Dropping a 240d standard into a 300td - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

bplust · #1 01-30-2013, 07:46 PM

Hi all,

I have a 1985 300td that I'd like to put a standard into. There are several early 80's 240d's for sale in the area, and I was wondering if I would need anything else beyond a complete 240d to do the conversion.

Thanks in advance for any replies,

Bryan

Graplr · #2 01-30-2013, 08:35 PM

The correct flywheel is needed to do it properly. It is heavier than the 240D one and it is rare and a bit spendy.

bplust · #3 01-30-2013, 08:39 PM

Is it off of a European model? As far as I have seen, a standard 300td wasn't made in the US.

I have a friend who put a 3.0 liter in a 240d, using the standard transmission and the flywheel off of the 2.4 liter, but I wasn't there, so I'm not claiming that he did it correctly! However, he's been driving the car around for a year or so.

Thanks for the reply,

Bryan

disqo · #4 01-30-2013, 08:48 PM

The 85 617.952 engine also has a slightly smaller hole in the end of the crank that the pilot bearing has to fit into. As far as I know the correct size bearing does not exist and you will have to do something to make it work. I had the pilot bearing for mine turned down by a local machine shop. It was total trial and error and only took three tries to get it mostly right. It needs to be a press fit.

bplust · #5 01-30-2013, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by disqo

The 85 617.952 engine also has a slightly smaller hole in the end of the crank that the pilot bearing has to fit into. As far as I know the correct size bearing does not exist and you will have to do something to make it work. I had the pilot bearing for mine turned down by a local machine shop. It was total trial and error and only took three tries to get it mostly right. It needs to be a press fit.

Any idea if the 84 300td engine matches up? I have one of those, in excellent condition, in a parts car.

t walgamuth · #6 01-30-2013, 11:05 PM

Junkyardjim put his pilot bearing in the freezer and got it into his 85 crank without modifying it.

While the 300 flywheel is 38# and yeilds the finest shifts and very smooth idle the 240 flywheel will work just fine. Lots have done that swap and are happy with it.

I've done it both ways.

bplust · #7 01-30-2013, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

Junkyardjim put his pilot bearing in the freezer and got it into his 85 crank without modifying it.

While the 300 flywheel is 38# and yeilds the finest shifts and very smooth idle the 240 flywheel will work just fine. Lots have done that swap and are happy with it.

I've done it both ways.

Good to hear, and thank you for the reply. I am very familiar with the freezer / toaster oven methods of fitting things together, though mainly in the realm of chainsaws regarding engine rebuilds.

Does an early 80's 240d transmission mount without modification to the crossmember that the 85 auto and mounts sit on?

sassparilla_kid · #8 01-31-2013, 01:04 AM

Here is pretty much the most awesomely complete thread about the subject out there that I have found

Every single thing you need to convert to a four-speed

I'm planning on doing this in the next couple weeks, I'm just waiting on a 4-speed shifter to come in the mail now, and I need to order new flywheel and clutch plate bolts

vstech · #9 01-31-2013, 06:15 AM

the front driveshaft will need to be shortened from the 240... the shaft currently in the wagon will be too short.

t walgamuth · #10 01-31-2013, 06:42 AM

You'll also want to change the rear differential to the 369 gear ratio of the 240d.

charmalu · #11 01-31-2013, 11:01 AM

Tom, why would want to go to a 3:69? that would be far too low for his 300TD engine with the 3:07 Differential.

He wants to install a manual 4-spd out of a 240D. Not the engine.

You will want the transmission "X" mount from a 240D automatic. the 300D/TD mount used with the auto trans will not work. the 4 spd is shorter than the automatic, and you will need to use the next set of holes forward in the body for the bolts. so the mount will be a slight bit wider and uses 4 bolts.

The mount that the 240D uses with the manual trans is narrow and longer only uses one bolt on each side. I will not work either.

Everything is more or less plug and play, all the holes are there, no cutting or welding to fabricate things. However you will need to shorten the front piece of 240D driveline, cut the 3 shift rods to length, rethread the ends and bent and slightly tweek them to line up.

The 240D FW will work, that is about your only option. the 617 FW is out there is some Grey Mkt cars, might find one in the JY, CL E-Bay or here in the for sale section of the forum, I finally found one in PNP. they are as rare as Hens Teeth

There was one on E-bay forr $300 a while back, didn`t sell. I finally found one after looking for3 years.

The 240 FW is 28lbs and the 300 FW is 38lbs. the 240 will work, though there is some buzzing, vibration etc... in 4 if you lug it down a bit, but nothing terrible. different peoples conversions may have different results on this. Iam using a 2:88 diff and this may cause it a bit more, I don`t know. will know when ever I get the 300FW installed.

Go for it, there are plenty of write up on doing this swap. It will be a totally different car, in a good way.

Charlie

Stretch · #12 01-31-2013, 12:48 PM

Can someone decode the meaning of standard in the context of the thread title please? I would have thought that an automatic transmission would be standard in the US...

t walgamuth · #13 01-31-2013, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charmalu

Tom, why would want to go to a 3:69? that would be far too low for his 300TD engine with the 3:07 Differential.

He wants to install a manual 4-spd out of a 240D. Not the engine.

You will want the transmission "X" mount from a 240D automatic. the 300D/TD mount used with the auto trans will not work. the 4 spd is shorter than the automatic, and you will need to use the next set of holes forward in the body for the bolts. so the mount will be a slight bit wider and uses 4 bolts.

The mount that the 240D uses with the manual trans is narrow and longer only uses one bolt on each side. I will not work either.

Everything is more or less plug and play, all the holes are there, no cutting or welding to fabricate things. However you will need to shorten the front piece of 240D driveline, cut the 3 shift rods to length, rethread the ends and bent and slightly tweek them to line up.

The 240D FW will work, that is about your only option. the 617 FW is out there is some Grey Mkt cars, might find one in the JY, CL E-Bay or here in the for sale section of the forum, I finally found one in PNP. they are as rare as Hens Teeth

There was one on E-bay forr $300 a while back, didn`t sell. I finally found one after looking for3 years.

The 240 FW is 28lbs and the 300 FW is 38lbs. the 240 will work, though there is some buzzing, vibration etc... in 4 if you lug it down a bit, but nothing terrible. different peoples conversions may have different results on this. Iam using a 2:88 diff and this may cause it a bit more, I don`t know. will know when ever I get the 300FW installed.

Go for it, there are plenty of write up on doing this swap. It will be a totally different car, in a good way.

Charlie

Of course you are right. I got sidetracked thinking he wanted to use the 240 motor too.

Zacharias · #14 01-31-2013, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stretch

Can someone decode the meaning of standard in the context of the thread title please? I would have thought that an automatic transmission would be standard in the US...

"Standard" is used more commonly than "manual" to describe a gearbox in North America. Actually the most commonly used slang is "stick".

People will say "I was taught to drive a standard (transmission)" or "Yeah, I can drive a stick" rather than use the term "manual".

Stretch · #15 01-31-2013, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zacharias

"Standard" is used more commonly than "manual" to describe a gearbox in North America. Actually the most commonly used slang is "stick".

People will say "I was taught to drive a standard" or "Yeah, I can drive a stick" rather than use the term "manual".

Cool I learn something new nearly every day ('shame I forget so much these days though!)