technojunkie

I'll be going to look at an OM617 motor this weekend. It's not in the car anymore and is just setting on a shop floor with the transmission attached.

I'm going to take a battery with me to see if I can get it to crank. Aside from knowing that everything turns freely what else should I look for that won't require tearing things apart?

PowerstrokeJoe

Open the oil cap and look in there and see if you can se any issues with the cam. Check the oil and make sure its an ok color and not gritty.Really it would be best to hear it run because there are a lot of variables with these things.

technojunkie

Thanks.

I'd love to see it run... but at the price I'm looking at I think I can settle for just a visual inspection.

5runner

powerstrokejoe would know best i think he has been through i think 3?!

PowerstrokeJoe

I had a trial by fire with my build. I tore down 3. I now have 2 running ones and one in pieces in the shop and a ton of parts. If you have any questions feel free to ask me its all still pretty fresh on my mind.

technojunkie

Thanks Joe, between you and pyrojoe I am fortunate to have a wealth of information on performing this swap.

technojunkie

Well I'll soon be following in the footsteps of you folks who have already performed the mercedes swap. I got my first look at this engine yesterday and it does all turn. No coolant in the oil, no oil in the downtube, a light coating of grease on the intake/exhaust side. I couldn't see anything wrong with the cam lobes that were visible from the oil cap. This was a model that was not equipped with cali emissions, so no EGR to remove.

The guy was only asking $300 so I figured worst case if it's irredeemable I can part it out and maybe break even.

Now I need start cleaning it up and get my hands on a service manual so I can start checking everything out.

technojunkie

Right after we loaded it up we hit the gas station and I couldn't resist snapping a few pictures. I'm sure the folks around me thought I was crazy taking pictures of an engine in my truck bed at night but oh well.




I got it unloaded today; while it was on the hoist I grabbed my camping battery and a set of jumper cables and gave it a crank. It cranked right over with no obvious problem and puffed some gray smoke.

Now on to cleanup and checkout. (and I suppose I need to start a swap thread)

PowerstrokeJoe

Looks good! I wouldn't know what to do with an engine that clean to start with haha! The grey smoke is a good sign!

5runner

do it start a swap thread!

B-yodaful

Boo Yaaa

Transplanter

79 or 80? That things pretty clean!

technojunkie

The seller claimed it was from an 81.

B-yodaful

Hey tech do you know what your going to do about your adapter plate? 4x4labs or make your own?

technojunkie

I'm looking into the tdswaps kit. I plan to do a review/writeup as I perform the install. They have been real quick to answer questions and are very professional in their communications. I'm going to try and get the engine running on the ground tho before I spend the money on the kit.

B-yodaful

Yeah I talked to Brian yesterday I'm going to use him too. What level of kit are you getting

technojunkie

Seeing as I can't weld worth a rat's rear end; I'm going to have to go with the full kit.

technojunkie

So, you 617 owners where do I get the tool to remove the flywheel bolts? (edit: nevermind I figured out a 12 point 12mm is a pretty good fit, now I gotta go buy one.)

I yanked the transmission off tonight, and noticed a lot of grease in the bell housing... here's hoping it's just a leaky rear main seal.

22REFORME

do you mean how the bolts are star shaped? if so just use a 12 point socket, if you are reffering to something else i am not sure.

Transplanter

Be careful,the heads like to strip real easy. Mark your flywheel position before you remove it if you plan on having the Toyota match balanced.