pats-yota

Ok, So they are bed support spacers. I ended up finding what I was looking for in the instructions. In my haste to get started, I just wasnt looking hard enough. And for some reason the parts list was in the very back as opposed to the front page as with everything else I've ever worked on.

Got everything installed. Took a little more time than I was planning (but I think thats always the case!) I was pretty impressed with the quality of the kit. Other than the steering extension being WAY too long, everything went together easily. I figured there are already plenty of how-to body lift threads, and I was working solo, so I didnt take any pictures of the process. I did snap one of the finished result. Its not too drastic, but I definitely feel like my dinky 225/75s need to go now. Haha

While I am waiting to get started on removing the v6, Im debating on doing some cosmetic stuff. I have the interior out cleaning the hell out of it, and would like to swap out the funky navy interior for a gray or charcoal color. Also debating on removing the side mouldings.

Here is an after shot with tons of ˟˟˟˟ in the bed:

pats-yota

Started taking the motor out last night. I'm going to have to push my tranny back a couple of inches. Probably 3" max. What's the easiest way to modify the driveshafts. The shop I was talking to said 175+ for each shaft! That's more than the om617 cost me. I was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions that wouldnt involve cut/welding/balancing the shafts.

87 Deathtrap

Truck looks good. You're making great progress. Another option for your driveshaft issue would be to move the axle back if you're not afraid to do some trimming on the wheel wells. 3" may be a little drastic, but it's an option.

blake.nemitz

is that a na motor. if it is you might want to sell or trade it for the td. the na ones dont live long with a turbo added, no oil squirtes different pistons ect...

pats-yota

The engine is factory turbo charged. Even swiped the turbo-diesel emblems off of the MB to transplant on my yota. Got the engine out, adapter plate started, pilot bushing is in the process of machining as we speak. Should have everything ready to start assembly/test fitting soon. Once I get it all together Ill take some measurements for motor mount placement and drive shaft length. Then Ill get to work on fitment of the accessories and any wiring/plumbing that needs to be done.

Here are a few random shots so far:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6141738630/http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6141738630/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/26831842@N05/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6141740248/http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6141740248/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/26831842@N05/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6141740940/http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6141740940/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/26831842@N05/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6141189173/http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6141189173/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/26831842@N05/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6141190273/http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6141190273/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/26831842@N05/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6141737926/http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6141737926/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/26831842@N05/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6141739436/http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6141739436/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/26831842@N05/, on Flickr

THis is my pilot bushing adapter I had made. this will ensure snug and properly centered fitment of the yota fly wheel to the MB crank:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6142102412/http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6142102412/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/26831842@N05/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6141548025/http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6141548025/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/26831842@N05/, on Flickr

Also picked up a bitchin' set of 15x10s on the cheap!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6141193885/http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6141193885/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/26831842@N05/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6141746574/http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6141746574/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/26831842@N05/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6141191689/http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6141191689/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/26831842@N05/, on Flickr

You can see the the size of the flywheel and MB flexplate are similar in size, and that 4 of the bolt holes line up. The others are in weird placement, but with my bushing adapter made the way it is, alignment will not be an issue.

As for the plate, I just got a sheet of 3/8 from a local pipe and steel company for $18. The pilot bushing and redrilling of the flywheel cost me $60(surprisingly cheap). After scrapping the body/tranny of the MB, the net cost of the engine was about 150 including buying dinner for the guy who helped me pick it up. The body lift and new poly body mounts were about $230, and Im still undecided about the shafts so far. Its turning out to be SIGNIGICANTLY cheaper than my previous car projects!

My dad actually picked up a 93 4wd yota that needed a good bit of work cosmetically, but had a functioning 3.0 and a DUMP TON of extra parts. Im talking an entire trailer load of radiators, driveshafts, trannys, OLD school rare hubcaps and stuff like that. This truck will likely become a farm/pasture workhorse. Im hoping that some of the 15 or so toyota shafts we have will work for my tranny relocation. If not Ill suck it up and pay the shop to properly modify my current ones.

I'll have more info within the next few days. I plan to have it mocked up in the truck before the weekend. The remaining issues (that Im aware of at least!) are related to wiring and fuel supply. Most of the other guys that have gone this route have reused the stock tank, but Im not sure what kind of fuel pressure Ill need.

shakes_24

can't wait to here it run.... Was a 84 MB diesel forsale around here... I looked but passed on it now I'm kicking myself. everything else I have found is 3 times the price...

B-yodaful

Hey man great work. Do you have a list of what parts you used off the Benz? Thanks

pats-yota

I'm still in the build process, so I cant give you a definite list on all the Benz parts just yet. Some of the stuff I pulled from the car may not end up being used. I can tell you what I have so far beyond the engine itself. I basically took anything electronic I could from the donor car. I swiped:

the gauge cluster(for tach until I can figure out how to make the toyota one work)
the MB power steering pump and lines
the overboost protection solenoid(believe thats the name for it)
any wiring I could get out, and the two electric boxes on the drivers side (just in case)

Thats pretty much it on the MB parts. Some of the parts had already been removed from the car alt, oil cooler, etc. The only thing Im missing that I wish I had was the oil cooler. Easy fix though. This thing will still be mostly japanese when its all done. Using the 3vze flywheel, clutch, starter, alternator(with 22re "V style" pulley), and AC compressor. Going to have to fab up a mount and run some extended lines for the AC, but It will be well worth it.

I have a radiator from what I believe is a jeep cherokee that Im going to try to use. Its wider and shorter vertically that the stock 3.0 rad, but as thick or thicker.

Another issue thats been on the back burner is the hood latch. If in pushing the radiator forward for clearance, the stock center hood latch has to go, I also swiped the dual style left/right MB latches and cable. May not end up needing to jack with this, but I have it just in case.

My recommendation would be to find a complete 300sd for a donor. Then you could verify that it is running, and have access to any parts you may need. They can be had for cheap these days.

pats-yota

Got the engine/tranny together, and ready to go in the truck. As far as I can tell this will be the first 617>V6 yota conversion. At least from all the searching I have done online. There are good reasons for that. Mainly the commercial availability of a kit for the 22re trucks, and not having to push the tranny back and modify the driveshafts. However, I dont think that there would be enough room with the 22re kit for AC anyway. AND there seem to be way more V6 trucks with blown motors for sale.

When I first got this thing started I though "GREAT the bolt patterns are really colse!" No. Thats not great actually. That means the bolts for the adapter>engine, and the bolts for tranny>adapter almost fall on top of one another. This just meant I had to clock the engine a little, no biggie. I also had to notch the the tranny to clear the bolts for adaptor>engine. You have to do this with the 22re as well, unless you use a thicker adapter plate and counter sink the holes. The only thing with that is you have to compensate for the added thickness by spacing the flywheel out more. Not something I wanted to do. 3/8 plate ended up being very close to perfect for the tranny/flywheel spacing. The 3.0 flywheel is bolted straight to the MB crank using my pilot bushing adapter to center it perfectly.

On to the photos as it stands so far:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6154453183/http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6154453183/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/26831842@N05/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6154453563/http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6154453563/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/26831842@N05/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6154996850/http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6154996850/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/26831842@N05/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6154454311/http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6154454311/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/26831842@N05/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6154451809/http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6154451809/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/26831842@N05/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6154452833/http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6154452833/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/26831842@N05/, on Flickr

I also cleaned and scrubbed it down with a wire brush, so it looks a little cleaner now. there are a couple things I need to identify. I dont have a service manual yet, so if anyone knows that would be great!

Im assuming this is going to be where my fuel shut off solenoid assembly should be:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6154994972/http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6154994972/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/26831842@N05/, on Flickr

Also there looks to be a sensor broken off just forward of the IP here. It looks to be a round brown plastic piece with copper wiring inside it:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6154995298/http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6154995298/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/26831842@N05/, on Flickr

pats-yota

Long overdue update!

I found out that the part missing from atop the IP is where the ALDA goes. its a device thats supposed to limit smoke at startup at non standard altitudes. Lots of guys delete them citing performance gains, so Im just going to see how it does without it.

I havent had much time to work on the truck lately, but I have fitted the yota alternator, found a radiator to suit my needs, raised the motor mounts by another 2" and raised the gas tank. Still need to do a lot, but I turned it over and GOT IT TO FIRE UP! It was only for a few seconds and required a little spray assist, but I think once I get the fuel system bled Ill be good to go.

I also made some custom rear shackles to eliminate that saggy rear and give me a little clearance for my 33x12.5 BFG KM2s!! the truck is looking sick now if I do say so myself.

Pics to follow soon.

aviator

Sounds great pat! Keep up the good work...

pats-yota

Lift on stockers:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6431967079/http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6431967079/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/26831842@N05/, on Flickr
Thats more like it:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6431968075/http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6431968075/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/26831842@N05/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6431965993/http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6431965993/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/26831842@N05/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6431965031/http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6431965031/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/26831842@N05/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6431963863/http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6431963863/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/26831842@N05/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6431962893/http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6431962893/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/26831842@N05/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6431961641/http://www.flickr.com/photos/26831842@N05/6431961641/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/26831842@N05/, on Flickr

aviator

looks good that white colour makes everything in the bay stand out...

B-yodaful

those looks awesome. I love white trucks..

pats-yota

Hey guys, unfortunately the truck has been on the back burner the last couple months. BUT! I made the decision to shift the direction of the truck. While I dont have many doubts about the longevity/reliability of the Benz motor, I felt to really do this truck properly and to daily drive this thing for years to come it needed an authentic toyota diesel.

I have already purchased and installed a 1KZ and Im working on ironing out all the electrical and sourcing a few more parts to complete the build. Im excited to get it done and will be sure to put plenty of pictures and videos up.

Also, if anyone has any suggestions on where to find a throwout bearing, throwout lever/arm, and a starter let me know!

Thanks again!