Trans swap
 

I’ve done a search, and have a good handle on this, but any last advice before I start yanking is always appreciated. I’m looking to replace the transmission from my ’85 300D with the trans out of my ’79 300 parts car. Torque converters the same? Can I leave the one on the 85 intact and just change the trans? That would make life a lot easier. There is nothing wrong with the trans in the 85, except the fact that it is out of an SD, which of course has an electric speedometer and mine is cable operated. I go to work between 1 and 4 AM and I have to drive through three little towns here in Northwestern CT and their police force has nothing to do in the middle of the night other than shoot radar and gather ticket fine cash. So not having a speedo really freaks me out. I bought this cobbled up mess of a car (my 85) and I’ve been fixing thing slowly for almost a year. :mad:

Kudos to all the people on the forum and thanks because all of you have been so helpful, most of the times not even being ware that a post or comment can help out.

Thanks,

Frank

You're going to put a non-turbo transmission behind your turbo engine? I think you're better off with a dead speedo.

Even if you can pull a tranny with the torque converter bolted to the engine there is significant risk in installing a tranny with the torque converter bolted to the engine. I don't think you can align it and you risk damaging the input shaft and front seal.

Sixto
... stay tuned

Mark the tach in 4th gear mph.

Sixto
... stay tuned

I think you are better off with what you have. The '79 300 is likely to be a 4-bolt oil pan 722.1xx whereas you have a 6-bolt 722.3xx now. I do not think the TC's are the same- I think the one on the 722.1xx tranny has much more slender "fingers" (more likely to break, IMO- check the EPC). Perhaps you can find the back end from a 300D tranny that has the mechanical output and put that on yours- maybe even under the car (?)

Rick