So I may be picking up a '78 Mercedes 300D(guy wants $300 for it in running, driving condition). Has just over 400k miles on the odometer. Was thinking it would make a good candidate for a swap into the D1. I have read people talking about it, but never seen any evidence or data supporting this theory. Your thoughts?

 

those motors are barely powerful enough to move the benz wagons they were installed in...
thinking it would move a nearly 5000lb 4x4 around and keep up with traffic, take off on hills, or be useful in any way is a bit far fetched... i would think...

though i suppose youve always got low range...

 

Even has pics:

New Jersey Land Rovers - View topic - Disco TD #2

 

There is also a thread about it on pirate4x4 in the land rover section

 

Where you live...dont do it, diesels do not like driving only 2 miles at a time and never getting good and hot.
IMO it would be dead in the water inside a year.

 

300D of that era rated at 79 HP. Big change from our "fireball" Buick engine. Turbo came out a year or two later and bumped that to 123 HP.

 

I wheeled with Jarek in the Pine Barrens with his TDI.Impressive to say the least.Don't listen to the mall crawlers who think four wheeling is driving across their back yard.check out his write up and go for the swap.

 

So it looks like a guy that goes by MercedesRover sometimes makes batches of adapters to mount the Mercedes 617 to the R380. Last I saw was in 2007 he offered them p for $700 each. If only I had a machine shop or a garage to use...

 

A side benefit - a pal of mine had the "big box" Mercedes diesel, and used home brew biodiesel (filtered used cooking oil with diesel, about 40/60) - the Mercedes injector pump is quite robust. He got great mpg and about $2 a gallon fuel cost. Down here you don't need extra heat for the tank or injector lines.

 

Actually, we are currently planning on moving back to Boise the end of summer.

I was thinking if I can find the adapter, I could get it done prior to the move.