MB om617 in 88 YJ
 

So i bought a 88 YJ Jeep and a 83 MB 300D and started pulling parts and putting them together. Ordered kit form mb4x4 so i could the Jeep transmission. Ordered some axle builder parts from Barnes to convert ford dana 44 and 9" to work with the Jeep SOA. Pulled the Jeep motor, pulled the MB motor. Cut the Jeep mounts out and did a test fit to figure out if everything was going to clear. Cut the axle mounts off to i could add the Barnes parts.

Installed the adapter plate and flex plate adapter, mounted the transmission and transfer case. Picked up a foam filled fuel cell from a buddy and mocked up the u bolt delete kit on the 9" and welded them on. 3rd member is ordered and Yukon Zip Locker 31 Spline axles. Should get the new bearing and seals on the axles shafts this week. Dropped the motor in and welded the motor mounts in from MB4x4. Installed the start and transfer case shiftier the linkage isnt lining up so i going to have to make a new one.

Hooked up the vacuum lines and ID the glow plug relay wires. Looking into the crank sensor and alternator and starter and the right way to hook them up. Found a nice cheap 150 Amp Alternator from a John Deer tractor 6120.

New 3rd member came in ready to drop in. 5.13 and Yukon Zip Locker. Front wagoner springs to stretch and lift the front axles, picking up more axle parts this weekend. Working on cutting a hole for the fuel lines and bought the lines and hardware to install it. Ordered rear brake parts to convert the 9" to disc brakes. Also started tearing apart the dash to clean up the wires and paint the dash.

I got the Ford 9" installed under the Jeep. With lots of reach and time i figured out a way to put together a Ford 9" disc brake kit that can be bought at any auto parts stores for less than $150. Most kits i could find online where $250+

GM Metric caliper mounts ebay $25
95 Geo Tracker rotors 96008RGS $24.99 x 2
78 Olds Cutlass front Calipers 18-4071 $19.99 18-4072 $19.99
78 Olds Cutlass front pads MKD154 $18.99
$140 Total

Spent Saturday getting the from axle mounts welded on. These are Barnes 4WD Off Road U bolt Eliminator kits i put them on both axles the front ford dana 44 was a little more work cause we had to cut away some of the ribs on the driver side. It all turned out nice.

Picked up some 17x9 bead locks in JeepFest in jasper GA this past weekend. Added AN-10 ends to the factory oil cooler lines, and picked up the driveshafts, now to figure out mounting the oil cooler and get lines made.

man i like what youre doing!.. Ive had my om617 in my TJ and running over a year now. There were a few bugs to work out but now im getting over 18 mpg on 20 lbs of boost. it looks like in one picture you have the mb motor mounts installed. I didnt use them but several other build threads indicated that those mounts flatten and blow out pretty easy. For the oil cooler, i bought the plate that mb4x4 sells and its threaded for 1/2 npt. that shit is useless. Get a couple steel weld on -10 jic fittings and put those on. it will make life much easier.

Picked up a full 5 lug dana 44 to use for the outers and axles. My axle was 8 lug and have been trying to find one to trade parts but it never worked out. Tore down both and started swapping parts. Replaces bearings and seal on the outers.


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Picked up a set of Toyo MT 37x13.5x17 to mount on the 17" beadlocks. They look tiny on the Jeep.
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Swapped out the flex plate cause the other one wasn't engaging the start well enough. Picked up some 2/0 welding wire to make some battery cables, new shocks came in i went with the Rancho RS9000KL adjustable.

Beware do not buy a Mercedes diesel 4x4 kit from Koch Enterprises there kits are miss aligned and will damage your transmission and engines. Look up Dooms Day Diesel Joe kits work flawlessly and are backed by real engineer not someone that cuts scrap metal in there basement.

I got mine from Speed Gems, good quality, though I did have to shim the starter slightly, the starter drive would intermittently hit the flywheel while running. Ready to drop mine in once I get the motor mounts made. Right now I have the complete assembly on a stand I built. Also got to figure out how to mount the air starter. I bought the oil pan from Koch, then my credit card promptly got hacked. Their site is not secure, at least when I ordered from them a couple of years ago.