Yes welcome to the club. I see you already joined the
"W123 300D/CD/TD Turbo Diesel Manual Transmission Club".
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/groups/w123-300d-cd-td-turbo-diesel-manual-transmission-club.html
We are an exclusive group. this give you access to the prestigious Country Club of Stick Shifter and Gear Grinders.
Congratulations on a successful surgery and the patient survived.
Enjoy many happy miles with your new baby.
Be sure to post the measurments of the Pilot Bushing you had made.
You will notice about a 3 mpg increase which is nice. you should see 30 on the Hwy with the 2:88 Diff.
How difficult was it to drop the auto trans out. they are a heavy %^&#, the 4-spd manual is around 50+ lbs. I can drop those at PNP w/o any problems, but an auto would take me out. did you use a trans jack?
The snout on the Torque Convertor is smaller to fit the small crank hole on the 85 crank, not sure why they did this, as it is the last yr for the 123 body and the 617 engine. the pan gasket on the Cali version is different also, one of those mysteries in life.
Now you need to start your quest for a 5-spd manual trans.
See.... it never ends with these cars.
Charlie