from doing some digging i found that the law the prohibits the swap of an older engine into new car is for a gas to gas swap, and says nothing about diesel! So i think i just found a loop hole that will allow me to do this with the merc engine.

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I found a 700R4 transmission not to far from me with 30k miles for next to nothing and a engine also for a decent price. You wouldn't happen to know what transfer case would possibly work thats driver side drop? Its almost 5am and i should get to sleep rather than searching for hours more

The 700r4 out of an S10 blazer is the one you want, it has the drivers side drop. Mine has the 231c. The trans adapter that Benzer used works on the early S10 with the 2.8 v6 bellhousing. I used the 4.3 bellhousing(same as the v8) and made my own adapter,and moved the crossmember back. The stock front driveline from a 4.0 cherokee fit perfect, just swap the t/c yoke from the jeep t/c to fit the cv joint(the blazer didn't use a cv at the t/c end) P.S Even though the jeep may have the 231 t/c they are different. The jeep is a 231j while the s10 is a 231c, they have different mounting bolt pattern plus yokes. Also I think the 231c is a little stronger. Also I have found the 410 gears and 31n tires with the 700r4 is just right for this motor, I have my converter lock-up on a switch, only way to go imo. Good luck!!!!

Thanks that helps me big time. Another issue I just thought of is my Jeep is a week end wheeler and sooner or later will tip the scales at 5000 pounds. Will the mercedes diesel keep up with this weight?

Not sure, but I'll let you know how mine does when I hook my ski boat to it!

My Jeep is about the same height as it was with the 2.8 gasser. You can't tell there is an OM617 in it from the outside. (Except for the sound it makes!!!!)

John

Has anyone done any mild or serious off roading with one of these engines?

Go on youtube and look up "OM617" . A Toyota with the 617 is the first video that comes up.There are a couple of people who have put 617's in 4-runners.


John

oh wow it looks like i should have no problem with that, thanks!

CDI
 

Get one of the 3 liter CRD that where in the late model 2007 Cherokees, the are Mercedes and are aluminum v6 block, only 460 lbs. 215 hp 376 ft lbs and came in several vehicles including sprinter vans. I have seen them on ebay as low as 5000 used. And you could even get the 7 speed transmission that comes on some of them. Anyway if you are concerned about spending 4000 you should forget the whole deal. unless you want a high mileage 0617 from a used vehicle. below is a om617 rebuilt form just one seller, they want 7000.
Mercedes Rebuilt Engines

For this kind of project a $4k, $5k, or $7k engine would be ridiculous. A CRD from a 2007 or newer GRAND Cherokee would be sweet, but the engine would be worth about twice what the rest of the vehicle is worth. If you're going to spend that kind of money, buy a Liberty or Grand Cherokee with the diesel already in it and call it a day.

For an old Cherokee, a 200k mile OM617 out of a mid 80's SDL can be had for less than a grand and is just about right for an XJ with 100k-200k on the clock. The old OM617s are known to routinely run over 300k, and 350k-400k isn't that uncommon. So, you put a 200k mile engine into a mid 90's XJ and drive it for another 100k. That's how you'll get more than your money's worth out of it.