Have a chance to pick up a cheap ($400) 300D with what I think is a fixable tranny problem, leaky vac system, no shut off key, etc, how tough to put it in my crappy running, metal part dropping bad shifting tranny 300SD? I have access to an engine hoist and some wrenching buddies. Tough topic to search, getting lots of off topic hits....

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'84 300SD veg-oil bliss
'83 300SD veg-oil beater

There were no '86 300D's.

If its an aluminum head donor you'll need electrical system, computer, oil cooler, ... driveshaft may need to be altered, etc...

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Brian Toscano

I recently did an engine swap on 2 300Ds, to improve my wife's car. The double swap out and into both vehicles took 6 days (mainly on my own). I leased a factory unit for 2 weeks, borrowed an engine crane, gathered my tools, car stands, some tubs for draining engine & trans fluids.
Went without major probs although did have difficulty with A/C compressor spacers - which one goes where?
There was no documentation on the spacers.

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Tony from West Oz.
Fatmobile 3 84 300D 295kkm Silver grey/Blue int. 2 tank WVO - Recipient of TurboDesel engine.
Josephine '82 300D 390kkm White/Palamino int.
Elizabeth '81 280E, sporting a '79 300D engine.
Lucille '87 W124 300D non-turbo 6 cylinder OM603, Pearl Grey with light grey interior


Various parts cars including 280E, 230C & 300D in various states of disassembly.

Yep, misquote from the P.O., it's 12/84 on the placard, which I guess makes it an '85. Is it a CA emission setup when it has the out the wheelwell air intake with the big round air filter behind the pass. headlight?

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'84 300SD veg-oil bliss
'83 300SD veg-oil beater

Yes, it is. But that doesn't matter - it is still not a good candidate for your proposed transplant. The transmissions are too different.

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Rick Miley
2014 Tesla Model S
2018 Tesla Model 3
2017 Nissan LEAF
Former MB: 99 E300, 86 190E 2.3, 87 300E, 80 240D, 82 204D Euro
Chain Elongation References

Well, I'm planning to swap out the whole engine/tranny package, since every time I open up my tranny pan I keep finding more metal chunks...does that make it more doable? Or are you saying there are to many differences in to accessories that hook to the tranny like the speedo sensor and vac amplifier, etc...

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'84 300SD veg-oil bliss
'83 300SD veg-oil beater

No, it's actually worse that way. For starters, the SD speedometer is electric and the D is mechanical.

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Rick Miley
2014 Tesla Model S
2018 Tesla Model 3
2017 Nissan LEAF
Former MB: 99 E300, 86 190E 2.3, 87 300E, 80 240D, 82 204D Euro
Chain Elongation References

A 1985 300d t is a one year transmission if you want to swap it you will not be able to use a 300sd transmission. You can use an older 300d transmission but you will have to change the transmission lines to older ones and you will have to change the natural safety switch. I will be attempting this swap on my 1985 300d the end of next month. The only used 1985 transmission I could find and I tried at least 30 major wreckers was for $900 with a 30 day warranty if you search my name you will find several post about finding grey market import transmission for an 85 well it’s the same transmission in the CA 300d Turbo and that’s the only year they used that transmission. What a pain in the bottom.
Dave S San Jose CA

You might want to swap your manifolds and turbo from the old engine so you can be rid of that trap oxidizer. Use your old air cleaner as well as those large CA filters are expensive.

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012