Thanks, Gordo, I for one appreciate that. Back around those same days I worked all summer at 14-15 years old to own my first real car, a '37 Cad La Salle V8. I also had a '47 Crosley Hotshot tube chassis race car but it couldn't be licensed for street so I didn't technically own it. Dad bought a great '56 Merc V8 4bbl with duals after he sold his quick little Hudson Hornet J model with 3/4 cam, dual 97's & twice pipes...

Daimler Benz Mercedes were 'Mercs' a few years before the American Mercury came along so like it or not they scored the moniker first as I recall, maybe not. How about Benz?

On the 4BT's it's unfortunate the prices have doubled & tripled in the last 5 years. Now I see them for $3,500-$4,000+ when you can buy an excellent Dodge 6BT for $2,000-$2,500! Gotta really shop around on them.

I don't care for Benz diesels either, too Euro & I don't like playing the Euro 'try to find the parts somewhere' game. If I had to run a Benz I would choose one with the old-tech Bosch VE mechanical injection pump & direct injection or else convert one. Then you only need one wire at most for the fuel solenoid & even that can be converted to pull cable so no wires or electrical on the whole engine except for starter & alternator!

Agreed on the power issues, that there's still no replacement for displacement! The Benz engine's are quite a ways away from Dodge Cummins 'Million Mile Motor' fame, quite a ways....