240D 82 parts into a 78
 

Hi, I have a 1978 240D and just bought 2 1982 240's. One of them has some rust, but a motor with 82,000 origional miles and runs great,but it's an automatic. The other is a manual with no rust, has 199,000 miles,has alot of damage to the body(neighborhood kids took a bat to it: no drviers side window, front grill gone, trashed windshield), and the motor has a knock. I want to make at least one good car out of all three. I'm familiar with the 78, which has 349,000 miles and is getting pretty tired(tons of blowby), but the body is in great shape.
Could I transfere the standard trans, motor and driveline from the 82's to the 78?
Or I could try to repair the rust on the one with the good motor, and put the standard in it, or just drive it until the body is no longer insetable and put the motor in the 78 or other 82.

What do you guys think??

Every thing is "swappable'. Put the best engine into the best body and use the manual tranny.

That does sound like the best option to me.

- Peter.