Just wondering out loud. I have my 86 with the 5 speed for sale. Sold it two weeks ago, but since have not heard much, but the weather is bad here and in Chicago, so some things can wait. But then I start thinking again. Should I pull that 5 speed and have my Indy change over the needed parts from the 5 speed with the starter wart on the left to the 4 speed with the wart on the right side. I am not positive of the transmsission numbers now, and I have a bad flu/cold so I am not about to check them out for sure, but I think that the 83 240D is a 716.2 4 speed and the 300E 717.4 5 speed. Transmission cases look identical. Would the driveability increase significantly with the 5 speed behind a good running 617 turbo. I have one objection to the four speed and that is with using rear differential from my previous 85 300D automatic, I do find that first gear and reverse gear on the four speed are very high and when you need high torque, like for climbing it up on wheel ramps, it is hard to find the power. It is OK for normal running, but starts kind of like you might be in second gear and so I tend to slip the clutch a little more then I like to. Both transmissions are in great shape! What is your opinion?

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Junqueyardjim
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. C.S. Lewis



1983 Mercedes W123 240D 4 Speed 285,000 on the road with a 617 turbo, beautiful butter yellow, license plate # 83 240D INDIANA

2003 Jaguar Type X, AWD. beautiful, good mileage,
Mom's car, but I won't let her drive it!

I've been thinking of doing this to the wagon. I'm a highway runner, and my math says that the .80 5th gear ratio would take my rpms from 3200 to 2700 at 75 mph. 2700 is a hell if a lot quieter. Hate to screw with originality though.

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- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

Jim, the 5-spd from first to fourth is about the same. Fifth gear is an over drive.

The 5 spd manual from a W124 or a w201 has the starter wort on the left side. The OM 616 and OM617 engine need a transmission with the starter wort on the right side.

You won`t be able to swap gears from one box to the other to make it work. JB3 already tried to do that. However he did cut the front 3" off the 4 spd and 3" off the 5-spd bell housing. then welded the 4-spd ring onto the 5-spd. there is a long thread on this, I`ll go look for it and post it for you.

If you are using the 2:88 differential in your 300D, then ya it is geared pretty high in first and in reverse. On a very steep incline it is difficult to get it going. maybe the 3:07 would work better.



OK found it:

How to adapt a W201 5-speed to OM616/OM617 applications

Here is another approach to getting it to work.

5 speed manual om617

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

It would allow you to switch to a 3.07 while lowering your highway RPMs and raising your 1st-gear RPMs. I would do it.

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"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

Well thanks for the info guys. Sounds like more of a job then I thought it would be. Then my potential buyer for the 86 5 speed just PM'd me saying he has just been to busy, (hey that is really good in this day, to busy) but that he will be down shortly to get it. So I will forget about the 5 speed and concentrate on a complete new AC for the sweet little car, go everything new with 134 freon.

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Junqueyardjim
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. C.S. Lewis



1983 Mercedes W123 240D 4 Speed 285,000 on the road with a 617 turbo, beautiful butter yellow, license plate # 83 240D INDIANA

2003 Jaguar Type X, AWD. beautiful, good mileage,
Mom's car, but I won't let her drive it!

Jim here is some manual Transmission info.

Manual Transmission information

Charlie

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

Seeing as we're collecting manual gearbox thread here are two of my offerings (well first one was initiated by something I saw for sale over here - second one is living the dream man! - That's taking stuff to bits of course)

Kit to allow use of 5 speed W124 manual gearboxes in a W123

717.412 (5 speed manual gearbox) refresh

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

And on the gearing guys, it is a little high. But I don't think it will ever stop me from getting it to where I want it to go. I have smelled the clutch on it only once-you never get used to the smell of fried clutch, so we just stay away from high clutch loads. And I really do like that 2.88 RA for running on the highway.

__________________
Junqueyardjim
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. C.S. Lewis



1983 Mercedes W123 240D 4 Speed 285,000 on the road with a 617 turbo, beautiful butter yellow, license plate # 83 240D INDIANA

2003 Jaguar Type X, AWD. beautiful, good mileage,
Mom's car, but I won't let her drive it!

The 5 speed from the W124 is a very smooth shifting transmission and I would say it may be the smoothest manual transmission I have ever driven and I have driven quite a few. I would swap it into a Diesel W124 before trying to mate it to the OM616/617.