300D into 1971 220D/4sp??? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

BluEyes · #1 10-29-2007, 02:48 PM

I've got a '71 220D 4 spd car. Completley love it, but 60hp and 3.92 gears doesn't work so well with modern highways...
Lo and behold I have found a '79 300D with a bad trans and body damage for cheap. Hello more power and 3.46 gears! Assuming the engine is decent, what is involved in this swap? Also, will the 220D trans hold up to the buckets of power I'll be getting from the 300 motor?

Oh, and can this be done without cutting/welding the car? It's been in the family since the 70's so don't want to do anything irreversible.

dieseldiehard · #2 10-29-2007, 03:30 PM

forget it. The 617 engine has an oil filter housing that will land right in center with the steering box. Even if you were lucky to have a retrofit oil filter made up youwill need a flywheel for the stick trans/clutch (very hard to find!) then there are other things to deal with, the heavier weight for one, you'll need new springs and shocks to handle that and a new exhaust system built to order
All it takes is money and lots of it.

#3 10-29-2007, 03:32 PM

Ditto. It would be more time than it's worth for a non-turbo engine.

Find a good used W115 240D or 300D engine and swap it in along with the 3.69 (Or 3.46 for the 300D)rear end.

BluEyes · #4 10-29-2007, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dieseldiehard

youwill need a flywheel for the stick trans/clutch (very hard to find!)

So the 617 motor doesn't even use the same flywheel as the 615? Figured they'd have more in common. Oh well...

ForcedInduction: What's the difference between a W115 300 and a W123 300 motor?

t walgamuth · #5 10-29-2007, 07:23 PM

I think the oil filter houseing may be interchangible. I also think the flywheel will interchange, but the 115 300 has a different manifold setup, so you may need to find some of those, but I am pretty sure the basic block and motor on the 115 and the early 123 motors is the same.

But it will not be a direct bolt over.

If that all seems insurmountable you may be able to trade for what you need.

Tom W

300SDog · #6 10-29-2007, 10:55 PM

Unless 220D is dead engine why bother?

Nightmere laundry list of adaptations will probly include ignition key switch, glow plug electric relays, muff system custom built front to back, custom engine mounts, external oil filter jury-rigged on fender well. And possible shortening of driveshaft plus custom trans shift linkage if 5cyl engine doesnt fit existing engine bay without pushing trans/drivetrain back a couple of inches.

Or here's another idea: talk to me next month over the holidays when I'm nearby at Kentucky. If yer 115 4-spd 220D has manual sunroof option then i might be talked into trading my 90mph w116 300SD for it. Have always wanted to own pre-73 115 4-spd diesel regardless of em bein slower even than 240D.

JimmyL · #7 10-29-2007, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BluEyes

It's been in the family since the 70's so don't want to do anything irreversible.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselDog

Or here's another idea: talk to me next month over the holidays when I'm nearby at Kentucky. If yer 115 4-spd 220D has manual sunroof option then i might be talked into trading my 90mph w116 300SD for it.

Based on his very important sentence above, I doubt he would care to even try and talk you in to that.....

Just a thought.

BluEyes · #8 10-30-2007, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyL

Based on his very important sentence above, I doubt he would care to even try and talk you in to that.....

Just a thought.

Yup. Don't need 90mph out of this car, got others for that, but 70 would be nice. Sounding like a 300 swap is more work than I want for this car. It's not a project car, just Grandma's nice old Benz...

Might have to see if the guy will part just the diff and find out how bad 60hp is with 3.46 gears. As it is, I'm in 3rd by the time I've crossed a 5 lane intersection unless I'm trying to keep up with traffic. I'd need the speedo gear to keep my odometer reading correct, right?