I have read that SOME Chevy NP231 t-cases are passenger side drop. Not sure whether any of the S-10 units are or not, but be sure you look it over really well. That would open up a whole new can of worms with having to get a PS drop front axle, try to make room for it under the floor, etc.

Otherwise, that sounds like the IDEAL setup for your swap. I actually wish that I could have picked up an NP231 with my 700R4 - they are a stronger t-case than the NP207, have a little lower gear ratio (NP231= 2.72 vs NP207-2.61), and there are a lot more aftermarket parts for them (SYEs, 2-low kits, 4:2 kits, etc.). But what the hey, I got an almost newly rebuilt 700R4 AND the NP207 for only $150 delivered to my door, so I won't complain...

 

Just got the 700r4/231, looks good with low mi. Now for the fun part!!

 

 

I went 258 miles on 14 gallons, 18MPG. Not too bad for my first full tank of all city driving. I may put an overdrive in it at some point to bring the rpms down. Pretty pleased overall, quite a bit better than a comparable Jeep with a 4.0, from people I know who drive those.

John

 

I know that you can install a remote oil tank & pump( dry sump), ( the Mercedes 450 1970-73 era with the 6.9L) engine use that system as air plane beach bonanza (1960 era).
also 12603821 Remote Oil Tank for the LS7 Corvette

I would look in that, that may be the ticket.
your guys are Asome, wish some of your guys around me to work on my hallucination!!!
Electric Oil Feed and Scavenge Pumps
wrench

 

Hate to burst your bubble man, but 18 mpg from an om617 turbo is aweful! Heck, I get 15-17 in my 92 XJ Limited with the 4.0 gasser - and the fuel is cheaper. I sure hope that your results are better on future tanks.

My 300CD that I use as a daily commuter has an OM617 turbo and gets 24-25 in mixed driving (2/3 city 1/3 highway), and a couple mpg better in straight highway driving. I'm not driving like a hyper-miler, though I'm not a real hot-rodder either. Just normal to slightly "spirited" driving. The 300CD weighs about the same as an XJ too - just over 3500 pounds. Maybe a little better aerodynamics, but not much with the vertical front panel/grill and large fairly upright windsheild.

I think its your high-stall torque converter that's killing you. Up to around 2000 - 2400 RPMs the slippage is wasting a lot of power that isn't getting to the wheels - killing your fuel economy. Add that to having only 3 gears and no OD, and there's where your fuel is going...

 

bet it launches pretty hard tho with a high slip like that

 

I checked the code on the converter in my 700r4,says the stall is 1611-1654 that should be ok for that motor, not sure what the stall is in the benz trans. Hey John ,can you tell if the lock-up is even working??

 

I'm not sure if the lockup is working. Lockup usually feels like a gear change, I don't notice it in the Jeep, unless it's really subtle. I may have to adjust the throttle pressure cable, everything is hydraulically controlled on the 904, no electrical or vacuum connections. I'm going to play around with it a little. I can't remember if it worked with the gas engine either, I was not paying attention.

John

 

Well, all I can tell you for sure is that something is wrong. 18 mpg for an OM617 is pretty sucky mileage. I know guys who have turned up their pumps and removed the ALDA, and done every other performance tweak and adjustment in the book to hop up their otherwise stock motor - and they STILL get better than 22 mpg (20%+ better than your reported 18 mpg). Are you getting lots of black smoke? If not then it has to be your gearing - causing you to run at a lot higher RMPs than you need to.

I hate to keep beating a dead horse but are you sure about the stall speed you quoted? 1650 RPMs seems awfully low for a little 2.8 liter gasser that has its torque peak at around 2500 RPMs and its HP peak at closer to 3500-4500 RPMs.

On the other hand the OM617 is one of the higher revving diesels out there. They'll handle repeated redlining into the 5000 RPM range and run all day at 4500 RPMs. Since the turbo just starts to kick in at around 1800, if what you have really is a 1650 RPM stall speed, that would be just about right...

I dunno man, but like I said, if you're only getting 18 mpg pushing an XJ with an OM617 turbo, then somethin' ain't right. I would think you should be getting at least 22 mpg - and comparing the cost of diesel to gasoline right now, you'd need to get at least that just to break even...