Thread: Converting from diesel to gas power

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Thanks, John that information is great.

The steering box is definately a problem mine has a small block ford in it, and it is about a 1/4 inch away from the box....I am looking into changing the front end with another one like a mustang or nova ....that way I could also go chevy small block instead ...but as I think about it there is alot of demercedesing I would have to do, like a wiring kit from painless wiring and maybe even a tilt front end so I could simplify the working ability.

Oh and as John see mentioned , there is a problem with my oil pan somebody notched it to straddle the cross member.....bad idea unless your running a dual sump..

I consider them "Projects" cause I dont have a hot rod shop and do not know what else to call them, I could call the finished Benz a custom cruzer. It could also be considered a project cause it will probably take me twice as long as someone who has the money. Are u talking about the tents that they sell?

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Streets, What do u think I should do. I want to do any car that's made before 1984 but preferably my 83' Benz or any older car that is cheap and close by but, if I buy a new - old car I want it 2 be a 2 dr. I have a price limit of $1,600 ( my approx earnings ) . At this point I don't know what I should do and need some suggestions. I'm affraid that I will not be able to afford all the work that the Mercedes would require. If I gots to change the front end to make the Chevy powerplant fit, I deffinetly wont.

How much do you think an overhaul this extensive will cost? Anyones oppinions are welcome.

Thank You so much Streets, your help is much appreciated. My grandfather has a 67' Gmc 4X4 that he would probably let me have, It has a 350 from a 74' Blazer in it but I'm shure it's frozen as it has sat for 16 years, and it was last registered in 1982. very solid floors and a good dash, the truck is also very very solid, only the driver side rocker is rusted out. the trans is a 4 spd on the floor. It needs interior work though, the mice loved the seat. The original starting instructions stickers are in Like new condition on the roof. Do you think this could be a good project? Or as I said before there is a 47' 2 dr chevy that is for sale but, I do not know the price yet as I have not called them. Theres also a 59' Impala or Bel air and a 68 Camero that I could look at and price them. The tents sould like a really good idea. I was thinking about putting the american motor in my Benz and thought, what the heck am I getting myself into especially when my dad has never done a conversion this extensive b4. I found the need to explore my options and it's a good thing I did.

I want a first vehicle that needs work so, I respect what I have and know what's broke and how to fix it when it breaks. I cringe when my brother does things like drives his car with flat tires, runs it with really low coolant, over revs it, never tightens the belts when they squeal and my favorite, he cooked the trans on his 90' Ranger when he put the wrong trans fluid in it then, drove it up a Mt. Unsceintha ( 4X4 trail that goes up the side ) and drove it back down with the A4LD trans clicked into 2 low in 4X4. He did all this cause his truck was mechaniclly correct and never needed to fix it and in turn never respected his vehicles. He is currently driving a 1984 Volkswagon Rabbit GTI that, when my dad drove it home the seat was falling through the floorboards. His car was a formerly in the Adirondak ice racing championship with the former owner.

It's a 67' Gmc truck, but it has a 74' Blazer 350 in it cause the 305 V6 blew up and he had a parts 74' blazer with a a 350 with 20,000 miles( found it's way into Gmc ) just, the bell housings were diffrent so it took 2 batteries to start it and it would stall if it fell below 1,600 rpms, he bought the new bell housing that would fit the 350 but never got a chance 2 put it on and, it was later forgoton, and has sat ever since but, it has been towed around a couple of times and he says it towed very nicely. It has always sat in the shade so the door panals or the dash are not sun faded or cracked but, the woodgrain in the instrument panel section is faded but I will probably paint it black or get a new one, in he lets me have the truck, but I almost know he will as he has no intentions of fixing it cause he cannot see very well anymore and he does not have the time to fix it. How do u put preassure on the belt? once when I was littler I tried to un seize a push mower by flippin it upside down and turnin the blades by hand, wasent the smartest thing I'v done but that's life. Thanks for the support and advice Streets.

Thanks, I did not know what u meant but, now I get what u mean. Sounds pretty easy.

Oh, and fixing the original Mercedes Benz engine is out of the question cause the engine sat out in the weather with the head off since august of 2003 and, the last time i checked, It was seized and would not turn ( grabbed the balancer ), I should have been able to turn it cause theres 0 compression.

And also, I think if I fixed up the 67' Gmc, Being it's geared very low, I will paint it Lemans Blue and give it some kind of add on like twin smoke stacks. How could I put smoke stacks on it if it is not a stepside and has 8' box? I belive that makes it a fleetside? I know most people who run stacks have the steps cut out and run them through where they used to go but it has no steps. I would also put on some 33" Mud Swampers. I got some of the best 4X4 trails up here. I would also not have to worry about putting it up for the winter, I could use it as a daily driver year round cause it is a 4X4. I would also put my Mercedes seats in place of the bench seat, I would recover them with blue interior cloth of couse. Another thing that sucks is I just bought a Sterling silver- Silver arrow Key Chain from Keeler Mercedes On Central Ave in Albany

Originally posted by Streets
Boat anchor at last

Not yet, but for a day or so yes. You,Tech,Madgrinder and a few others are the only ones I trust for questions this complex. Thanks in advance for questions to come. I may start a new thread cause the Mercedes is basicly out of the question and that is the thread here that non Mercedes information is being discussed.

This is almost exzactly what the truck my grandfather has except his has emblems on the side that says classic or somthing like that. The front bumper does need repainted and the mirrors need to be chromed, painted or replaced, the whole truck needs new paint, but as I said b4 i would like to paint it Le Mans blue to go with the interior color and to be diffrent. My grandfathers truck has the original split wheels and has a higher stance cause it's a 4X4.

I had a 1982 mercedes diesel with a 350 chev. w/ chev 400 transmission. Here are a few details that I recall.
1. Stock transmission linkage worked fine.
2. On drivers side use an old chevrolet 'rams horn' header, cut the exhaust end off, rotate and weld back on to clear the steering. On the passenger side, they had used an exhaust header off some sort of GM truck.
3. stock suspension works fine. Chev. engine is probably no heavier that the old mercedes.
4. stock rear axle held up fine.
5. the tranmission did not quite clear the car floor. It was just pounder out slightly, hardly noticed with the carpets down.
6. stock radiator worked fine.
7. Vacume from engine to power brakes,worked well.
8. The oil pan was modified to clear suspension, etc.
9. I had a complete set of custom gauges.
10. I had a custom gas tank-dont know what you need to do on this.
11. The mercedes vacuum operated window locks are a real pain. The vacuum system, on my car, also operated aspects of the darn heater. Real pain when you get a vacuum leak.

I understand that the ford 302 conversion is much easier.

John
Colorado Springs.