Hello,
I have spent 100 bucks on a 1981 240d automatic with a good body and bad motor. I have an excellent running spare 617.952 engine on a crate in my garage.
Does anyone know if this is a feasible conversion for me to mate this 5cyl motor up to the 4cyl automatic tranny with 4 cyl torque converter?
I have searched extensively on this board but couldn't find anything. I know many have gone with the manual conversion, but this one was the one I found and decided to go for.
Anyone know of any other considerations with this motor swap into the 240?
Thanks in advance,
Adam Bush

I can't say for sure, but I fully expect that the transmission will work, but will be in a different position requiring a different driveshaft, mount location, shift linkage difference and so on.

You will also need different motor mount arms and many other small pieces. Personally, the only way I would do this swap is if I had a donor car setting in my shop next to the recipient.

Good luck,

the differentials are different.

i would research that because i know a guy who did a 300/240 engine swap and somehow it did not run right.

__________________
Jennifer
90 350sdl

I just compared the motor mount arms from my '83 240D with the arms from the 617.952 (from an '82 300CD), and found no geometry differences. The only difference I can find is the shock mount on the left arm, but my chassis would have to have a bracket welded to the crossmember to take advantage of two engine shocks. Worth doing?

__________________
'83 240D with 617.952 and 2.88
'01 VW Beetle TDI
'05 Jeep Liberty CRD
'89 Toyota 4x4, needs 2L-T
'78 280Z with L28ET - 12.86@110
Oil Burner Kartel #35

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1...oD/bioclip.jpg

They call this type of work a labor of love because that is the only way you can justify it. Even then, unless you have the two cars sitting side by side and can swap parts you may fall out of love quickly.

These cars are priced dirt cheap and it is probably better to buy what you want than to build it. If you are in it for the greasy cussing, fussing and beer drinking, then have fun and don't count the hours.

except for the driveshaft needing to be shortened, no tach on the 240 and a slightly different exhaust down pipe it should be a dropin. if there is a gorilla knob for a 1981 240 you will possibly need a different key switch. i didnt think 240s has engine shocks but others say they do.

don

My '83 240D had 1 engine shock on the right side. The 300Ds apparently have 2, one on each side. The 240D chassis has no crossmember bracket to bolt the bottom end of the shock. I'm not sure if it is required - it would be a simple fabrication.

I've read most of the archives regarding this swap - it seems like the 300D driveshaft should drop in, instead of shortening the 240D shaft. Is this correct? I can't see paying for a custom shaft when a bolt-in is available...

And what is a "gorilla knob"?

__________________
'83 240D with 617.952 and 2.88
'01 VW Beetle TDI
'05 Jeep Liberty CRD
'89 Toyota 4x4, needs 2L-T
'78 280Z with L28ET - 12.86@110
Oil Burner Kartel #35

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1...oD/bioclip.jpg

yes a standard 300d drieshaft would work better

the gorilla knob is the pull knob on older 240s opening the fuel line to the ip and energizing the glowplugs. i dont know when they went out of style for the 240.

don

"i didnt think 240s has engine shocks but others say they do."

Some did , some did not, it depended on the year and the transmission..

The FSM also shows how to retrofit one if you qualify as to the transmission type....

all mine does is avants the ip .. like pushing the go peddel down just a little