California vs. Federal Transmission

[Science and Energy]

Does anyone know the difference between the Federal and California auto transmission? I know the pan is different and that is about it. I have a California version.

[Dan Stokes]

Interesting! I know the regs fairly well and I can't come up wih any reason that they should need to be different. I'll be watching this thread and see what we learn.

What year, model, etc?

Dan

[Science and Energy]

My 300D turbo is from 1985.

[Stuiie]

I know there are cars specifically produced to be sold in california and there are cars that are produced to be sold in other states.
I had a '79 Buick that was a federal cars for smog test purposes I got the car from my grandfather many years ago he had bought it new in Conneticuit.
But I had never heard of a tranny being produced to be only sold in Cali.
Ill be watching this thred as well.

[Zulfiqar]

the 85 model used the 722.4xx transmission - which I believe uses the same pan gasket etc as other 722.xxx transmissions.

[mach4]

Originally Posted by Zulfiqar

the 85 model used the 722.4xx transmission - which I believe uses the same pan gasket etc as other 722.xxx transmissions.

That's correct as far as the use of the 722.4 transmission, and it uses a different gasket from the 722.3.

[Jeremy5848]

I had a 1985 300D-T (CA version) with a 722.4 transmission and never heard of any differences. OP, where did you get this information?

[Science and Energy]

Originally Posted by Jeremy5848

I had a 1985 300D-T (CA version) with a 722.4 transmission and never heard of any differences. OP, where did you get this information?

I don't know if there are any differences besides the different pan. I would assume that if the transmission is physically different from the outside, there may be some appreciable internal differences. I am curious because I will be swapping it out for a four speed and want to know if I am in for any surprises which makes my swap different from the ones I have read about here. This might include subtle bearing differences (I know the 85's is already a tight fit) or an inaccurate speedo when I am done.

Anyone know the gear ratios of the auto vs the 240's manual?

[junqueyardjim]

You worry to much. Mercedes Engineering is way ahead of you - they undoubtedly had it all figured out correctly before you were born. It is a plug and play deal. They got that from the computers. If you don't change the differential and don't change the speedometer, you will be good to go. However, after driving that beasty five mile with a 617 Turbo and the 240D rear axle ratio, you better upgrade that differential to something like a 2.88 ratio, and again, get the speedo out of the same car. There are no tight spots. There is room for everything. Then life will be good!

[Science and Energy]

Originally Posted by junqueyardjim

You worry to much. Mercedes Engineering is way ahead of you - they undoubtedly had it all figured out correctly before you were born. It is a plug and play deal. They got that from the computers. If you don't change the differential and don't change the speedometer, you will be good to go. However, after driving that beasty five mile with a 617 Turbo and the 240D rear axle ratio, you better upgrade that differential to something like a 2.88 ratio, and again, get the speedo out of the same car. There are no tight spots. There is room for everything. Then life will be good!

I already have the 2.88 rear diff in the car from the factory. The car is an 85 300DT. The donor is the 240. I have learned that the speedo connects at the final drive and that the RPMs on the highway will lower only slightly (maybe 200 RPM) from less transmission slip (no longer a fluid connection).

[charmalu]

Final drive is 1:1 for both the automatic and 240D 4-spd manual.

The crank hole is 34mm for the 85 617.952 engine. all previous years the crank hole is 35mm. so the stock Pilot bearing will not fit into a 85 crank w/o some modifying.

The pan gasket for the cali model is like what Mach4 shows above. I ordered a filter pan gasket kit a few years ago. the filter fits, but the gasket is different like the later transmissions. as I remember doing some searching, like the w201 and w124.


Charlie