240D 4-speed manual swap in 300CD - Page 5 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

winmutt · #61 12-19-2007, 08:00 AM

Ive never heard that the brake calipers bolts are one use. They are plenty beefy for the application.

gavin_leslie · #62 12-19-2007, 12:27 PM

Just keep talking guys...Im taking notes.

Gavin

Stevo · #63 12-19-2007, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

I use the red loctite but not a lot.

Tom W

Tom, I have used the red but never had the experience of having had too come back and "undo" it. I was thinking of using it on that little center bolt on the early vacuum pump diaphragm for example. (very little torque required). Any insight?

t walgamuth · #64 12-19-2007, 01:23 PM

I just use red because my favorite machinist said it was the one to use. I know there is one that is for when you NEVER want to take it apart and another which is less strong than red.

As far as the vac pump, I have no recommendation. I just don't know if it is a good application or not.

Tom W

winmutt · #65 12-21-2007, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gavin_leslie

Thats right...its not gonna fit. Manual tranny is set up for a square shank for the speedo cable and the one out of the auto is a long rectangle. Awesome.

I suppose the "solution" to this is to get the speedo cable from the donor car as well if you happen to have a car that comes with the rectangular male end on the cable....but thats not what I did. I busted out the dremmel again and started grinding away at the speedo cable(which isnt easy as it spins).

The square fitting in the transmission is made of plastic. Its width is also thicker than the speedo shafts rectangle so I couldnt just grind down the rectangle to make a square. It wouldnt fit as it would be too small(or wouldnt fit for long until it wore out a larger hole and started spinning. What I did was grind the ends of the rectangle to a 45deg point. and then inserted it on the diagonal of the square. That provided a lot more meat to hold onto and made things more secure.

I too had a similar problem I went to autohauz az and I think I have found a solution. In my case my 85 had a square end on both sides of the cable and a slotted end on the 78 transmission. I was able to find the correct one and it is sitting on my desk at home. I will let you know how it works out for me. Total cost was $20ish.

I should add here that I called them and they told me to put instruction in the shipping for the order regarding my specific needs. It sounds to me that you need an 85 cable. Either way I just specified what I needed and the shipping guys will verify it before reshipping from their other warehouses.

TheDon · #66 12-21-2007, 10:22 AM

eagle-co94

hint hint

gavin_leslie · #67 12-21-2007, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winmutt

I too had a similar problem I went to autohauz az and I think I have found a solution. In my case my 85 had a square end on both sides of the cable and a slotted end on the 78 transmission. I was able to find the correct one and it is sitting on my desk at home. I will let you know how it works out for me. Total cost was $20ish. It sounds to me that you need an 85 cable.

Thats a pretty reasonable price. I was thinking about doing a junkyard run(theres sure to be a 50%off sale during the new year...spare manual transmission?), but if I cant find one there I will look into picking one up from autohauz.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

eagle-co94

Ok, I think you have me at the disadvantage here. Im guessing this is a part number for the speedo cable? but which company and which cable(square or rectangle tipped)?

EDIT: Im a dumass....User member eagle-co94 http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/members/eagle-co94.html DUR!!! :s Still though, how does this relate?

Gavin(still a n00b)

Stevo · #68 12-21-2007, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gavin_leslie

The only thing really left is the front springs. The car sits about 1/2" higher in the front than it does in the rear. I was planning to trim a dead coil off the front springs but no one seems to have a coil spring compressor locally to rent. Ill take my time with that as its not mission critical right now.

Gavin

I wouldn't do anything about the springs for a while. These cars take a while to "come down" dont ask me why

gavin_leslie · #69 12-21-2007, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevo

I wouldn't do anything about the springs for a while. These cars take a while to "come down" dont ask me why

I might be changing my mind on leaving this alone from some quick glances of other w123s around town. Seems that they have a bit of rearward rake to them sitting at ride height. This make a bit of sense that the added height of the rear would allow the plush springs to absorb 3 adults in the back and a trunk full of luggage without scraping the ground

Ill have to remeasure again to see really how high the front of the car is.

Gavin

winmutt · #70 12-21-2007, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gavin_leslie

I might be changing my mind on leaving this alone from some quick glances of other w123s around town. Seems that they have a bit of rearward rake to them sitting at ride height. This make a bit of sense that the added height of the rear would allow the plush springs to absorb 3 adults in the back and a trunk full of luggage without scraping the ground

Ill have to remeasure again to see really how high the front of the car is.

Gavin

Measure from the center of the wheel to the fender.

TheDon · #71 12-22-2007, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gavin_leslie

EDIT: Im a dumass....User member eagle-co94 http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/members/eagle-co94.html DUR!!! :s Still though, how does this relate?

Gavin(still a n00b)

I was hoping he would see the thread.. He just bought a W123 240D with a 4 speed to do the swap into his chop top CD

eagle-co94 · #72 12-29-2007, 04:17 PM

I saw it...just fixing my SS and wife's wagon from the break-ins 2 weeks ago. I'm pulling the 240D apart today and checking to make sure I've gotten everything. Would hate to miss something and have to try to track down the necessary parts.

Newb here too, but not to cars. I coverted my '96 Impala SS to a T56 6-speed, and my wife's '94 Caprice Wagon is also converted to a 6-speed.

bmwpowere36m3 · #73 12-27-2009, 12:22 PM

I have a question about the neutral safety switch. Off my donor 240D manual, the pedal assembly has both switches on the brake and clutch. My initial thought was the clutch switch was the "safety switch," like many manuals you need to press the clutch to start the car. However the switch doesn't work for the neutral safety wires (violet and violet/white) on my '80 300CD auto, which need to be "closed" to start.

So my question is what is the clutch switch for, the cruise control system? Did manual cars have a clutch safety switch? I could just connect the two neutral safety wires, but I like the clutch safety feature if possible.

charmalu · #74 12-27-2009, 01:28 PM

Does your doner car have cruise control? I would think that is what it is
for. I don`t think the 240 came with a safety start switch for the clutch.

Charlie

bmwpowere36m3 · #75 12-27-2009, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charmalu

Does your doner car have cruise control? I would think that is what it is
for. I don`t think the 240 came with a safety start switch for the clutch.

Charlie

I don't remember, but the pigtail for the clutch switch was piggybacked to the brake switch...