Those older Mercedes diesels are notoriously underpowered, even for diesels. They're not ideal for swaps into 4x4's.
The diesels made by Toyota and other OEM's are in fact well-suited to 4x4's....that's why people in North America will pay +$20k for 20 year old, hand-me-down Japanese diesel LC's.
Those 20 year old diesel LC's are slugs too, People buy those old LC's. Which are 25 years old because of our import laws, and to my knowledge there weren't any Japanese diesels in the US market 20 years ago, last ones available here were mid 80's, anyways....people buy those because of the coolness factor. The same reason people build up classic cars and trucks..because it is cool. Not necessarily better.
Have you driven an old Japanese diesel? They are painfully slow. And that is coming from a guy who drives like an old man and doesn't exceed the speed limit.
That depends on your definition of "more." Some people want horsepower....others want low-end torque and efficiency.
And again, you can get 4bt's and 3.8l Cummins for cheap on the salvage market too....you get what you pay for. You pay more for a brand new OEM engine, but you're also avoiding a lot of uncertainty and risk.
You get more
torque and horsepower with the LS, over the 2.8 plus you can get an easy 20 mpg of them. The 2.8 people are getting no more than 25. An extra 5 mpg isn't all that much compared to what you loose in tq/hp and cost. It doesn't make any sense to spend all that money to only be slightly more efficient. The gains just aren't there. It is similar when I was considering of putting solar on my house. It was going to cost me $25K. It would take 25-26 years to pay for itself.
Again the Cummins has only a 90 warranty. Where I can get a salvage engine with a 1 year warranty. Who is taking the bigger risk?
Chinese-built? You really had to get that final knife jab didn't you? It's an American design, as with all of Cummins' products. And I'm fairly certain Cummins is doing additional prep-work and quality control as the engines come into North America.
The production origins perhaps matter to a degree, but shouldn't dissuade anyone from buying a given product. After all, many North American trucks, and even some Toyota's, are made in Mexico....ahem...Tacoma anyone?
That engine has yet to prove itself is what I am getting at. Where-as a LS or JDM even though used pretty good chance it will easily go 200K.
And yes, not happy about Toyota trucks being built in Mexico or the US. Much rather have it built in Japan. There is no doubt a 4Runner is better built than a Tacoma.
If you're trying to justify an engine swap "financially," then I don't think Cummins, or any OEM, is worried about marketing themselves to you.
You have to expand your horizons a bit. We have a plethora of engine options to choose from in the current market. For the people who actually want to buy and build project 4x4's, that's a good thing.
No they are not. Some guys like to brag on how much they spend, I like to brag on how much I don't...
Believe that comes from being self employed, I view things as "ok, how much money am I going to loose on this purchase?" Some people view vehicles as investments. I view them as liabilities. For me it all about the bottom line, how much is it going to cut into my profits?
Think because I already went through the customizing car phase when I was younger...not much into project vehicles anymore...much rather spend it on travel and exploring than wrenching in the garage. I have done my fair share of wrenching...and well, I am over it. More time I am in the garage the less time I am on the trail. Which that is what I have to do today....toss new brake pads on the truck, and rebuild the forks on the dirt bike...so I can go riding tomorrow. Trying to drag myself out into the garage...but it isn't working...
I have expanded my horizons and what I saw is bullchit, do believe any engine swap no matter what it is, is kinda foolish. And ultimately don't care....makes for some entertaining arguing on the intergooglemachine though!
