So, it's been a while. Life's been hectic. And by life I mean work. The week before I picked up Brenda I took over a new team in addition to my existing one and have been a lil bit busy with all that chaos.
But I have not forgotten. I've been busy in the background formulating plans, and figuring out where I go from here. Thank you to those who've helped me price up replacement engines and such, it's massively appreciated. I've come to the conclusion that Brenda is destined for something German. I'm not 100% decided on which, but either an OM606 or an OM648. Diesel Pump UK is not far from me (actually on my commute to the office should I actually go
) and they already produce a kit for mating an OM606 and the H151F gearbox I've got. I've emailed them today asking if they'll do an OM648 one for me, as they already do other adapter kits for the OM648 to other transmissions. So fingers crossed
Now, why the Merc engines I guess? The OM606 is an indirect injected electric pump (like the 1kz-te in the Prados), but can also have a fully mechanical pump put on them. They shave some weight off the front of the car, in stock guise are about 40ftlb short vs the 1HDFT, but can easily be turned up to suit. They're pretty economical too. And as noted, Diesel Pump UK is not far from me, so if I needed support I have one of the best places in the country nearby. Okay, so why the OM648? Well it's more modern, direct injected, got all that electronic shenanigans going on. Fortunately Baldur does a standalone ECU called a DID1 that'll run the engine without the need for any of the Merc ECUs. In stock form these put out 200hp, and 370ftlb of torque. Slightly different power bands and all that but should pack quite the punch. Oh, and being yet more modern still than the OM606 is more economical too, and even better still the OM648s can be picked up for reasonably cheap! I'm pretty sure I'll be able to use the standalone ECU to generate whatever signals I need to run the dash too, which'd be nice.
So that's the engine thoughts, just waiting to hear back about whether I can get this adapter for an OM648 made up
Now, onto the chassis.
I knew the driver's side rear of the rear wheel well needed welding. Spotted that when inspecting. So I stripped out the rear of the car. Removed the aluminium extrude drawers (Anyone wanna buy them?
) and got to work stripping out the trim. Found some rather greasy oily substance had been spilled back there and soaked the carpet too. All good fun. Removed the sound deadening back here as it's been applied over factory stuff and without cleaning the existing soft furry material off thus the CLD wasn't really going to be having much of an effect, will apply new stuff later on. Then I got down and dirty looking for rust. So, that hole i knew about? Yeah I can fist that. And the other side is fingerable. Missed that when inspecting her. Oh well. And there was a lil bit on the driver's wheel well inside the car... odd as there's nothing weird in the wheel well itself, might've just been some standing water at some point seeping down behind the seam sealer. Front a quick rub down it's not terminal, just a clean up job needed, no welding.
So, looks like I don't need to do body off frame for doing these repairs at least, and it gives me something to do while I wait around for knowing what I'm doing with the engine.
