Turbo 616 powered Astro Van build

JB3

Superturbo

1,795

04-12-2013, 09:07 AM #128

part 2-

time to reattach subframe to unibody and see how all this measuring and tweaking fits on the van-

lowering, the stock MB fuel filter head location had to be removed to fit-

mated, the only interference are these brake lines luckily! If the engine went any higher, id have some issues with the MB power steering pump hitting the GM brake booster

From the inside, everything lines up nicely, the stick handle is just a tiny bit to the rear, but still came right up to position. The engine will definitely fit under the hatch without issue, and it looks like I should have no major problem removing the injection pump if I need to. The access actually seems better than in the 240 in some areas-

On the passenger side, looks like there should be just room for a turbo, there is actually a little more room than this picture suggests, but exhaust clearance might be interesting here. I have to look into the fitting here soon-

Up front I can use either the GM or MB radiators, actually both are very new. Lots of room up here fortunately. (angle appears weird, but the actual pic is on a tilt)

above, this is the valve cover clearance available-

there is just room to get the cover off! Huge hurdle jumped with this development. It has to be pulled into the passenger cabin to clear the front, but it comes out without too much difficulty, so i will have to remember that when im routing lines later-

On the subframe, I had some concerns since this was a rusty subframe originally out of a later van, I was worried it might not fit right. Fortunately 5 out of 6 bolts fit perfect. One is totally off, by maybe 3/4 of an inch. I also stripped the thread on that nut as well (I had threaded it first a little, and once the others were in, that bolt got so jammed it ripped out the threads)
Fortunately for me, its just about the best place for this problem with plenty of access. God forbid it was a center bolt. My plan is to open up the unibody above, drill up through the body using the bushing as a guide where it actually sits, and weld in a new nut in this new position, then close up the unibody.

and after all that, here is the tradeoff in body height-

Thats a bit too high, after I get it running, ill be looking to drop it about 2 inches. Right now it looks preposterous, with the rear dragging, and the front reaching for the sky

(04-12-2013, 09:00 AM)Simpler=Better I like the transmission mount spacers

For the steering interference, it's not hard to get used to. When I ran camry wheels on my truck (cheap 16" snow tires...) they hit pretty hard, you just stop turning the wheel at the right point

Assuming you have a rubber bumper on the A arm for the steering lock, you can install a nut&bolts to adjust the steering lock depth.

Im missing quite a bit of OEM rubber bumpers on my control arms. One of them was probably the steering stop. When I work on lowering the suspension back down to something reasonable, i need to source stops for the upper and lower control arms, as well as a stop for steering. The lack of the rubber stops might be exaggerating the lift as well

This post was last modified: 04-12-2013, 09:10 AM by JB3.

1974 240D 617 turbo swap, W201 5-speed, in the works project
1983 240D 616 stock, DD
1989 Chevy Astro, 617 turbo swap, T5 5-speed, 4.56 diff, work van