Is there a differenc in transmissions between a regular 300D and a wagon.
 

The tranny went on my 1981 300TD.

Can i replace it with one from a 300D.

Or is it a different somehow.

Thanks.

Yes, in 1981 only they used what was basically a 300sd transmission (electric speedo) in the wagons. You can swap over the tailpiece to the 300d one.

Remember that MB used VIN numbers when changing forms of parts..
Be sure to check for the way in which the shifting is accomplished around that time...
( vacuum question )....my 1979 wagon trans did not fit TxBill's 1980 MB...

The 1981 300TD used the 722.303 transmission, which is the same transmission that the W126 chassis 300SD used for most of its production run. You can put a 722.315 transmission in there from a 82-84 300D Turbo, 300CD or 300TD Turbo, but you'll have to swap out the tailcones to accomodate the 1981 300TD's electronic speedometer. If you want to save yourself the labor involved in a tailcone swap, look for a 722.303 from either another 1981 300TD Turbo or a 81-84 300SD.

Or you can swap the speedo in the dash and use a normal cable. Retaining the electric speedo isn't absolutely necessary and adjusting a new odometer to match the old is fairly easy.

Sorry to be dim - but would this work the other way round - fit a 722.3 transmission to a car that previously had a 722.1 - but keep the mechanical speedometer?

Army-

Yes, the transmission will bolt up just fine to the engine, but I don't know if the 722.1 and 722.3 box lengths are the same, nor if the driveshaft connection (tripod) is the same. You would have to come up with a Bowden cable lashup to replace the bellcrank arrangement you have now. Some variants of the 722.3 had a mechanical speedo. I don't know much about the availability of 722.3xx in Europe, but I assume there must have been some 300Ds there that had auto boxes ( but they may have had 722.1s?). The 722.3 is a better gearbox, IMO- the TC is less likely to fail.

Rick

Thanks Rick - yet again I need to apologize for another bit of (almost) thread jacking - Cheers

Not quite correct.

722.3's from 1980 300SD models <at least> use a different adapter plate behind the flywheel, so the top two bolt positions do not match engines using 722.1 models. I'm not guessing as I have both sets of parts on the floor in my shop.

The lengths, however, are the same.

I was amazed by the shift in bolt position -- for no apparent reason. Must've been
wrench clearance.

OK now I am really confused. My 1980 300SD has a 722.120 transmission. I thought that's what they all had,

W116 300SD models used the weak 722.1, thats why they had overload protection that prevented extra torque from turbo boost under 2000rpm.

Well I have a tranny from an 82 300d ready to go.

Wish me luck.

I have run into the same trouble.

Switched out the adapters and all was well, luckily.

And my non turbo OM617 1981 W123 300D (what a mouthful but I want to be clear!) has a 722.118 transmission.

Is anyone out there able to post the part numbers for the adapter plates?

I have a 1981 300D with a flaring (2-3rd gear) 722.1 transmission (123 2703701 722.118 ??):
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5030/...b5a9b9a1_z.jpg

And, a 722.1 from a 1980 300SD (w116) available to replace it (116 2702301 722.120 02 02???):
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5308/...9b3842c2_z.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5253/...a813bfb6_b.jpg

The 300SD had 300k+ miles when the tranny was removed. Is there a difference between the 116 and 123 versions? Will it work? Should I try? Thanks...