I probably wouldn't go to the trouble JUST for the FW, but I usually get them when I pull a tranny, linkage, shifter, pedal assy, clutch, press plate, etc. All for about $150.

Yep. Not in the 123, but you can in the '87. Pulled one a while back that would've slipped right in there. Sold it to grimgaunt who in turn sold it to someone here on the board.

the 4 speed is currently bolted to a M115 (230) - i dunno if the bellhousing will bolt to the OM617... i get the om617 on wednesday. i can do more comparisons then.

thanks much,

-mike

OK, got it. The last two cast-iron trannies I pulled were from gassers and the bellhousing is EXACTLY the same bolt pattern (even had same P/N's as the diesel BH.)

You should be golden with that, IF you're installing in a 123 (616/617)

By 1982 or 3, they went to a one-piece trans case with the bellhousing integral with the case, so there is no "switching bellhousings" with anything later.

great news, and thank you yet again tom. it's going into a 230G (which share a lot of components with the w123).

the G uses a larger clutch 9" though, so i'm importing a 617 flywheel from germany.

An FYI
 

Those of you considering auto to manual conversions need to know that the automatics use a front shaft that is 10mm in diameter smaller than the one used with the manual. Now the thing I don't know is if the 240's use both shafts that are alltogether smaller than those used in the 300's.
Something worth looking into but I'm not sure how critical these differences can be.

A twist on the process?
 

OK, so I see that you can put a manual tranny behind a turbo 5 cyl, so here's my dilemma. I have an 83 240D manual (w/ a good body and interior) w/ a siezed engine. My husband has a wrecked 84 300sd w/ a good engine. How different from what has been written is the process of taking his engine out and sticking it into my 240D body and keeping my manual tranny? Am I going to have to beef up my front suspension? I assume there are still driveshaft issues? Thanks in advance for your help.

The mounts are the problem with putting a 300 turbo into a 240 chassis. It can be done, but hopefully someone around can weld. Also, the exhaust will have to be dealt with.

Mounts? I used 240D engine mounts and a 300D transmission crossmember. No welding unless the manual transmission crossmember is different from the slushbox unit.

old wive's tales?
 

So let's say I swap my engine out. I either heard or read somewhere that MB did not put a manual tranny behind their turbo diesels either in Europe or North America because the torque put out by the turbo'd engine would rip a human shifted tranny to pieces. First of all, does anyone know if this is true? Obviously some of you have a turbo engine w/ manual tranny, has anyone's good tranny met an untimely death due to excessive torque? Are there any maintenance issues above and beyond having a 20+ year old diesel involved? For all of you that have done this project, are these cars your daily drivers? How many successful miles on the "turbo X manual"?

Old300D, so are you saying you just bolted your 5 cyl into your 240 body? I assume you had an auto transmission? Did you have to move your transmission at all? Or deal w/ driveshaft, exhaust, suspension, etc? What fabrication did you have to do?

Thanks in advance for all your help.

Welcome to the forum!

On daily drivers...
Read this: One Year Ago Today

On robust transmissions...
Forget everything you've heard about the mind-bending torque of the oh-so-formidable OM617 ripping those poor manual trannies apart; it's just nonsense spouted by people that are ignorant of the true fortitude of these manuals. The 617 generates significantly less torque than the M110 or M116 engines, both of which have shared that same transmission in various chassis over the years (just not on this side of the pond).

And, use the forum's search function. There's a lot in here on manual trannies.

Ditto.

OK, all I know is that most 240's don't have the engine shock mounts that the 300 turbo does. Also, the rad overflow is missing on the 240, but that can be overcome. There was something else too when looking at doing this in an older 240, I just can't remember what we found?

Yes, my conversion has just one engine shock. If I wanted the second, I'd have to weld a support to the engine crossmember.

Lol! Not sure the turbo 617 has that much torque. I've done Nissan turbo conversions and stock trannies hold up to those conversions as well, even when the factory hp ratings are tripled. Yes, you read correctly, my 280Z turbo puts 419ft-lb torque and 313hp to the wheels, a tripling of factory ratings. No transmission issues.

Yes, the engine "just bolted in". I kept my 240D slushbox with 240,000 miles, and so far it's holding up just fine. If, or when it dies, I will be installing a unit designed for the turbo, but that day has not arrived. I had to use a transmission crossmember and front drive shaft section from a 300D turbo, as well as the exhaust system. I've not altered the suspension yet, but my upper control arm bushings are shot, so they will be replaced soon. I also intend to get 300D springs in the front to handle the weight of the engine, as the suspension does not feel balanced -- not sure if it's bad shocks or wrong spring rates.