Thinking about converting my 1987 300TD to a manual transmission...
 

I've located a 1986 300e with a manual transmission. All parts are intact on the car and it does run. What other parts would I need to get besides robbing them from the 300e? Flywheel? Driveshaft? I really want a manual tranny in my diesel.

Thanks!

Go for it, everything you need is on that doner car. The flywheel fits the diesel crank, and the propshaft will swap over. The only thing you might want to buy is a new spigot bearing and possibly a new clutch if the doner cars isnt great.

If I was in that far there's no way I would re-use the old clutch disk.

-J

Not quite that easy on the drive shaft. Compare the output flange on the transmission to that on the 300d. If they are the same size you are golden. Otherwise you will need to mix and match.

Pedals, linkage, fw, clutch (there are wear specs in the FSM), driveshaft, cross member, shifter, linkages.

You will need to hot wire the NSS (purple wires).


I have been very happy with my swap.

Thanks guys! Winmutt, have you noticed in increase in fuel economy? Not the main reason I want this swap, but it would be nice. Did your cruise RPMs change any? My auto turns about 3000 RPM at 80 or so.

33.4mpg on hwy is best so far.

Other than that I keep it spooled around town. Love the way it sounds after the cat and resonator fell of.

That's not to bad! I've got a 300e donor for 1000, sound like a good deal guys? It runs, just bad paint.

gear ratios
 

also consider the gear ratios and torque multiplication.. believe it not the gas MBZ have different gear ratios in the transmissions than the diesels so do some math first

...
who cares what the output shaft on the 300D transmission is if it's coming out of the car? the trans, driveshaft, etc from the E gets moved to the D for the swap yes? of course, the diff end could be a different size, so that might be an issue, but a solution would be to swap the diff also.

This too could be a solution however the gasser stock I had was a smaller yoke and a smaller joint in the middle.

oh, and I don't think 1000 for an E is that great a deal, the 190 trans is dime a dozen range, and is the same as the E... only bonus would be the correct driveshaft and flywheel... not really worth a grand to aquire. but if you've got the clams, go for it.

How much would it be to source a 190 tranny, a OM603 flywheel, a clutch hardware, and driveshaft separately? I'd rather not have to go as far for this 300e (900 miles) if I have other options. Any leads?

The flywheel will be the part that is worth it I believe. Talk them down from $1000. Plus find out what the junkyard will give your for it.

well gee I have all that stuff siting in my garage.

Well #1000.00 and 900 miles to get it is not really bad. Could be better, maybe he will come off the price a little. If the 300E drives it is better, if you have to tow it, it's more difficult. But it is really nice to have the 2 vehicles side by side on this swap. Just can't get any better then that. But if Ashedd has got everything you need for a price in Indy, that is only 400 miles, maybe less $'s also. The junker car has some iron value when you are finished, about $260.00 a ton. But you don't get that if they have to pick it up. I would suspect that the 300E flywheel would really be a lot lighter then a diesel flywheel. You better check that out.