W463 Engine conversion 300GE to 300GD- 24V TD

2 replies [Last post]
Wed, 11/04/2012 - 17:25
gdog5
gdog5's picture
Offline
Joined: 27.10.2004
Location: LOndon

Currently a popular theme 'transplants'

I'm currently looking at a W463, which has had a conversion!!
I'm a bit sceptical to whether or not it can work? or maintain that durability & reliability, which G are renowned for? Or will it turn out to be another bodge job?
What i find unique about this wagon, is the fact a transplant been carried out on a 463? Why would you?
Normally transplants are common on old 460 models....*That dream for more power*

The wagon originally started life as a humble 300ge, then later converted to a late 300gd turbo OM606.962.

LHD, which is what I've been looking for!! Manual, 310,000km,1991,W463.... It ticks all the right boxes!! A long awaited upgrade to my current 84 300GD SWB.

The chap's from east Germany, and abit of a Wagon fan, from what i can gather from our brief telephone conversations. He assure me that the Trucks in real good condition.

My old 300gd has been a fab, 9 years service, Its never let me down. loves sub-Saharan roads and can easily tour 500km a-day convoys.
It can easily sit idle in a garage for 10 months at a time, and live up to any challenge you throw at it. I mean anything...

My question to the forum is 'what should i be looking out for?'

And could a Truck with a transplant really withstand hard long haul tours, without complications?

Login or register to view attached files
Top
Wed, 11/04/2012 - 18:26
#1
Pistonhead
Pistonhead's picture
Offline
Joined: 17.12.2006
Location: Loughborough
GWOA Groups: Committee, Members
Re: W463 Engine conversion 300GE to 300GD- 24V TD

This looks like a tidy conversion.  In my personal opinion, and it is only my opinion, German engineering is has already proved its self; on that count there should not be any worries on the longevity of the conversion. 

My only niggle would be about the gearbox, if it the same gearbox that was married up to this conversion is the same as from the donor vehicle, then there should not be any concerns.  If, it is off another vehicle, as long as the gearbox is matched up to the output of the engine, then again, there should be no problem.

Now come to the point of, what injector pump has been fitted to the engine?

The checks on the engine should through, on oil burning during acceleration, start up and the like...

Check the engine from a cold start up, for smoke, if it is already warm, any fault could be disguised.

Do check out the radiator for any cold spots, this would indicate radiator blockages, during test drive keep an eye on the temperature gauge; I have no experience on the 300Turbo engine, but the normally aspirated engines temperature sits at 85 degrees centigrade.  This translates to the temperature needle sitting on the top half of the digit-eight.

Good Luck,

Top
Wed, 11/04/2012 - 20:47
#2
phileas
phileas's picture
Offline
Joined: 07.11.2008
Location: Cambs
GWOA Groups: Members
Re: W463 Engine conversion 300GE to 300GD- 24V TD

Hi Gdog5,

I'm running two of these engines (one in a G and the other in an e-class estate). They are very robust and from start up should run silky smooth if a little smoky. With regard to the further questions you may wish to ask the seller, is 1) if he has also transplanted the fuel pump, where he has put the electronics and 2) has he heat-shielded the turbo sufficiently and lagged the intercooler pipes. Presently, the place where he has the battery is where the stock G300TD's electronics are sealed in a waterproof/dustproof/bulletproof box. The electronics on the engine are basic and not prone to failure (the turbo pressure guage sometimes plays up a little, but nothing serious and is usually 'fixed' with a restart once the engine is warm) as long as they are kept out of harms way. The only real problems I have come across (at 125k miles) is vacuum leaks and if your battery voltage drops too much/low battery issues. Once the former were found and a fresh battery fitted, the car has given me totally worry-free motoring (now at 136k miles and feels like it will last for ever). These are fantastic engines and I couldn't say enough good things about them. Some people say that they were the best engines MB ever made. In the G, the engine does need to work more because of the weight (compared to the E-class), but will still return respectable high 20s mileage with ease (in the e-class, on motorway trips at a steady 70mph, I can get in the mid 40s mpg!). Mileages on these engines can run well into the 3-400s without too many issues cropping up so as long as the engine has maintenace history, it should not be a concern. As to the output shaft alignment issues,  Rakesh has already raised some questions. If all what the seller stacks up, you should have a very reliable G that will possibly amaze you how much punishment it can take: several members of the German g-Klub swear by these (and the mid/late 90s V8 petrol) engines for reliability and longevity. They don't have that much electronics to go wrong, but just enough to give you acceptable economy and power. 

Good luck,
Ph

Top