Project 300D, the 240D Mutation....... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JimmyL · #1 10-27-2006, 11:44 PM

I've been mildly preparing for this for the past several weeks. Well, tonight with the wife's help (believe it or not), I moved the 300D from the rock parking area, to my 6' strip of concrete in front of the garage. That Ford tractor is still my best diesel...

The project:
remove 5 cyl. with broken chain

, tranny, driveshaft, pedals, etc....
From my wrecked 240D (Scar), swap engine/tranny (manual), drive shaft, pedals, brake booster and master cyl., radiator, etc........ basically whatever it takes to complete the swap.
This car won't ever be worth much, but at least I own both vehicles, so cash outlay from here will be as little as possible. I just want a manual diesel Mercedes to drive, so I'll see over the next few weeks and months if I can pull it off.
This thread is just to document the journey, and see what happens. Who knows, if it ever is drivable, I may try to swap the entire manual climate "stuff" also. I've never pulled an engine before, much less a swap like this, but it will keep me from watching so much TV maybe.....

Wish me luck, and prepare for questions as I go.........

btw, 300D = 1977, 240D = 1981

JimmyL · #2 10-27-2006, 11:46 PM

The junk motor, the donor 240D, and it's engine....

#3 10-27-2006, 11:48 PM

I think that's the worst paint I've seen to date....

Humm... Most of us are going from a 240D and dropping in a 300D engine, not the other way around.

JimmyL · #4 10-28-2006, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

I think that's the worst paint I've seen to date....

It looks worse in person......

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

Humm... Most of us are going from a 240D and dropping in a 300D engine, not the other way around.

We all want what we don't have I guess........

yellowbenz · #5 10-28-2006, 10:38 AM

We all want what we don't have I guess........

[/QUOTE]

Truer words were never spoken. Keep the pictures coming.
Good Luck

Kevin
1979 240D manual
1984 190D manual

Hit Man X · #6 10-28-2006, 10:46 AM

Zomg, that paint is bad. lol

My SD had you beat there in the back, I had a H U G E dent in the trunk lid and basically primer from the factory there.

Lemme know if/when you need help. Extra eyes/hands are always good to have...

Volvo Diesel · #7 10-28-2006, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyL

It [the paint] looks worse in person......

If the engine/4spd switch goes down w/ no problems, you could always pull the decals, bumpers, moldings, etc., sand it down, then have Maaco spray it for cheap... Looks like a pretty straight body underneath the (admittedly God-awful) paint that's on there now. Looks like the 240D might have some of the door moldings, hood, etc. you would need to pull off a complete car. At any rate, looks like a fun project...personally, I like the idea of going from 5-cyl. to 4-cyl.--but I like wierd things, I guess.

Good luck, Jimmy!

iNeon · #8 10-28-2006, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

I think that's the worst paint I've seen to date....

I'm doing my *best* used car salesman voice here...

It'll buff out, right easy!

Take the paint down to metal on a few spots and get some rust going! Hoodrides are VERY in right now

JimmyL · #9 10-28-2006, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Volvo Diesel

If the engine/4spd switch goes down w/ no problems, you could always pull the decals, bumpers, moldings, etc., sand it down, then have Maaco spray it for cheap... Looks like a pretty straight body underneath the (admittedly God-awful) paint that's on there now. Looks like the 240D might have some of the door moldings, hood, etc. you would need to pull off a complete car. At any rate, looks like a fun project...personally, I like the idea of going from 5-cyl. to 4-cyl.--but I like wierd things, I guess.

Good luck, Jimmy!

It is a straight body, and I think I have the mouldings in the garage, but can use the 240's where needed. If I ever get there, cheap Maaco would be the plan. I only have 2 areas of rust. Tree debris got around trunk seam, and rusted drivers side rim, and it has about the worst battery tray rust imaginable. No body rot in the least. Seating surfaces are great, and you just don't see black interior in these things much. Weird.........
The electrical issues make me the most nervous, but there is little pressure with a project such as this.

Heck, if I get it running/driving then I have to come up with a name. It's always been "The Parts Car"......

Believe it or not, I drove SCAR (the wrecked 240) up and down the road a few times, and there is nothing wrong with a little 240D. Especially for those of us that have left our youth far behind......

JimmyL · #10 10-28-2006, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iNeon

I'm doing my *best* used car salesman voice here...

It'll buff out, right easy!

Once again you have made me belly laugh........

t walgamuth · #11 10-28-2006, 12:14 PM

no reason it wont work. though changing over the heating system is probably harder than the engine swap. to do it right you also need to change the rear end, which may be almost as hard as swapping the motor and tranny.

tom w

greasybenz · #12 10-28-2006, 12:18 PM

Looks like a cool project! And earl scheibs should help you out with the paint job

stcbenz83 · #13 10-28-2006, 12:22 PM

Jimmy,

how many miles did ur 300 have on it when the TC broke? was there any symptoms before it broke? like was it running rough?

t walgamuth · #14 10-28-2006, 12:39 PM

the vac pump may have failed and dropped parts into the timing chain which then broke.

been there.

tom w

JimmyL · #15 10-28-2006, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

no reason it wont work. though changing over the heating system is probably harder than the engine swap. to do it right you also need to change the rear end, which may be almost as hard as swapping the motor and tranny.

tom w

I'm not sure the rear ends are that much different. An NA 617 from '77, and an 81 240D. I'll have to look at that......

Quote:

Originally Posted by stcbenz83

Jimmy,

how many miles did ur 300 have on it when the TC broke? was there any symptoms before it broke? like was it running rough?

I bought the '77 with the timing chain already broken. The vac pump was fine as I've already removed it. The top of the guide on the drivers side is broken, but who knows if that was a cause or a symptom. I'll have to find the instrument cluster and see how many miles it had on it. I don't remember. But, the previous owner said it had about 12 miles on newly rebuilt injectors and tires when the chain went. Tires still had nipples, and are what has been on my wagon.......