[rdavisinva]

Robert who imports your trucks for you ?

The "Man" if there ever was one... My friend and long time associate in the marque, someone close to both of us!

FWIW dad and I drove this about 35 miles and had it up to 75 but also ran it on winding mountain roads and it does very well. Definitely smoother than the tdi's. Robert has a year of his life and a ton of money invested in machine work and perfecting prototypes. Lost track of how many times he's had that engine in and out again getting it just right.

Yes I had forgotten that I loaned it to you and Doug when he busted something, for a Walmart trip to get valuable supplies like fermented beverages, food, birthday gifts for your niece... How about a chicken schnackkk, chicken schnackkk, chicken schnackkk? Can't wait until the next event.
Good times!

 

[rdavisinva]

Kits finally coming out soon...

Kits finally coming out soon...

 

[Uncle Douglas]

Robert did you ever swap in a different tcase ? That 1.6 is costing you mpg. I think most people will be installing in trucks already equiped with 1.2's and would probably like to know your experience with that ratio.

 

[Rocky]

Sprinter vans had a 31mph per thou top gear ratio. Think you can do better than that given lower frontal area and weight. The lightest Sprinter was 4800lbs unladen and the heaviest were closer to six thousand.

 

[rdavisinva]

Higher Ratio T-Case

As a matter of fact am swapping the 1.6 LT230 out on the Red Swiss X-Fire Brigade 110 5 door this weekend.

Then am pulling the OM617 engine out of the 110 pickup to replicate the remaining kit parts. Before it goes back in, it will get a 1.2 or a 1.4 LT230.

Oil pans are already at the machine shop. Have 3 vehicles lined up for conversions and a number of kits to ship out next month.

 

[don]

Interested in seeing more of these. Probably won't do it for the NAS 90 but if I ever built a 110 or 100 it seems like it would be a nice power plant option.

 

[Rocky]

Think it would be great in a 90. Shame Zo have a v8 already installed

What's the fuel pump need for this engine?

 

[rdavisinva]

1.22 with the OM617

Robert did you ever swap in a different tcase ? That 1.6 is costing you mpg. I think most people will be installing in trucks already equiped with 1.2's and would probably like to know your experience with that ratio.

Over the weekend got the LT77 bolted behind the OM617 with new shift fork, release bearing, and slave cylinder in the white pickup.
Now a 1.22 LT230 will go behind it.
Will report back on driveability.

Meanwhile have been driving the Swiss 110 SW with 200TDI and 1.22 LT230 and it is really nice in this area of VA which is mostly flat. You're right regarding better fuel mileage if you match the engine revs to the gears and don't shift too early going up the gears and downshift when coming down so you're not over geared.

 

[rdavisinva]

1.22 is in.

Robert did you ever swap in a different tcase ? That 1.6 is costing you mpg. I think most people will be installing in trucks already equiped with 1.2's and would probably like to know your experience with that ratio.

Doug, you're right.
The 1.22 LT230 makes a big difference when compared to the stock 1.6 that came with the 110 when it had the original 2.5 Petrol.
The Pickup is very driveable now.
The Mercedes OM617 3.0 Liter 5 cylinder Turbo Diesel does very well with the higher gearing. Just ordered an early Range Rover spedo drive gear and shaft that will take the earlier cable.

 

[Stormer]

Very interesting.

Which OM617 version are you using? The later ones had quite a bit more horsepower than the early ones.

 

[Uncle Douglas]

cool. Now you have two hot rod 110's.

 

[ontheway]

all of this has my curiosity piqued... are you selling kits? If so, where?

 

[rdavisinva]

PMs are welcome!

all of this has my curiosity piqued... are you selling kits? If so, where?

PMs are welcome!

 

[rdavisinva]

90 or 110 kits due out the end of April

Finally have the oil pans being worked on after sitting at a shop for almost 4 months.

 

[rdavisinva]

Bump

 

[rdavisinva]

Motor Mounts are in shipping conversion kits this weekend!

After waiting months, have the motor mounts for both the series and for the 90 & 110...
These bolt right to the existing frame mounts in the Series II, IIA, III. Also in a 90 or 110 that originally had a 2.25, 2.5, 2.5 TD.

 

[don]

After waiting months, have the motor mounts for both the series and for the 90 & 110...
These bolt right to the existing frame mounts in the Series II, IIA, III. Also in a 90 or 110 that originally had a 2.25, 2.5, 2.5 TD.

Wait as second. If I buy a galvy 110 frame and had 2.5NAD mounts on it would these then work to bolt the 617 to?

 

[rdavisinva]

Correct.

Wait as second. If I buy a galvy 110 frame and had 2.5NAD mounts on it would these then work to bolt the 617 to?

Yes these would bolt the engine to your existing frame mounts.
You would need the rest of the kit of which these mounts are components.

 

[rdavisinva]

Optimal gearing is 1.4

Doug, you're right.
The 1.22 LT230 makes a big difference when compared to the stock 1.6.

The 1.2 is a little tall, so switched to 1.4 which is the best gearing with 235 85 16 tires.

 

[jrose609]

Weren't you at one time thinking about developing a hydraulic-style mount for the 200 and 300 tdi's?