1953 GMC Panel with Mercedes Diesel
 

I don't usually visit this section but I saw this posted on one of the Jeep Forums I visit and wanted to share.

The conversion is being done by NorthWest Diesel Offroad (http://www.northwestdieseloffroad.com/project2.html)

1953 GMC Panel
2004 Trailblazer Chassis
2005 3.2 TDI Intercooled Turbo
4L80E Trans
1 ton tcase

Re: 1953 GMC Panel with Mercedes Diesel
 

That's freaking awesome!!

Re: 1953 GMC Panel with Mercedes Diesel
 

Lotta work but looks great. We've got three Sprinters with 2.7L diesels and they'll cruise at 80+ with no troubles and still get 20-22 mpg.

Re: 1953 GMC Panel with Mercedes Diesel
 

To bad there are no build shots for the install.

Re: 1953 GMC Panel with Mercedes Diesel
 

Im going camping in august at Farragut St. Park. I might have to call these guys and see if i can check it out. The diesel Looks interesting.
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Re: 1953 GMC Panel with Mercedes Diesel
 

i have a 80s oldsmoble with a fresh 5.7 just sitting I have often thought about putting it in one of our old chevys. I know that is a crappy underpowered motor but 30 mpg would be cool for a daily driver for my wife.

Re: 1953 GMC Panel with Mercedes Diesel
 

I worked on plenty of those Olds diesels back in the day. Lots of issues with vibration cracking parts... cranks and tranny input shafts especially. And the head gaskets... not good. An easy way to make that engine usable is to pick up a set of gas engine heads and intake and remove the diesel stuff. It will last forever on gasoline.

FWIW the Mercedes 5 cylinder turbo diesel out of an early '80s S series is almost bulletproof and can be had fairly cheap. "OM617" is the engine to look for. Lotsa swaps around the world.

Re: 1953 GMC Panel with Mercedes Diesel
 

I was just informed that this was posted on this forum. I appreciate all the positive comments, not a lot of people understand the Diesel conversions.

If you are going to Farragut state park you will be a 1/2 mile from me, you will be passing right by me. I welcome you to stop by and visit when you are in the area.

Thanks Ron
Northwest Diesel Offroad
Bayview Idaho
208-683-0465
www.northwestdieseloffroad.com

Re: 1953 GMC Panel with Mercedes Diesel
 

Ron, glad you made it over here. Would really like to see some full vehicle pictures.

Re: 1953 GMC Panel with Mercedes Diesel
 

Some more pictures of build.

Re: 1953 GMC Panel with Mercedes Diesel
 

That's an awesome build. I really want a duramax in my 48' 3600 thriftmaster but I seriously doubt it will fit without more metal working then i know how to do. Looks like a 6.0 vortec is all im gonna be able to do. Awesome truck and swap. Looks great.

Re: 1953 GMC Panel with Mercedes Diesel
 

Can't wait to see this done. Roof rack and all.

Re: 1953 GMC Panel with Mercedes Diesel
 

There is so much talent on this site. I love new ideas, and these trucks that ron builds... wow very cool..... VERY out of the box. Love it.

Re: 1953 GMC Panel with Mercedes Diesel
 

It is nice to be able to post on a forum that is open to new ideas, I have been on some that if you deviated from stock it was a sin. Much less installed a Diesel!!!

Re: 1953 GMC Panel with Mercedes Diesel
 

I currently have a '82 300D Turbo Diesel that is my daily driver. As soon as the body falls apart again I plan on dropping the straight 5 into an old truck. The thing is I need to find another old truck since my '50 AD 3600 will be finished.

Re: 1953 GMC Panel with Mercedes Diesel
 

That's going to be pretty cool.

Zeeman, are you keeping the donor vehicle chassis too in a similar vein to the 55 that was at the Brothers show a few years back? I know that one was a V6 gas but they kept the entire AWD system from the M-Class sport utility.

http://www.barrett-jackson.com/appli...&aid=304&pop=0

Re: 1953 GMC Panel with Mercedes Diesel
 

That 55 is a well done truck with the Mercedes V-8.
I used a 2004 Trailblazer chassis which was the same track and within 2" of the same wheelbase as the 53. I modified the front wheel opening on the front fenders to match the wheelbase.
The customer wanted a 4x4 to go to the snow, he lives in the Bay Area in Calif. I adapted the Mercedes engine to the GM 4l80E transmission and transfercase.

Re: 1953 GMC Panel with Mercedes Diesel
 

really cool build!

Re: 1953 GMC Panel with Mercedes Diesel
 

zeeman thanks for the reply.

Hope to see updates on the project as it progresses. And got to admit I really like that dash...

Re: 1953 GMC Panel with Mercedes Diesel
 

that is amazing!

Re: 1953 GMC Panel with Mercedes Diesel
 

Did this ever get finished?
Or any more modern diesel conversions??

Re: 1953 GMC Panel with Mercedes Diesel
 

That is an impressive build. With all the Sprinters running around those engines might not be that difficult to get. a dry weight of 459 lbs makes them pretty interesting too compared to the weight of some of the other popular diesels.

I found this video on the net when hunting info on the engine. https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q...77&FORM=VDQVAP

I've fired a number of gas engines up hanging from a chain hoist but haven't been around diesels that much outside of big trucks.

Re: 1953 GMC Panel with Mercedes Diesel
 

I dont know anything about the GMC mentioned in this thread, but there are several members on here building or have built diesels. They are in the Projects and builds tab. Heres a few
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=769441
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=814071