I'm replacing the tranny in my 83 SD with apparently an earlier one. The outbound s/n is 247xxx, inbound is 089xxx. The point of topic is the early tranny isn't tapped for cooler line clamps on the bell housing flange ears. The bosses are there but I wonder what for. I suppose I can drill and tap since eyeball precision should do it but I wonder if I need them at all.

Sixto
83 300SD

I don't think you need it. The banjo bolts are pretty close to those clamps, so they are secured any ways.

Off topic, how does the main housing tail section compare to that 83 you have? I know later .303 had a different shape, but I never took a side by side shot of it.


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1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

Good question. I have them side by side but nothing caught my eye. I'll check tomorrow if there's anything worth showing in pictures.

Sixto

DV, I sent this also by PM

I took a close took at both .303s and I can't tell them apart. The differences are in part numbers. The original tranny case stenciled part number is 722 270 28 01 and the tail housing is 722 271 12 04. The tranny I got from you has case stencil 722 270 08 01 and tail housing 722 271 12 01. Since when did they change the last two digits for a revision roll?

I got an 016 997 04 48 o-ring which looks like it fits the Bowden cable the same way an o-ring fits the dipstick tube, but the Bowden cable has a slot in the ferule for a smaller o-ring. Both the original Bowden cable and the one in tranny I got from you have an o-ring in the slot. I don't want to bang on the cable cable again but I'm tempted to double seal.

Sixto
83 300SD

When I switched an early 303 for a later 315, I used the cooler clamp that mounts on the bellhousing bolt, rather than on the case. Don't know how necessary it is but, you know--it's a Mercedes and all.

The difference between the early and late 303 tailcones is a small extension on the flange that covers where the speedo gear oiler tube is on the 315. It is missing on the early 303 and I had to use epoxy putty to fill the hole (after removing the tube) when I mated the 303 cone to the 315 body. The extension is at about 10 o'clock looking at the cone from the rear.

I suspect that Mercedes at some point decided to just use one version of the cone casting for both the 303 and 315.

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1981 300TD 310k miles
1970 280sel 172k miles
1966 230 Fintail 162k miles

"Where are we going? And why am I in this hand basket?"

I am not sure when are the revision changes. Not sure anybody knows. It's probably something when you come across another SD, take a peek down there and track the info as you go.

Regarding the O-ring, it seems the 016 997 04 48 is not right. I would think the correct o-ring should be installed in the o-ring slot. Right?

__________________
1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

Yup, looks like 58 48 is the right o-ring for early Bowden cables.

About the tail housing difference, is it internal or external? If it's external, I'll take a closer look. I don't have a reason to pull the tail housing of the replacement tranny so I can't check inside.

Sixto

You can see the differences externally.
Taken from stretch's 722.303 photo shoot thread.
722.303 in bits photo shoot

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1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System