What manual transmissions will fit a 1983-300D Turbo?????? Hoping for a 5 speed manual however interested in just what will bolt up and are there any balance issues and what is the solution if there are issues???? thanks Jim

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James A. Harris

Jim, if yer talkin about 123 tubro-diesel they changed to complete bell housing/tranny unit circa 1981/82 - but bell housing units are interchangable with same bolt holes going back to '78 w123 240D 4-spd....... ther's the good news.

Bad news is circa '80/81 they retooled with offset flywheel bolts, so earlier donor flywheels wont fit later engines. Plus the flywheel is factory ballanced to crankshaft so replacements will never perform as original equipment. Everybody neutrally ballances donor flywheels and hopes for the best. If you want 300D flywheel then need one shipped from Germany. And more bad news: yer gonna be needin to shorten and ballance the driveshaft. There's somebody in Owensboro specializing in this.

Hope this helps and glad to see you my old friend. And lemme know if yer ever in market for 240D 4-spd engine/tranny combo, got one in parts car storage.

Is this the other car you had John??? What kind of condition is it??? What do you want for the car ??? How are things out west??? I hope you are doing well... Give me your address and I will send you a 116 book... I will get you the info and you can decide if you want it... Jim

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James A. Harris

This is the '79 china blue 4-spd 240D rusty rat with deer smashed front. Mechanically speaking, probly the finest MB I've ever owned. It's had synthetic oil with regular changes since 108k miles (when i bought it), now has about 195k on the clock with lots of life. An excellent operative drivable parts car, VG engine donor in storage at Ft.Knox. Sold the other one, near immac Germany bring-back long time ago.

Drove home cross country in 116 last week. Told myself awhile ago, I'd own and drive just one MB at a time. Engine/tranny combo in the 240D super rat is worth $500 to me or trade for 116 parts like 14" alloy hubcap rims and matching brown painted hubcaps to replace bundt cakes, original MB radio etc. I think ye got alot of work cut-out for yerself converting an '83 to stick shift. Hope all is well at Indiana and no more tornados knockin down the barn.