Trans adaptors for OM 60X (should fit M103 / 104)

[97 SL320]

Came across this today, ( It would help my M104 to manual trans effort even though the kit is for an auto trans.

http://www.transmissionadapters.com/Mercedes%20diesel.htm


Chevy 700R4 auto trans to Mercedes
We also have a kit for the Following Mercedes diesel engines:
OM601 / OM602 / OM603 / OM604 / OM605 / OM606

These 4, 5, and 6 cylinder engines have a common bolt pattern on the block.
There are NO modifications to either the block or the transmission case, and is easily bolted on at home. This kit retains the original flexplate and starter.
The kit consists of the following items:

• 1 inch thick aluminum adapter plate
• Bolt set
• Mini-high torque starter
• Flexplate
• Crank adapter

All machined parts are American made. The cost is $725.00

Bendtsen’s Transmission Adapters 763 767 4480
13603 Johnson St NE, Ham Lake, MN.

[Alain V.]

WOW!

[Raffaelli]

This kit opens up alot of possible transmissions behind some mb motors.

Nice!

Question though. What to do about the driveshaft at the rear end. Make a spicer u joint flange to fit the mb diff?

[Motor Head]

97 SL320

You mention that the inline diesel and gas motors may share the same bolt pattern. Do you have drawings or dimensional data on the blocks? I am trying to verify before I proceed with the adapter purchase. My block is a M103 3.0

Thanks!

[97 SL320]

I don't have drawings. I'm thinking the trans adapter company has not tried to put a M103 / M104 against their parts. The M104 is a 24 valve head on a M103 block that got some timing cover / oil pan mods.

What are you building up?

[Motor Head]

I'm building a twin turbo M103 in a 1990 300SEL. I also have a 1991 Corvette which is getting an LS7 and T56 upgrade so I have a donor ZF-6 transmission. In stock trim it is rated at 450 hp which is plenty for my needs. The interesting thing is that the car came standard with a 700R4 automatic. The ZF-6 was an option from the ZR-1 of the same year.

So if the adapter kit we are talking about accepts a 700R4 then my ZF should be compatible. The big question I am trying to answer is whether the OM60x motors share the same bell housing bolt pattern with the M103/4 motors.

I also have a call into Sun Valley Mercedes Transmissions. If I can determine that the 722.3 versions for my car and say a 350 SDL are the same then I think we are home free.

I wish I had some of the fabrication skills that others have shared who make their own bell housings but I don't so an adapter kit seems like the most straight forward way for me. If I can definitively determine that the inline diesel and gas blocks are the same I will share that info.

[duxthe1]

The bellhousing on all of the above mentioned engines are the same.

[Motor Head]

Thanks for the confirmation. Sounds like you have some pretty interesting machinery in your stable.

[Mr_Goodkat]

Hello.


Old thread but this might be of interest.


https://www.smt.nu/5-v%C3%A4xlad-mercedesl%C3%A5da.php


Adaptor kit for swaping an old four speed mercedes box to a newer five speed mercedes box.


Did the conversion on my 1977 280 CE and was no problem what so ever. Did swap from an automatic to a manuall so was a little bit more work and did have to buy flywheel, gear leaver, pedal assambely and som other loose parts. Payed 4400 SKR or 486 USD for the kit.



There is also a company in Denmark doing stand alone controlers for the 722.6xx Merceds automatic transmissions, if you are a bit clever you could combine the controler kit and the adaptor kit an get a new five speed auto in your old Mercedes maybe?



https://ofgear.dk/index.html


Regards
/Stefan

[Motor Head]

Stefan,

Thanks for the great info. After my last post I got a call from Sun Valley Mercedes Transmissions and they confirmed the previous post that the 722.3xx bellhousings are the same for the M103/4 motors and the OM60x motors. So I'm good to go for using the kit in the beginning post on this thread. There is one consideration though for the crankshaft adapter portion of the kit. If the GM transmission you are using came from a GEN 1 small block with a two-piece rear main seal, the crank flange bolt pattern is 3.58". If the transmission is from a later GEN1 one-piece rear main seal application as mine is then the crankshaft flange bolt pattern has a 3.00" radius. If you want to keep the parts the same from the flywheel back that is important info.

Sun Valley also told me about the kit from Denmark you are talking about. They supplied a customer with a 722.6 and apparently the kit works very well. The customer also reported that the company in Denmark was very helpful during the conversion process.

[97 SL320]

Originally Posted by Motor Head

There is one consideration though for the crankshaft adapter portion of the kit. If the GM transmission you are using came from a GEN 1 small block with a two-piece rear main seal, the crank flange bolt pattern is 3.58". If the transmission is from a later GEN1 one-piece rear main seal application as mine is then the crankshaft flange bolt pattern has a 3.00" radius. If you want to keep the parts the same from the flywheel back that is important info.

To clarify this a bit. Only the GM flywheel or flex plate are different on the 2 piece / one piece rear seal. The transmissions are the same.

[Motor Head]

Correct. All GEN1 bellhousings are the same.