5 speed 300D turbo - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

cwdtmmrs · #1 05-01-2006, 04:45 PM

I just purchased a 5 speed trans from a 1985 280 to install behind my 300D turbo. (yes, it bolts up) I now have a 4 speed bolted up using a 240D flywheel/clutch. I am not sure I want to use the same arrangement with the 5 speed trans. I do have the clutch and flywheel from the donor 280, but it is much thinner and lighter than the diesel counterparts. I don't think the 300D turbo ever came with any kind of stick shift, but I know that the 300D non-turbo did. Does anyone know where to get a flywheel for a 300D non-turbo? Has anyone done this conversion before?
Thanks, Tim

Boardmonger · #2 05-01-2006, 06:15 PM

The euro 300d's have the correct flywheel as well as the 300gd's found in europe. I think some people find them overseas and have them shipped over to the states. It is pretty tough to find but it is possible.

t walgamuth · #3 05-01-2006, 06:31 PM

i think you will find that there is not much difference between a 240 and 300 flywheel. i have held both in my hands and they are very similar. both are usually neutrally balanced, but the fsm talks of balancing the fw and crank so perhaps some were done that way. to be safe i would have it spun to see if it is neutral.

cool. do you have the shifter and clutch too?

that should make a very sweet combo. i might use a 346 gear with a five speed. i had a four speed, 300 d na euro that i put a 307 rear end in and it was a bit high taking off. the 346 is what the manual 300 na euro came with.

tom w

cwdtmmrs · #4 05-01-2006, 07:02 PM

Yes, I have the shifter, rods, x-member ..everything. What I originally had was a 240D that I put the 300D turbo in when the 4 banger went at 350,000 miles. I tried all the gear ratios and did settle on the 346's. It still will break the tires loose from a dead stop. I would really like to try the 280 fw & clutch combo because the disc/pressure plate is bigger, but the fw doesn't have nearly the mass as the 240D fw. i am not pulling the crank and balanceing it with a new fw! My mechanic here ( a GOOD one) talks about a " double mass" fw for the Euro stick shifts. WHERE DOES ONE GET PARTS FOR A EURO CAR???
Thanks, Tim

Boardmonger · #5 05-01-2006, 07:32 PM

Euro parts generally come from europe

So you need to find someone who either goes over there directly for parts or knows someone who does. For me my plan is if my euro 300d motor dies I will simply put in a US 300d turbo motor so there is no part headache. In any case good luck in finding your parts. It can be tricky and it will likely take some time to find what you are looking for.

boneheaddoctor · #6 05-01-2006, 08:53 PM

240D flywheel is actually lighter than a 300D flywheel....but no I don't remember the exact weights.

t walgamuth · #7 05-01-2006, 10:04 PM

i dont know what a dual mass flywheel is but in my 300d euro the fw was neutrally balanced. there were no marks to tell where it attached. and we had to replace the crank because the po had buggered the nose. the repl crank came from an automatic us 300d, about a 76 or 77. we looked and looked for a way to differentiate the proper way for it to go and finally just bolted it on. it was smooth as silk.

i have a 280sl euro fw and a new clutch that i bought to use on my 300cd when i convert it to a stick, but it is 18# and a 240 fw is 28#, so after careful consideration i have decided to use the 240 fw even though the clutch is 8.5 instead of 9". it is a tossup though. if you want it i will sell you the 280sl fw for whatever i paid for it or less.

i am keeping the clutch for my 280e though.

tom w

cwdtmmrs · #8 05-01-2006, 11:39 PM

Tom, thanks for the offer, but I HAVE THE 280 CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL from the donor car. The fw is WAAAAAAY different than the 240D fw that I am using with the 4 speed now. The reason that I am looking for a 300D fw is because now when the car is in a "lug" condition, even a little bit, there is a driveline vibration the really bugs me. Yes everyone, I have had the driveshaft balanced, replaced the couplers, checked the motor mounts, etc, etc. I and my two mechanics are convinced it is from the 240D fw. I may try the 280 fw anyway just to see... the worst that could happen is a weekend wasted.
Tanks, Tim

Ara T. · #9 05-01-2006, 11:45 PM

So what is the gear ratio of the 5th gear? Really nice overdrive ratio or what?

cwdtmmrs · #10 05-02-2006, 02:58 AM

I saw the ratios in a book but can't remember the exact number. Not a lot of overdrive... maybe 15%. That would make the 346 gears the same as 294. Should be a perfect combo.
Tim

t walgamuth · #11 05-02-2006, 08:35 AM

the ones i have seen are about 18.6 % od i think.

i doubt that the 240 fw is causing your vibe.

tom w

cwdtmmrs · #12 05-02-2006, 11:05 AM

Tom, I went to the online MB service library and checked the crank/flywheel sections. It says " The flywheel for manual transmissions with engine 617 is heaver than that for engines 615 and 616. The flywheels can be identified by different widths (dimesion "c") 617=90.0mm 615, 616 = 74.0mm. Be sure not to use wrong flywheel with wrong engine." There is similar language about not mixing gas and diesel flywheels in the other sections. I would like to find a 617 fw although it may not matter anyway since the turbo and non-turbo cranks are not interchangable. But it is worth a shot. I can't believe that nobody out there knows where to get gray market parts.
Tim

fantom71 · #13 05-02-2006, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cwdtmmrs

I can't believe that nobody out there knows where to get gray market parts.
Tim

This is probably a silly question, but have you tried Phil here at the buy parts tab, for your part requirements? He has helped me a lot with my 300D Euro parts...

cwdtmmrs · #14 05-02-2006, 12:36 PM

Thanks Dale. I've got Phil working on it. Is your car a non-turbo?
Thanks, Tim

t walgamuth · #15 05-02-2006, 07:05 PM

why do you care if the cranks are interchangable or not? the fws are. and the gas engines of that era will bolt up too.

but it certainly wont hurt to find the elusive 617 fw. i priced one a few years back and at that time a new one was about $300. prob 400 now. but maybe a european supplier can get you a used one. here they would be as rare as chicken lips!

good luck

tom w