Wow. Sounds like there's no way that FW will work with your car. Better to just send it to me. I'll make sure it's well used somewhere.

But to answer some of your questions:

The FW is a bolt-in mod. You might want to have it refinished before installing it unless it looks really good already (but I hear refinishings are generally in $20-$30 neighborhood, so I would have it done either way).

Pretty much all MB 4-speeds had a first gear somewhere in the neighborhood of 3.90-3.98:1 and a top gear of 1:1.

BTW, you said you have an idle control knob? I though those only came with 240Ds. It would be fun to have one in my 300SD.

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"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."