had bought motor mounts for a 4.3 Chevy v6 conversion a couple of years ago. When I bought the Jeep, reverse was out in the three speed auto, and I had a 4.3 with a fresh gm reman 700r4, but ran across this diesel a friend of mine had, and thought it would be different. Little did I know, there is quite a few people doing them!

Posted on the wrong thread! Sorry mod's! Got it to running this weekend, few minor glitches, throttle response good, now to get the turbo and manifolds from the previous owner, I will be set for the install!
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.die...f83305d842.jpg

Here we go, let's see if this works!

The motor mount bushings worked perfectly, no vibration at all. They came as part of a kit to install a 4.3 V6, but I adapted them to work with the OM617, the bracket that came with that kit will not work though, so I will have to fabricate something else. I don't see how the bracket would have even worked with the V6. Advance Adapters is now selling a totally different bracket, so I think they sent me the wrong one to begin with.