Scott, Thank you for the kind words. I am sorry that I haven't replied sooner, the forum pages have been freezing and not responding on my computer, since Saturday evening. Yes I am a machinist. I am a self employed machine and welding shop owner/operator.
Thanks again, Mark

 

Thanks Ross for the tip. This pickup is supposed to be set at 1mm +or- .01mm. The instructions say to turn it in until it touches the geartooth and back it off 1/2 turn. Your cardboard tip would work too if I can find some metric cardboard.
Thanks again, Mark

 

I was also able to get the flywheel, clutch and bellhousing installed. The valves are adjusted and the front main seal is installed. The pan gasket, vacuum pump gasket and the valvecover gasket to go and its ready to paint and put back in the truck.








Things were a little slow in the shop the first 3 weeks of August, so I was able to get a little done on the truck. I had messed up the paint on the frame from the firewall forward removing the original engine mounts and building a crossmember for the diesel engine. I had to pull the front axle out to be able to drill all of the crossmember mounting holes. After they were drilled I machined new bushings for the spring shackle bolts and reinstalled the axle. I primed the crossmember and bolted it in permanently with grade 8 bolts. I scuffed up the paint that I had previously applied to the frame and axle and repainted it. Here are some photos for proof:
I never have figured out why it loads my photos above my text, Oh well.

 

Looks really great, nice progress!

If you move the cursor down below your text before you hit submit, your pics will be below....

 

Thanks for the update.

 

Thanks Scott and thank you for the tip on getting my photos in the right place. I will do that next time.
Thanks again, Mark

 

Thank you Fred for your continued interest.
Mark

 

I worked a couple of hours this afternoon on the engine. The oil pan on the Mercedes is aluminum with a pressed steel sump in the front. The sump had been hit from underneath when the engine was in the donor car and bent it up pretty badly. When I ordered all of the seals and gaskets for the engine from Autohaus Arizona, they had a new sump for about $24.00, so I ordered one. I got the new sump installed, some more cleaning on the aluminum part of the pan and cleaned and polished the valve cover. I may do a little more polishing on the valve cover, then I will spray it with some high temp clear.
Well, my photos still came out on top. I moved the curser to the bottom before I load the photo. When I go to upload the photo it automatically moves the curser back to the top of the text.

 

When you get done with that valve cover I have another for you. ;-) jk
That is one good looking OM617.951 engine, gonna look great in the truck.

 

Thank you for the reply. I am pleased with how it is cleaning up. If you are ever up in the north central part of the state, drop in.

 

You might try loading the pictures first, then adding text above them.

The engine is cleaning up nicely.

 

I might have to take you up on that offer sometime soon. ;-)

 

Jeff, you could stop there on your way to Truckstock next week...hint hint.

 

I wish Joe, I wish.

 

We had to trim the corner of the motor mount shock mount to clear the pan




throttle linkage connected

My son and I installed the engine and transmission Tuesday afternoon. I did scratch the firewall in a couple of places that I will have to touch up, otherwise everything went back in easily. I did have to remove the shifter for the Brownie. I installed it with the T9 spur gear transmission in place. With the T98 being longer, the parking brake arm on the transmission was hard against the shifter not allowing the transmission to line up with the mount. So, I will have to remount the shifter.