replaced trans, rebuild it, swap it?
 

My 87 300D is down again. This time for the trans. Fluid pouring out the front of it, = the front seal. This transmission has 260k on it, so it's had a good life. Even after topping it off, It's still slipping so, it's going to need a full rebuild at this point. Now, do I go ahead and have it rebuilt? I don't have the tools needed to do this job myself, and no one has a press etc to rent.

I have a 94 gas trans sitting here with no reverse and 200k on it, again, full rebuilt.

Also have a transmission out of my old 85, with a bad front pump, but was a strong trans. Could I just swap the pumps? Are they the same trans?

Or do I shop around and buy parts to to a manual conversion... which some say I may not be happy with anyways... (from some of the threads I've read of those who have done it)

Pay to buy a rebuild and send them mine back as core?

What are my options?

Car's up in the air, ready to pull the trans now.

Well, no replies, but leaning toward rebuilding it. looks like a master rebuilt kits about 250, another 150 for the tools I need (cheap ones). Plan on pulling it this coming weekend and doing it if I have the parts in.

No replies because not to many people rebuild them. From what little reading I have found, it takes a great deal of precision to do it successfully.

Please document the rebuild if you do it. I would be very interested in seeing the process, and possibly tackling it myself one day

At first when you're a mechanic at MBZ (at least the dealer I was associated with) didn't first think you were quite worthy of training. You were on a trial period to see if you were quick, and didn't make a lot of mistakes in between. You had to pick things up quick with little time to ask the old timers questions although you could ask some between breaks or lunch.

Think of us as the old timers and ask us questions in between the rebuild. I have faith you can do it. After your first time, you'll have 100% confidence. Just have some going in or you won't get anywhere. ;)

Who says they didnt like a manual swap on an 87??

Thats a great direction, and the manual is super duper easy to rebuild as a special bonus

If you've got the time, I understand that the rebuild is really not too difficult. Go for it.

Personally, I have a '95 E300 which has a rather tired automatic transmission, and I REALLY want to swap in a manual transmission.

Can you elaborate on the "slipping"? I'm wondering how much life is left in mine, and what to look out for.

Well, it was shifting fine, nice and solid, without issue. Drove it back and forth to work and hour each way for 2 weeks, then drove into town on that saturday, and the trans felt like it was slipping a little on the way in... there was no pubble or anything under it when I left... got o town, stopped at DMV got back into car and suddenly it was slipping in every gear... took it to shop, they checked and no trans fluid.. (must have came out on the drive in) Filled it up and it just ran out the front...

Filled it up to get it on ramps at home, and couldn't do it. Ended up just lifting the car on jack stands again awaiting time to take out trans which should be this saturday.

I've never done this trans build before. I've done a bunch of chevy 700r4 transmissions etc, can't be too different. There is plenty of information out there and the full diagrams along with the shop manual, so I should be fine. I don't however have a parts washer... something I have been meaning to buy, may just look for a good used on in the area for this build.

Just going to take my time. Driving my 85 300D so no real need to rush, going to replace the rear engine seal while I'm at it.

Harbor Freight has a parts washer, but I don't think it is quality enough to handle the weight of some parts I would put it in there. It depends on though what you plan for it to handle.

Brake cleaner is good solvent as parts cleaner, just don't let it hit ANY plastic.

I'm going to build my own parts washer with stainless steel which isn't cheap, but it's going to be thick metal that won't rust after I blast it either and strong. Did you do the front engine seal too? If you didn't yet I know it's a hassle but do both. It's best to do this crap while everything is apart.

I rebuilt a 722.315 about 5 years ago . It really doesn't take any special tools (that you can't work around). It does take a lot of time and don't expect it will work right off the bat ( as the forum member I sold it to will attest to- he had to pull it once or twice to fix a minor goof I made). As far as I know, it is still working well (haven't had any hate mail). It has to be one of the most satisfying experiences to get one of those back together and working just about as well as new (if you replace what's needed)

Hey man. I also have a trans out of a 1987 300SDL. Different speedo setup tho. But, thought I'd mention it's here in case you end up needing it.