I have a 76 115 300D with a bad automatic transmission. I have the opportunity to buy a 74 115 240D with a manual transmission that has a blown 4-cyl. Would it be easier to switch the engine into the 240 or the manual transmission into the 300?
Any advice would be appreciated.
Vince

My guess would be the transmission into the 300....but what do I know

Also could depend on which car you like better.

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99 E300 TD -- sold
01 540i 6 spd

If you put the engine inthe 240, you'll have to move the transmission and its mounts, modify the linkage and replace the driveshaft anyway. So, it seems putting the transmission into the 300 only requires doing this work to the transmission without monkeying with the engine. Of course, you'll have to deal with the problem of the difficulty of finding a 617 flywheel. You could do what others have done and just use the 616 flywheel on the 617 but it's not ideal.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Just my opinion, I think a lot depends on if one car is in substantially better condition than the other. There are good step by step instructions and guidance available for putting the manual in the 300d for example. You can look them up in the archives to determine how much effort is required and judge for yourself. That would give you an enjoyable boost in usability perhaps. That approach would be my personal prefference if the 300d were in equal or in better general condition. It kind of seems to boil down to what you want though. Remember you have all the parts on hand to go either way. At the end the satisfaction might be worth any additional effort involved. Remember also if you drop the five cylinder in the 240 you will almost have to transplant the taller rear end ratio over as well. Even if not at first I think eventually. It almost is an apples versus oranges situation. Again just my opinion.

In any case you will have to modify the length of the driveshaft unless you can find one from an automatic 240D.

In any case it is easier to take both engines, transmissions, drive shaft and differentials out. and then mix&match. so...

I would put the 4speed with the 617 in what ever body is best because you will have by now gutted both cars. You will have to transfer the whole differential with its respective engine.

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Aquilae non capunt muscas! (Eagles don't hunt flies!)


1979 300SD Black/Black MBtex239000mi
1983 300TD euro-NA. White/Olive Cloth-MBtex 201000mi. Fleet car of the USA embassy in Morocco
1983 240D Labrador Blue/Blue MBtex 161000mi

And it's a good idea to get the flywheel neutral ballanced. This will deffinitely add longevity to the 300 engine. Aint alot of 115/300D's that were imported, you understand, yours might be last of the mohegans here in midwest territories.

Meanwhile on account of additional hassle dealing with center console shifter and clutch pedal swap, I'd opt for tossing your 300 engine into the 240D chassis - all other factors, cosmetics etc being equal.

(edit: And then i would not trash the left over body shell if its rust-free. 114/115's price and value has taken a bump lately - even with 16mpg gasoline versions sometimes commanding better then $3k.