interested in converting 300cdt from automatic to manual
 

I'm wishing my 1982 300cd was a manual...faster pickup, more control. Can this be done? Pluses, minuses anyone?

Thanks.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...atmansmall.jpg

I'm wishing you'd go take a look at that trunk badge...... :D

plusses are that you will lose about 100 pounds in weight, minuses are that you have to spend a good 8-10 hours removing your old tranny, and installing a new one with shifter, master/slave cylinders, pedal cluster, and new speedo cable and other stuff related to this swap, and spend some good money on it, too. more plusses are you never have to worry about tranny oil again, or about vacuum modulators and all that crap

guys, it's becoming apparent how batman got his 8k+ posts. it's with brilliant observations like the ones above.

hey, jimmy, what's the badge on the batmobile say?

Do a search, there is plenty of information regarding this swap.




.

Well put

if it bothers you so much add Jimmy to your ignore list. my guess is you will miss the information he provides.

to the OP, yes it is a lot of work to swap, but I really enjoy my coupe with the 4 speed, if you are really motivated, swap in a 2.47 rear, that has been as good or better change as the 4spd

Last time I checked, manual transmissions still had fluid that needed replacing at regular intervals.

yeah, you're right, they do have fluid, but you only have to worry about replacing it when you do a clutch kit. let's just say, if your manual trans feels good shifting into gear, you don't have to worry about checking fluid levels or anything fluid-related, so that's a plus

nah, i'm just instigatin'

Jimmy,

I'm not looking to race, just to get on the highway with a little more power and better fuel economy. I've read enough to know that they made the 300cdt in Germany with manual transmissions.

What's your point anyway Batman?

What is wrong with a little tonge and cheek humor? don`t get your knockers in a knot :P.

Charlie

The Trunk Badge of Truth

He's battling the myth of the extra T. Your trunk doesn't say 300CDT on it, just 300CD.

Back on topic. So, lutzTD, does the 300cd have a slightly shorter wheelbase, for reference when modding the various parts?

When I did mine last April, I pulled the engine and trans as one unit. or as others have done, drop the auto and install the manual trans.

I prefere the first way.

Get all your parts together, a donor car works, but I got all mine from the JY off a 84 240D. put my list together as to what I needed, and it all went together w/o too many problems.

Pilot bearing
flywheel
flywheel bolts
clutch disc
pressure plate
throwout bearing
slave cylinder
master cylinder
peddle assembly
rubber hose to supply MC fluid from the brake reserve for the hydraulic system
two metal clutch lines.
one from MC and through floor under accelerator peddle.
second from slave clylinder, over trans., and connects to first line.
shifter assembly and shift rods.
front section of 240D driveline
240D metal X mount off a 240D with automatic trans.

think that is it.

pretty much plug and play except for having the driveline cut and balanced and having the flywheel matched balanced to the automatic FW.

will have to shorten the shift rods, bend and thread them to fit.

You will also get rid of a lot of vacuum lines.
the accelerator peddle is a lot smoother now also.

You have the 3:07 Diff and I have the 2:88. you will have a little better acceleration. I have no complaints with ours. and I have picked up 2 1/2 to 3 mpg. 9-14-09 coming back from Cottage Grove, Oregon the Lathrope,Ca. I got 31.94mpg.

Charlie

I went out tonight to the Bat Cave and lifted up the cover on the Batmobile. There are no numbers, it just says "F.U."
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...Batmanhead.jpg

Thank you to those that recognize this for what it is: my simpleton forum "bit". However, it IS the proper nomenclature. ;)

I don't know either why so many people insist on adding the rogue "T" to the trunk badge. We know a '82-'85 W123 is a turbo unless it's a Euro and if it was, you'd probably tell us that. My '76 has a "Biodiesel" logo - does that mean it's a 240DB? :D

It's interesting how the MB diesel enthusiasts that seek out these cars now often prefer the manual transmission. I think it makes these cars so much more fun to drive. When they were first sold, though, I guess MB was catering to the rich folks (i.e. people who could afford a new Mercedes) here that didn't want to bother with shifting or never learned how. Volkswagens, diesel or otherwise, were rarely found with an automatic until recently.

I absolutely enjoy the manual transmission in the 240D (even though it is in need of rebuild). I agree, the only thing better would be to have it mated to a 3.0 engine with a turbo. I fear though it's going to be harder and harder to find 240D's with manual transmissions as they are all being swapped into 3.0 cars!

And of course I'm still really sad I didn't buy that red 300D Euro with turbo engine swap & 5-speed on eBay a few years ago...

That`s great Jimmy. :laugh: :laugh4: :beerchug: :thumbsup: :grin: :lol: :laughing: :clap:

Charlie

since you want to nitpick on 300dt or 300cdt, isn't the Bat Cave indoors, not out? it is, after all, a cave

(guys, if this doesn't bother jimmy, i don't know what will :D)

dude, switching the D and the B in your 240BD makes you so rogue it's crazy, brah

Don't confuse Mercedes Benz with MBUSA. Mercedes made these cars with stickshifts, manual A/C, cloth interiors, solid roof, ... but MBUSA didn't import them so that the cars would not move down-market into common car range. Marketing decision.
MB made plenty of stickshifts.

Thanks Batman, I get it now...300cd sir. What would we ever do without the caped badge enforcer?

Thanks for the list of parts. That's really helpful.

The hunt is on...

LOL. apparently his bat-antics are beginning to get on everyone's nerves

Knickers!

Cheese! first the tdt thing now this!:P

I have a coupe with four speed. Its great. It has the 240d flywheel though and my 240/300 with the actual 300fw shifts much nicer.

So, moral of the story, is try to get a 300 flywheel for better shifting?

And...feel the shame of being new enough to the game to add the extra T and move on. Poor batman must go nuts every time he looks for parts online, as all of the parts stores, or most add the T.

"Poor batman must go nuts every time he looks for parts online, as all of the parts stores, or most add the T."

Those are obviously not the parts houses to buy from.

Nah. I just expect myself to know the proper way to refer to my Mercedes. I don't expect clerical folks to get it right, just as the first Mercedes Benz secretary who unknowingly started adding rogue "T's" to official MB paperwork, much to the horror of the engineers I bet......

Being a purist starts with appreciation, so I guess I'm on the road...and consistently under the hood, and the dash, and inside the doors, the trunk, and under the car. There's nothing like the joy of grease and being in over your head and finding your way out on the other side.

Andele
 

keep up the good fight Jimmy. i support your efforts.
when i first read this thread i spotted the CDT and thought ... there is another person without the appreciation of what they own.
my point is ... if you love these cars...address them as they should be.
my two centavos...

Pelon,

You are so wrong. I'll cop to being clueless, but will not accept a righteous stranger telling me I don't appreciate my beloved 300cd beast. You clearly don't know the time and love I have put into restoring this car...so...check yerself cowboy.

Simply stated but well put.....


My guess is that Katchung has a fine appreciation for these cars, just hasn't learned the finer points of correct terminology..... ;)

righteous stranger
 

maybe that should be my new name???
i know if i didn't call my wife by her proper name i would have lots of explaining to do.... kind of the same analogy.