Some explaining and reasoning
So I feel like there maybe some confusion with where I am going with this build, particularly with the consistent sudden changes with build plans ranging from simple mods, to a Cummins repower, to now a Mercedes diesel swap.
Here is the situation: Given I currently a Geology student in his junior year, I have recently realized I could graduate as soon as next spring, however due to minor constraints and me not realizing how many credits I actually have and not taking advantage of winter/summer intersessions, I could be very well be graduating a semester early next fall (still good from my parents standpoint because that is one less semester they are paying for
). To make myself marketable and actually pursue what I want to do for a living I will be going straight for graduate school for some sort of form of of Volcanology. The other side of the situation, the Jeep gets around 8-9 mpg in the city (would be a little better but NW Arkansas is has its fair share of hills) and 10-13 mpg highway (10-11 mpg when loaded). I simply cannot afford to keep the Jeep since I will be very broke for the next couple of years, meaning I would likely sell the Jeep after I graduate. That is something I don't want to do simply because of the time, money, and passion I have put into this vehicle. The engine swap is kind of my savior at this point reason for such haste. Goal is to have the swap done over the summer while I am at field camp.
Luckily I have a friend I work with that said he would be more than willing to do the swap. He can fab, weld, etc. His main challenge is going to be figuring out how to get my factory AC to work with the OM617, will require modification and a new sandem AC compressor that can pair to the engine. I have also decided to not swap in the AX15 for now to save expenses, luckily the adapter plate for the bellhousing works both with the NSG370 and AX15. As far as donor hunting has gone, I am still interested in the boat engine but wasn't able to look or hear the engine during the Thanksgiving break. Plan is to look at it over winter break. I have also found an '84 300D for sale with 178k miles that is very clean and runs and drives, however the owner says there is a knock. Given it is the OM617, this likely means the engine either needs the valves readjusted or possibly needs a new pump. There is even a chance that the owner simply doesn't know what a clunky diesel sounds like, of coarse there is still the chance of it being something more serious. He is asking $750 it is appealing given the condition and value to part out. It is in the same area as the boat engine so I will likely look at them in the same day.
