MB 616 four banger, good for FJ40?

[Comet]

Search revealed a few builds that asked about the 617 but none that clearly outlined a 616 oil burner. I am coming to the diesel section asking for guidance and real world cost estimates of my thoughts.

I have recently acquired a 1973 rolling frame three speed. The 1F is all locked up with rust so I am torn. Do I just put in a 2F or look into a MB 616 converted to a straight drive? Do I keep the automatic vacuum actuated transmission and try to mate it to a transfer case? I am about 70% sure I have the 2F lined up but the idea of an oil burner always lurks in the back of my head. There’s a 240D slowly letting air out of it’s tires just wasting away near my office and the darn thing keeps calling to me like a lost calf in a field. It has a November ‘21 inspection sticker so it’s not time to approach the current owner yet. 7mpg with the 2F vs 20mpg with the 616 really has me torn. I could burn anything in the 616 after it has been gone through.

End goal for the rig is light duty. Currently, I want to keep the three speed on the floor. Slow and steady on forest roads . 2.5” lift or 4” lift depending on tires/gearing/engine oil pan clearance, heavily patina’d body (hopefully), and weekend duties.

Thanks for any thoughts you may have on the matter.

 

[AirheadNut]

Personally I would hold out for an OM617a. The little 616 will be much slower than a 1F in an FJ40 unless you turbo it; at their peak they only put out something like 74hp. I know the NA versions of the 617 can't take a lot of boost, I suspect it is the same with the 616. That said, the LWB G-Class came with an OM616 in the '80s, so it is certainly possible for the engine to pull a large vehicle along, it just depends on how slow you're comfortable with going.

 

[Greek Cruiserhead]

No doubt, the OM616 is a good engine and powers the Gwagen, in its Military edition too (although side by side with its stronger 5 cylinder, 3.0 litres sisters).

However, you may take into consideration that the OM616 (72 bhp/101 lb.ft) is even weaker than the B Toyota diesel engine (80 bhp/141 lb.ft)
+the hassle to adapt it to the Toyota transmission...

 

[Comet]

Thank you guys, that was what I had hoped to hear. The 2F with a three speed will be extremely slow too. On to picking up the 2F.