Encouraged by the fabrication lunacy on this board and my own mental illness, I've decided that instead of having several projects that I sort of enjoy, I'm going to build the truck I want. I'm sure a quick post here will result in half the board pointing out the error of my ways.

I am going to build a mercedes diesel powered 109 on a 110 frame. I have the engine, I found a frame, and I found a 109/5 door that needs a frame, although I don't yet have an agreement to purchase the 109. I expect I will though, and if I don't get that one, I know there are a few 109's with bad frames around.

The truck will get used as much as I can drive it. I don't have to go far for work, so I expect to drive it most days. I go offroad 1 - 2 x a month, but mostly easy stuff. I would like to have the new truck be at least as good offroad as my current truck, a disco. It has mtr 235/85/16s on it now, with a 2-3 inch lift. I know that's nothing compared to the most of the trucks here, but I have to drive it everyday. I thought with the larger wheelbase I'd have to increase the tire size to 32 -33 inches to get the same center clearance over rocks. So, here's what I have so far:

300d turbo diesel (I have the whole car, so anything I need from that I can take)
110 frame
109 complete truck with bad frame

I am thinking I should pick up a rusted RR or disco and use the axles, brakes, suspension etc. from that.

What I'm not sure about:
Transmission - could use stock series, but not sure. Also thought about a t5 that I have - has low first and a 5th gear, but no idea if/how it would bolt up. I'm going to need an adaptor for pretty much anything anyway.
xfer case - could use the stock series again, or a 300, or could use a divorced case as I'll have a fair amount of length for the driveshaft anyway
brakes - if I use rr or disco axles, I have decent brakes, but not sure of the master cyl I should use, or how the brake pedal setup would work
steering - power steering using saginaw maybe?
radiator - could use one I have - either mercedes, series or jeep cj

The bulkhead and frame are going to need a number of mounts and cuts to make the stuff all fit, so the limitations are more about what would work best.

For reference, the engine has 125 hp and 177 ft lb torque

I realize I have a lot of missing pieces, but I want to collect as much as I can that I'll need in the next month or two while the snow is still on the ground.

Other than being a fair amount of work, does it seem feasible? I think there are a lot of guys in the UK that build similar trucks, but with rover diesels and I'm sure that makes it a bit easier.

I'd love to hear from anyone who has done something similar. I've read a bit about the mercedes transplant that another person has done, but he said the 300 is definitely more work as it's longer.

Do it and take lots of pics!

Mental illness...

That's good right?

I just sold a couple of axles to a guy named Adali Sudborough, Kittery, Me. who is, me thinks, doing the same conversion / build. I'll try to find some contact info for him. Did you get that frame from Grant G.?

Matt Browne
Overland Engineering

I just sold a couple of axles to a guy named Adali Sudborough, Kittery, Me. who is, me thinks, doing the same conversion / build. I'll try to find some contact info for him. Did you get that frame from Grant G.?

Matt Browne
Overland Engineering


I think that is the plan. The 300TD 110/109 project is going to be very cool and I have no current use for the 110 frame since getting into the 300TD powered Unimog thing. Plus, D110 parts seem to be fairly rare and really expensive right now both here and overseas.

Grant

Holy f it's a small world. Yes, it's from Grant. I was purposely going to get the frame and ignore Grant until the project was done. I don't want to end up with Grant's 'no tire is big enough' diesease. ;-)
There are a few donor RR's around here now, but I'm close to maxed out for space with other vehicles right now. I figure there will be no shortage to chose from. I was also sort of hoping to find a disco or later model RR as I think they have the 24 spline axles and the earlier RR's have the 10 spline? Thought I'd get into that after I get the rest of this stuff sorted in a few weeks.

Why not use the merc trans?
A friend has an 88 with a vy old 200diesel, mercedes 4-speed and divorced series transfer case behind it, coupled to the merc case with a mercedes rotoflex joint.
Works OK.
Same guy has a 300 (5-pot) diesel with autobox he will transplant into his 110 shortly. Will try to make a similar divorced tc-install but with the LT230 from the 110.

T

It's the auto merc trans. I'd have no trouble using it but didn't think it would be good for the application. That would certainly make a lot of things much easier. Are they durable enough?

Holy f it's a small world. Yes, it's from Grant. I was purposely going to get the frame and ignore Grant until the project was done. I don't want to end up with Grant's 'no tire is big enough' diesease. ;-)
There are a few donor RR's around here now, but I'm close to maxed out for space with other vehicles right now. I figure there will be no shortage to chose from. I was also sort of hoping to find a disco or later model RR as I think they have the 24 spline axles and the earlier RR's have the 10 spline? Thought I'd get into that after I get the rest of this stuff sorted in a few weeks.


Firstly I have held myself to 35" tires on the RRC and I think that is fairly admirable.

Secondly, don't forget that you can get assistance, advice and hook-ups on parts from a few local sources such as Overland Engineering, Jeff Bacon, Robison and others.

Grant