A New Engine...

Well, after a lot of forum surfing and asking questions to the local "G experts", I decided to transplant a turbodiesel motor from a 300D/SD/TD.  I have yet to see anyone's start-to-finish accounting of making the swap, but I think I have a pretty good handle on it.  It sounds like the swap is easier with an automatic transmission, but I'm going to stick with the 4-speed for now.  Of course, we all dream about a 5-speed...

So far, I know I need:

1. 300GD motor mounts
2. 300GD motor mount arms OR Gwagen Preserve's improved mounts (better)
3. 300GD flywheel - my 280GE flywheel will NOT work
4. 300GD clutch & pressure plate - 280GE will NOT work
5. 300GD vacuum line from pump to brake booster
6. 300D air/oil trap (or an aftermarket unit)
7. All exhaust components from any turbodiesel - to be modified heavily at a muffler shop
8. Any turbodiesel air cleaner or new air ducts to hook up the 280GE air cleaner to the turbo intake (this looks like two 90 degree bends - one reducing from 3" to 2.25", the other 3" to 3"; and a coupler for them)
9. Glow plug relay
10. Ignition switch housing from a diesel (for the vacuum engine cutoff)
11. 300GD tachometer & tach amplifier

I'm sure there will be more that bubbles up, but this is a start.

Thanks to craigslist and a crazy Thai dude named Jeff, I sourced an OM 617.951 turbo engine with only 119K miles on it!  Part of the deal was to get ALL accessories and parts needed for a swap - and Jeff really set me up.  I got a complete exhaust system still with the OEM stickers on it, pulled from a wrecked TD.  The glow plug relay is pretty tired looking but he gave me a warranty on everything so I'm not too worried.  All of the accessories are there & seem to be in good shape.  Jeff even loaded me up with an air cleaner & associated hoses, a huge bucket of spare hardware and a wide assortment of hoses and vacuum lines, just in case.  It was fun doing business, thanks Jeff!

I've only just started to disconnect the old motor from the chassis, but everything seems pretty straight-forward so far.  The only thing I'm not looking forward to is removing the bolts from the top of the engine/transmission.  I can barely see them, let alone get my hand & a wrench up there.  I've pressure washed both the diesel engine & the 280 just to make working a little easier.  Tomorrow I hope to be looking at an empty engine bay!