The worn-out manual tranny that I installed in my wagon finally failed. After two years, seven months and 42,000 miles of retreving parts cars, pulling my pig-cart trailer and buzzing, rattling irritation it failed last night in Manor, TX when shifting to 2nd gear after a stop.

I'm a truly blessed man because it couldn't have happened at better time and place since I had spent the ENTIRE day in the car, hauling my 75 year-old father to his various medical appointments. Other than the buzzing and rattling, there was no warning. I shifted 1 -> 2 there was a 'pop' and she quit pulling. Thank heaven for a AAA "RV Plus" membership; the tow truck took me, the car and the dog straight home and we rolled it right into the shop.

I've known for a long time that the output shaft on the transmission was in bad shape and actually have a spare 4-speed on the floor of the shop for this sort of thing but, when I came across my 5-speed a while back I figured that it would be better to go straight to the fiver when I had the the time to do the swap. I guess I have the time now...

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

It did let you down gently...
You have to admit that dragging parts cars home with a 120 hp engine sorta puts a big load on a transmission...
So, did you find the last straws ? Pictures up from the Straw Stacking ?

Yep, I was lucky that it didn't happen yesterday morning on the way to Temple, between Roberts and Pettibone.

I don't think a tranny in good shape would have failed from the towing. That particular box was trashed when I installed it two years ago...I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did. The straw pix are still in my digital..I'll post today. I'm still looking for the last straw but I'm a lot closer to it than I was a week ago.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

The five speeds are rare to find? I was dreaming of a five speed for my newly aquired 84 300dt.Ive seen a 240d which had the 4 spd missing at a junkyard ,some other mb nut is hunting at this yard and Ive got to be quick or else.I arrive every mon. morning to check for any yard parkers that didnt make it.I was thinking, what a waste of good engineering, I could build a pretty descent generator out of one of these 240d motors,I hope to do just that next yr.

Chicken teeth are far easier to find than a five-speed that will fit on a 616/617 engine.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Someone posted from another site about a five speed trannie from a volvo working,you ever heard the like.R LEO , this is dave from the centerville meet in july,that orange 240d still treating you too many miles of free travel?I had my 79 yellow wagon their,it got a new owner over the weekend ,but Ive aquired other mbs from her sell.

Not that odd

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BENZ THERE DONE THAThttp://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...c/progress.gif
15 VW Passat TDI
00 E420
98 E300 DT
97 E420 Donor Car - NEED PARTS? PM ME!
97 S500
97 E300D
86 Holden Jackaroo Turbo D
86 300SDL
(o\|/o)

I spent part of the weekend determining exactly how long the driveshaft's stub end needs to be and, deciding how to go about shortening the shift rods on the 5-speed so they'll work on the Wagon.

Inspired, I rolled out of the sack early this morning and hauled the driveline pieces to San Antonio; Thrash sez the driveshaft should be done by Friday and, I'm pretty sure I can get everything else finished by then. Hopefully, I'll be driving a 5-speed by this weekend.

YAY!!!

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Thrash called this morning and said the shaft will be ready tomorrow (1-26-07) will drive down early to get it...last night I cut the shift rods, made their coupling sleeves from thinwall 1/2ID steel tube and fitted it all in place...looks good. Will post pictures soon.

The 1/4 steel tab I fabbed as an extension to the mount still needs to be drilled for the rear mount and the bolthole on the end of the tranny. I'll find a big-ass drill on the way home this evening...

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

with a 5-speed...

...it's just too fine in my head.

...it's just too fine in my head.

...it's just too fine in my head.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Lucky dog

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

I had a 1976 BMW 2002 that had the splines on the output shaft truncate one day when I was doing a less than gentle takeoff. BMW had a newer design on the shaft and tranny yoke and it was easy enough to put in.

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Doug

1987 300TD x 3
2005 E320CDI