Ok so if I am going to be pulling engines and trannys for my rear main seal / clutch replacement what is the feasibility of swapping my 4 speed manual for a 5 speed manual? My tranny could probably use a rebuild anyway. What is the deal with the 5-speed?

Thanks!

John M

Off the top of my head... no REAL knowledge to base it on I would say that if you are keeping the 240 engine that you would not have the power to use the 5 speed... that you would be lugging the engine in that overdrive 5th.. and that would be a very bad thing...

I reserve the right to delete this post if anyone with knowledge says differently.. Greg

I wish I had a 5th gear for my 240D as it always sounds like it needs to shift again, mine has more than enough power to use another higher gear.
My wife and I both have caught ourselves trying to shift again, motor really rev's high in 4th gear, especially after 80+ mph! But everyone says I have an odd ball MB 240D. It'll run 94mph wide open. from stop within 2 mile stretch 90mph is obtainable,
With that 5th gear, I bet I could bury the speedometer!
So, let me ask, how strong running is your car at say 75mph?

The other fellow is right by saying you don't want to lug the motor, that is VERY Hard on any engine, but especially a diesel!!! You can Destroy a diesel engine fast by lugging it.

I run a quite high cetane rating of fuel, so my engine runs at top performance. Most people don't run the Amoco Premium and Diesel Kleen mixed to the max strength. I do and the car really performs nicely! Timing advancing can also increase performance, but have to be careful. Most diesels will run a bit stronger at 3 deg BTC. And if it soesn't spark knock can god to as high as 5 deg.

These might be telling questions on this subject:

1. Did the five speed ever come stock on the 240?
2. If it did... was the rear end ratio different than with the four speed ? Greg

accidently posted this as a new message. Sorry - newbe error.

My 240D runs really strong on the higway. i cam pretty much bury the speedo needle on the higway (approx 90 mph) and when I get above 75 mph I just about go deaf from engine noise. Thats why I am considering a 5 speed as well as aded fuel economy. What I would like to do is keep the same gear ratios as my current 4 speed but have the option of a 5th gear for higway cruising at higer speeds. Did a 5 speed come on US models? What about euro models? Does anyone know the respective gear ratios? has anyone ever done or considered this swap seriously?

thanks!

John M

Maybe what you really need is better sound proofing.. TCane has done a professional job under his hood and Bill took pics of it yesterday,,, maybe he will post those here .... Greg

PS. Your driving too fast.

I've seen one 5-speed 240D. I think it was a Euro model. Don't know anything about what gear ratios etc. it had.

Out of curiosity, how difficult is it to come across a 5sp tranny? I know that finding a car with one installed is not an easy feat, but what about just the tranny? Also, is the 240 bellhousing bolt pattern similar to the 300 (i.e. could a tranny that would fit behind one also fit behind the other)?

For the area that I live in, a 300D turbo is just about essential...otherwise I'm gonna get run off the road. But a 5sp manual tranny would be nice...I'm assuming 5th gear's an overdrive?

Has anyone attempted a swap from an automatic to a manual?

__________________
2001 VW Jetta TDI, 5 speed, daily driver
1991 Ford F-350, work in progress
1984 Ford F-250 4x4, 6.9l turbo diesel, 5 speed manual
Previous oilburners: 1980 IH Scout, 1984 E-350, 1985 M-B 300D, 1979 M-B 300SD, 1983 M-B 300D
Spark-free since 1999