Looks like you have it laid out pretty good.

To remove the transmission dip stick, remove the bolt at the rear of the intake manifold. at the transmission is a hex bolt that old a clamp or clip. think the bolt is a 5mm. remove that and the stick lifts right out.
it the auto is a good trans, and you want to keep it or sell. clean around the trans before removing the stick to keep dirt from falling in.

the whole project is mostly plug and play. the 240 front driveshaft will have to be cut and ballanced with the rear portion.

the shifter bolts into the same holes as the auto.

the nutral safety switch (NSS) has 4 wires. 2 for start and 2 for back up lights as I remember. think 2 are purple, that is for the start.

Is one of your trans the iron box and the other the one piece aluminium? If so I think each uses a different throw out bearing and master cylinder. In the buy parts tab, the catalog shows 2 different ones.
also the shift rods will be different. either trans will work.

replace the bushings on the shift rods and trans.

look under the shifter assembly, there is a hole for a small rod to keep the shift fingers lined up.
I think I cut t rods 4in and one 3 1/2in and rethreaded them.
Look at how much rod is threaded into the screwon end. mount the rod on the trans., mount the screw on end to the shifter. hold it horizonally, lay the rod on top, then mark the rod with a felt marker to the same length as before, and cut.

Charlie

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works