nope, I have no problems with steering or anything like that. my oil pan is actually up about 1/2" than the crossemember that the lower contorl arms bolt on to. My pitman arm is about 1" away at full lock one way because I switched to an astro van steering box due to pushing the front end forward.:tu:

Im just putting the finishing touches on my om617 swap and im looking into the alda now. I pulled the motor out of the car about 4 years ago when i didnt know what to keep and what not to keep. So if i understand what you guys saying the alda banjo get directly connected to the banjo at the rear of the intake? what else hooks to the alda on the IP looks like a vac line??

Just run line from alda to back of intake and cap off any others on the alda.
Mine t'ed off at the alda and I just caped it off Vette

Thanks you rock!

Hi corvette74, hope you won't mind but I have three Mercedes with the 617 engine and they regularly run at 3000 RPM going down the road at 65. I have also had it up to 80 didn't look at what the RPM was but no odd noises. When accelerating they regularly hit 4000 or a bit more. So 2000 is just starting to run.

4.88 gearing and 35's wont allow mine to get up to 55 :(

With out a tech I do not no what I am turning but with the set up I am running I have no problem running 80+ mph on the highway as I sad I have no clue what rpms I am turning but sound ok. Vette

According to a couple of gear calculators if your final transmission gear is 1:1 as most are then with 35 inch dia tires and 4.88 diff you should be getting right at 64 MPH. Could be that your speedometer gearing is off. Bigger tires will show you as going slower then you actually are. 3300 RPM should have you going 70 MPH. The Mercedes 617 should still be quite happy at that RPM. You should be getting pretty good acceleration also given the speed to RPM that you have.

---AutoMerged DoublePost---

Have you thought of using a tach from a Mercedes and rig a case for it? Shouldn't be too difficult a hookup. The sensor is already there on the front of the engine and all you would need is the converter that usually sits on the drivers inner fender and then two wires to the tach.

1:1 would be 4 th gear in 5 th most of the 5 speeds are averaging about .70 for an overdrive ratio

clearstroker
I could buy a tech for this thing but just not that interested in one.
As long as I dont over tech it I think it will be alright.
Vette.