I'm getting ready to swap my 79 240D 4 speed to an automatic. I'm using a complete 83 240D donor car. Before you beat me for doing this, I have to because my clutch ankle is destroyed and I love my 240 too much to part with it. I have a few concerns not addressed in the many threads I've read. One is the star heads on the fly wheel. I hear they're a bear to remove. I need to know the size so I can buy a quality tool in advance. Another question is the injector pump. I need to mount the vacume bleed off on the top of it for my modulator. Can I just remove and swap the tops of the pumps or are they (the pumps) different as well? Am I assuming correctly that with a complete donor car that I'll have no drive shaft/carrier bearing issues? And lastly, the rear end gear ratios. I've read so many different things about this. Are auto and manual gear ratios the same? My 91 300E is down right now (stalls as soon as it warms up) and I have to complete this job quickly and by myself. Any advice would be appreciated? Thanks, and thanks for the tons of help you guys have already given me on my "fleet". Andy

sorry about your ankle... i think you're ok on the vacuum as you stated. i dont know the size of the bolts, the driveshaft will be fine, as you have two cars and will need to shift the one from the other car. i am pretty sure the gear ratios are the same. you can check it by turning one wheel a full turn and counting the turns on the pinion gear and multiplying by two.

it should be a straight for ward swap. you may need to make an adaption for the backup light switch, but it is not hard.

good luck.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Check the rear left of each diff, The diff ratio is stamped on the diff casing at about the 8 o'clock position.

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Tony from West Oz.
Fatmobile 3 84 300D 295kkm Silver grey/Blue int. 2 tank WVO - Recipient of TurboDesel engine.
Josephine '82 300D 390kkm White/Palamino int.
Elizabeth '81 280E, sporting a '79 300D engine.
Lucille '87 W124 300D non-turbo 6 cylinder OM603, Pearl Grey with light grey interior


Various parts cars including 280E, 230C & 300D in various states of disassembly.

What are are your plans for the old trans and clutch setup?

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Bill Reimels
Now down to one:
1972 300SE 3.5 W109 (Euro delivery)

"star heads on the fly wheel" They are 12mm and I use a 12 point socket, just be careful and dont use an emact wrench, dont ask how I know. The the rear end gear ratios should be the same and the vacuum issue shouldnt be a problem, no drive shaft/carrier bearing issues either.

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

Thanks to all you guys for the timely response. I kinda figured it might be a 12 point socket but I wasn't sure. "starhead" means a lot of things to different people. Billrei - I never really thought about the 4 speed and clutch set-up. My origional plan was to do a total swap and resale the 83 with the 4 speed. Two days ago the rear control broke off at the wheel and ended that dream. I guess your interested in it? Your from Pa.(close) as well - we can discuss it. I have two more questions though - is the auto shifter a direct swap as well? The hole seems to be in the same exact spot. I learned a hard lesson with this on one of my mustang conversions pre-Mercedes fanatic days! Do any of you know exactly what the device that looks like cruise control(only on autos) does? I've read three different things so far about this. Thanks so much again, Andy

the hole in the floor is the same. the rear control arm rusted away? i have had two changed... got the arm at alocal small salvage yard for $75 and had it installed i think cost either 200 or 300. dont know about the cruise question. but if you have two complete cars you should be able to swap everything that is different,good luck.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Andy,

Yes I would be interested in the trans and clutch setup. No rush though I have to get rid of some stuff before the wife kills me...

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Bill Reimels
Now down to one:
1972 300SE 3.5 W109 (Euro delivery)

Andy

I have never went from manual to auto but I don't think you will have any problem. There may be a few small issues like the back up light switch , just small things you'll figure out as you go. You have both cars so you'll be fine, go for it.

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

UPDATE - my 83 240d auto is stripped out and I have the trans ready to go with new seals and a filter. I'm stumped though now. My 1979 240 4 speed has the throttle linkage attached on the passenger side of the engine and the 83 auto donor car has it on the drivers side. The 79 intake has no throttle plate and all the linkage is different. I never imagined that throttle linkage could stop me, but the vacume needs to be routed through this linkage and I have no way of doing it. The one auto car from the 79-80 era I found in a salvage yard had no vacume to the modulator, just a kick down linkage. Am I building something here that was never done from the factory? Anyone have any ideas out there? Appreciate the help, Andy

Cant you just swap valve covers (with linkage attached)and that bit of linkage under the manifold on the "79"?
everything should be "swapable" I dont know anything about the auto tranny things but it works the other way.

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

Stevo - thanks for responding. I can move all the linkage to the 79's valve cover that's not the problem. The vacume controls for the trans. won't fit into either scenario. The 79 throttle control goes under the intake whle the 83(and all others of those years I've seen) connects up high where the cruise control would connect. I'm thinking that in 79 the autos used another means of trans control(other than vacume) I was at the dealership today going through the computer and no pics of vacume switches were there for a 79 auto. Is there an internal governor on those trannies? Is there such a thing at all? I have a ton of work and money into this switch to just give up now - plus my love for this car is why I'm doing it all anyway! Thanks for any input. Andy

Andy

Oh I see, its all related to the auto tranny vacuum and associated linkage. Sorry, hopefully someone will know, thats outa my "swap" area. I ran into allot of small glitchs that had me scratching my head a couple times, but not this. Sorry

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

Andy
I'm surprised nobodys come up with any answers, how are you doing?
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Steve

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

Hey Stevo - thanks for asking - I'm fine but the car is another story. I can not get anything to line up with the throttle position. By the dealers books, there might be a rod that replaces the existing linkage for an automatic. Even they could not decipher the diagrams. The car I saw at the salvage yard (only 79 I saw) did not have vacuum to the trans.? I don't know how this unit shifts but it might be the answer for me. In need of wheels, I went out today and bought an 83 380SEL. 205 thousand on it but no rust and a very solid runner. Needs shocks and AC work. I gave the guy 1300.00 for it! He was in a bind and took the money. We'll see who got the deal as time goes on. I like it though. My first v8 Benz and it runs very well. As far as the 240D goes, I'll keep looking while I drive this car. I sure don't want to sell my 240. I'll have to post a pic of it. Thanks for the help, Andy