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  #1  
Old 03-08-2006, 12:42 PM
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Overdrive for the 123 series?

Since the 123 5 speeds are hard to come by... I wondered if anyone has thought about adapting a Borg warner overdrive to their benz?

I used to have 60 willys Jeep wagon with a Borg Warner ( studebaker) overdrive adapted to the transfer case. ( see pic)
I was at a car show lst year and saw the same overdrive adapted to the rear differential making it a clean easy install rather than at the rear of the trans.
I'm wondering if there is enough room for an overdrive mated to the rear output flange?

Anyone think I'm nuts?

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Overdrive for the 123 series?-463f8110.jpg   Overdrive for the 123 series?-borgwarner2cb.jpg  
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Old 03-08-2006, 01:38 PM
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I think

It's a pretty good idea, but where to find one of these overdrive units is going to be problem #1. There are other possibilities like a Ranger OD, I think?
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Old 03-08-2006, 01:58 PM
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I still have the jeep one and I found another at a Trans shop .

Still wondering if I have the room or would it be easier to adapt latemodel Chevy car 5 speed to a benz bellhousing? the input shaft diameters and spline fits a Mercedes clutch disc and pilot bushing perfect. I got pics if any wants.

A trans adapter and a custom pilot bushing(longer) to make up the space for the adapter would be pretty easy. Just thinkin out loud again
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Old 03-08-2006, 05:50 PM
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Just make sure the engine does not drop below its peak torque level or the engine may bog down on the highway.
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  #5  
Old 03-09-2006, 01:24 AM
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I've seen quite a few OD units installed on 80's Volvos. They should not be hard to come ny.
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Old 03-09-2006, 01:42 AM
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Overdrive would be absolutely kickass.
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Old 03-09-2006, 08:58 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ForcedInduction
I've seen quite a few OD units installed on 80's Volvos. They should not be hard to come ny.
Those are Laycock overdrive units. There was one in a TR-6 I owned back in the 1970s pretty neat unit but, it had to be moving in 3rd or 4th gear to work right (to shift, they use hydraulic pressure from a pump on the output shaft). They're part of the tailpiece on the Triumph tranny but some conversion may be possible...plus, I think they're compact enough to fit under the tunnel of a 123.

Laycock de Normanville OD
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Old 03-09-2006, 11:42 AM
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Laycock Overdrive-

I have 3 of these units- one installed on my TR-4a and one on the Spitfire- and one on the shelf that I rebuilt years ago ready to be plopped on a Triumph tranny I also rebuilt years ago. The Spitfire unit (type A) is smaller than the TR4 unit (type D) and the one's you see in the later Volvos are type J's. They are kickass on the Britcars and make them fun to drive at speed.

The problem with all of these is that you would need a longer mainshaft in your transmission. Anyone know where to get one of those for a Mercedes?
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Last edited by rs899; 03-09-2006 at 11:58 AM.
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Old 03-09-2006, 11:45 AM
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anyone consider gear vendors overdrive units... http://www.gearvendors.com/ not cheap but they splice in between the trans and the rear differential.....
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Old 03-09-2006, 01:06 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bennett
Since the 123 5 speeds are hard to come by... I wondered if anyone has thought about adapting a Borg warner overdrive to their benz?

I used to have 60 willys Jeep wagon with a Borg Warner ( studebaker) overdrive adapted to the transfer case.
In case you look for parts looking for "Borg-Warner OD" will get you the deer in the headlights look from a parts house. That unit built for use with the Dana/Spicer-18 transfer case was built by Warn not Borg-Warner. Parts and brand new units are now manufactured by Advance Adapters under the Saturn OD label(not Studebaker). Can you a adapt it to a Benz? Sure with time/skill and money anything can be done. Is it worth it?
On a side note if you're axle gearing is higher(numerically lower) than say 3.30:1 or so you'll never get any use out of it. You'll be too low in the power band of the motor so you'll either be lugging it or shifting out of OD constantly. If your gearing is in the 3.60 range as I think the 240D's w/5 speeds were you'll be fine.
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Old 03-09-2006, 02:41 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jseries
In case you look for parts looking for "Borg-Warner OD" will get you the deer in the headlights look from a parts house. That unit built for use with the Dana/Spicer-18 transfer case was built by Warn not Borg-Warner. Parts and brand new units are now manufactured by Advance Adapters under the Saturn OD label(not Studebaker). Can you a adapt it to a Benz? Sure with time/skill and money anything can be done. Is it worth it?
On a side note if you're axle gearing is higher(numerically lower) than say 3.30:1 or so you'll never get any use out of it. You'll be too low in the power band of the motor so you'll either be lugging it or shifting out of OD constantly. If your gearing is in the 3.60 range as I think the 240D's w/5 speeds were you'll be fine.

I am familiar with the Saturn overdrive. The Borg Warner Unit was made many years before Warn or Saturn came online.
http://www.vernco.com/51wagon/id58.htm
I never implied the BW was made by Warn either...and no the Saturn would not be worth adapting.
The BW units I have seen used came from a studabaker vehicles( Saginaw perhaps) and mounted factory behind many of the factory 3 speed transmissions. http://www.classictruckshop.com/clubs/earlyburbs/projects/t85n/rebuild.htm
Mine was removed and adapter plate made to fit the trans case. I cannot see how a Saturn could ever be used in anything other than a dana spice T-case. However my suggestion was to mate the BW overdrive to the rear pinion and shorten the driveline. It would give you approx 15% overdrive IIRC.

My car love to cruise at 60 mph so with a overdrive I could be right at 70mph at the same RPM
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Last edited by bennett; 03-09-2006 at 02:48 PM.
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  #12  
Old 03-09-2006, 10:47 PM
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Bennet,
What late model Chevy 5 speed trans are you using? Borg Warner T5? That would be a really neat conversion. You say the clutch fits the input shaft? What about adapting a MB bellhousing to the T5 instead of the adaptor plate? RT
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  #13  
Old 03-09-2006, 11:55 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rwthomas1
Bennet,
What late model Chevy 5 speed trans are you using? Borg Warner T5? That would be a really neat conversion. You say the clutch fits the input shaft? What about adapting a MB bellhousing to the T5 instead of the adaptor plate? RT
I'm not using a 5 speed ... just thinking a trans adapt would not be that difficult considering a chevy input shaft fits the benz clutch and pilot like a dream
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Overdrive for the 123 series?-cruiser-017.jpg  
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  #14  
Old 03-10-2006, 12:00 AM
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i am aware

of the studebaker ods and the volvo ods and have wondered on occasion if they are similar enough to perhaps interchange. they look a lot alike from pictures i have seen.

i had a gear vendor unit on my 85 ford one ton van with 6.9 diesel. i suspect it would be too large to fit on the front of the diff or any place else on a benz without floor pan surgery.

it is a neat unit though.

tom w

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