PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - 300d 4-speed swap: are you happy with it?

54dan · #12 03-26-2013, 10:43 PM

So, after work today the only thing between me and a test drive was getting the air out of that &^%$ clutch! I decided to try the hose from the right front caliper trick -- and after several mishaps with the host popping off in the midst of furious brake pedal pumping, lo and behold ... the clutch suddenly functioned like a clutch!

I took one last look at everything, put the carpet back in, halfheartedly tried to figure out where the cruise amp will go now that the slave cylinder is in the way, decided to do that another day, lowered the car down off the jackstands and fired the wagon up and took my first ride in a manual 300td.

Man, this was worth all of the work. The dang thing is exactly perfect, just like it was supposed to be like this. I drove it to the gas station and treated her to a new tank of diesel ... I peered nervously underneath, half expecting to see pools of oil or something, but everything was dry. RPMs seem to be much lower at 60 mph (2800, I think?) than I recall with the auto.

I have zero vibrations of any type at any rpm or load that I have noticed so far. After a lengthy discussion with a trusted machinist, we wound up neutral balancing the flywheel and the pressure plate, not match balancing to the old ring gear/flex plate. The flywheel was heavy on one spot (IIRC) by 14g. He had to weld significant metal onto the pressure plate (!) to get it balanced. Apparently, this plan worked in this case.

The car is a joy to drive. Many, many thanks for all of the help, ideas, kind words, and encouragement -- I could not have done this without you guys.

-Dan