I bet it was scary. Too bad the Flux-Capacitor wasn't charged up

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1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k

I know, right?

Ohh to travel to 1979 and be able to pick up replacement parts-- I'd fill the trunk-- Oh how I would.

But how would I fit a cabrio ponton in there?!?

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http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...Untitled-1.jpg

As silly as that is, fill the 240D with as much cash as you can and look up William Gates and Paul Allen's little startup company. You could get a few pontons with that.

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1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k

My 80 240D with 285000 on the liners, clogged injectors, and a first class head got 75 mph last year in Kansas. The front end is real tight and the brakes are ace (I did them). Very stable. I don't worry about revs on the flats, the o/h cam is designed to rev. I did put a homemade vibration damper on mine since the alleged factory engine shock absorber is missing. It would rattle my teeth when I bought it.
I've done new injectors and am ordering liners, but I'm thinking about supercharging since performance was so bad in colorado and there was lots of smoke to show fuel was adequate for more. 1 PSI might help a lot above 6000 feet. I won't go turbo, it destroys the oil. I've got access to an industrial blower, about 30 lb, and a surplus solenoid valve, 24vdc, 3", to shut off the atmosphere when the blower is on. I have a 3600 RPM 230/460 VAC 5 hp fan motor. I lack a 460 VAC 3ph drive or a 220 VAC inverter. I'm looking at a 10hp diesel pony motor in the ads, something to hook up on vacation and put in the garage when I am commuting to work at 20 mph.

The only thing I can think of is to make sure the engine tuning is optimum as a lot of these cars have been neglected. It does make a difference. Plus make sure to minumise the vibrations and noise with good mounts, hood pad, etc. In good condition they are somewhat quieter at speed in my opinion. Even the good ones are noisey to some extent though. The only sensible gearing change that a few of us 240d owners would like to have is the five speed transmission. Forget any rear end change you do not have the power to utilise it at all in my opinion. If you should come across a batch of five speed transmissions give me a jingle. I wonder why no one has brought up a pile of them in europe and shipped them home? Must be quite common there. I imagine it does make a substantial difference although I have never drove a 240d five speed. May even change the overall sensation at speed. They are pretty rare.

Yep, there was a 5-spd tranny for 123's on ebay last year..... fetched about $500. Unfortunately you've got to have the 5-spd driveshaft too.

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'80 300SD/ w116
'79 240D 4-spd
'71 750cc Guzzi

previously owned:

'83 240D 4-spd
'77 280SEL 4-spd
'74 280/8
'72 250/8
'65 220Sb 4-spd
'63 220Sb 4-spd
'63 190c 4-spd
'61 220Sb 4-spd
'60 190b 4-spd

Diesel dog, at this stage I think I would pay 500.00 willingly for a good complete five speed transmission for one of my 240ds. I was not aware of the requirement for a special driveshaft. Do you know if the one off the four speed can be shortened?

Heard some disasters shortening driveshafts, dunno who'd be qualified to do that kinda work. Psfred at Indiana got screwed on crummy driveshaft work that ended up ruining the car.

Plus overdrive 5th is not that tall and the rest of the gears remain pretty much the same. Dunno about you but am already driving on top of regular traffic flow at 80mph in my 4-spd 240D.

I've got a 2.88 in my automatic 240D, and I've gone over 100mph in Colorado.


Oh, I should mention I have a 617 turbo.

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'83 240D with 617.952 and 2.88
'01 VW Beetle TDI
'05 Jeep Liberty CRD
'89 Toyota 4x4, needs 2L-T
'78 280Z with L28ET - 12.86@110
Oil Burner Kartel #35

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1...oD/bioclip.jpg

I know somebody with an NA 617 Euro and 5sp tranny with EVERYTHING (pedals, linkages, driveshaft, etc...)
I would love to slap that in a 240 for the manual AC controls also. It is a serious consideration......

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

Is this where I mention that I passed on a 280e 5 speed euro for 700 dollars?

Before I start to regret it-- It was a dog of a car that smelled dead, needed a new ignition tumbler and keys, had rear-ended something and needed all the front replaced, had leaky rear suspension(hydro) and was about as rusty as the VW I had who's floor fell out on the highway?

It was a parts car with no useable sheetmetal or mechanical parts that I needed. Sad that I passed on it in hindsight, but it really did not have a single part that I would trust-- had 250k on it, too.

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http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...Untitled-1.jpg

Does anyone know why the 617 starts to sound like a gas engine after 1500 RPM, yet a 616 will sound terribly loud and "diesely" all the way to redline? I want to say its the injection timing, but the two engines have totally different characteristics. If you kept the hood closed, no one would notice the two engines are basically the same.

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1976 BMW 2002- 100k
1995 BMW 325i 175k
1984 Mercedes Benz 300D Turbo Diesel- 270,000 mi

1981 Mercedes Benz 240D- Estimated 300,000+ mi Returned to the earth

One cannot cruise with the AC on, in silance at 80mph evan up and down steep hills?

So how is one supposed to talk on the phone if the engine is screaming like that??

Sorry I can't resist, they are great cars but they have what 60hp??

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Yeah but what you're complaining about (excessive noise) is one of the bennies, hilarious special effects winding out the 4-spd 240D. Dropping and grabbing gears, its more fun than barrel of monkeys. And the power band is so narrow that you're constantly shifting gears - probly the most 'cell phone' unfriendly car on the road. Sorry but it takes both hands and both feet to drive one. Perhaps the last of the primitive old-world diesel sedans that makes uncommon demands on the driver, about as far as you can get from a point-and-shoot automobile that drives itself.

oh i dont know. i think the power band is broad. there is no power anywhere or everywhere....

now i am confused.

if equipped with a stick though a 240 is not that bad to drive. it is a momentum car. you just try to conserve your momentum once you have built up some.

tom w

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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.