380SL transmission swap - how difficult?

[300sdToronto]

I have a dodgy transmission in our 1982 380SL - one clutch pack on the way out, another showing signs of starting to go and a front seal or torque converter seal fluid leak (quite bad).

I've had quotes locally in the range of $3000 to $4000 to rebuild it, which is about as much as the car is worth in today's depressed market A rebuilt transmission sourced from someone like Sun Valley seems to be the way to go.

The engine runs great and I am considering pulling the engine as the easy way to replace some of the accessories at the same time as doing the transmission - starter, water pump etc., and throw away the AC as we never use it in a convertible.

Can anyone give me comments on the difficulty/time required to do this? I haven't seen any DIYs in the forum or pictorials on this job for a W107.

Cheers!

[AlexK]

Hello 300sdToronto

I got a 380sl 1981, and got my transmission rebuild last April this year.
Those quotes of $3000 to 4000 are outragious! I got a quote in Vancouver for $4700. Beats your quotes.
There are others that will look at your stuff, just take it in to their shop for a minimum of $2000. Then there is no way out because once your are in their domain, they will charge what ever they want.
Here is how I got it done:
-I made a deal with my local mechanic to pull the transmission ready it for transportation and re-install for $1000.
-Took the transmission from Vancouver Island to Portland Oregon.
-The shop garanteed to completely service it or replace it with a rebuild, and that took 10 days.
-Drove to Reno Nevada for some gambling.
-Came back to pickup the serviced transmission, and paid the shop $1650. No Sales Tax paid, as Oregon does not collect Consumer Tax.
-Got a warranty, and a letter stating that the transmission got U.S. parts in it. Important as to get it back into Canada.
-Got the transmission across the Canadian border with $1500 exemption (my wife and me excempt for $750 each, and you have to be out of Canada for a week).
-Gave the CBS a sobstory of a trashed transmission, and they waived the excess $150 (they are more interested in Guns, Booze or Cigars).
-Got the transmission re-installed.
-Total price $2650

-Runs like a charm.

[nobby]

Originally Posted by 300sdToronto

I have a dodgy transmission in our 1982 380SL - one clutch pack on the way out, another showing signs of starting to go and a front seal or torque converter seal fluid leak (quite bad).

I've had quotes locally in the range of $3000 to $4000 to rebuild it, which is about as much as the car is worth in today's depressed market A rebuilt transmission sourced from someone like Sun Valley seems to be the way to go.

The engine runs great and I am considering pulling the engine as the easy way to replace some of the accessories at the same time as doing the transmission - starter, water pump etc., and throw away the AC as we never use it in a convertible.

Can anyone give me comments on the difficulty/time required to do this? I haven't seen any DIYs in the forum or pictorials on this job for a W107.

Cheers!

I pulled my manny trani a couple of years ago by myself with the car on floor jacks.

On a scale of 1-10 it was a 7 only because I was by myself and trying to line up the pilot bearing was a *****.

Having said all that, you have an automatic. I would imagine that most things are similar in that:

You need the car a minimum of 21" off the ground (measured from the rocker panel to the floor)

You need to remove or at least telescope the prop shaft after all the pans and brackets are out of the way.

Not sure with the 380 but the exhaust system my need to be moved.

Starter removed...which is a fun job in itself.

You will need a good floor jack...I made a nice transmission holder out of a piece of plywood bolted to the floorjack and a couple of carriage bolts picking up some tabs on the trani

You will need an additional jack to raise / lower the engine as you try to re-mate the engine and trani.

It's time consuming and somewhat uncomfortable doing all this on your back.

[meltedpanda]

Nobby is correct, the job itself is pretty striaght forward but you don't need to be a novice and you need the right tools and lifts ( space too) then of course your tranny needs transported to a repair shop or you need to source a good used one, which in itself can be a bit tiresome.
Dont guess I was much help, just the facts...

[300sdToronto]

Thanks guys. Your comments reinforced my opinion that this would be a possible, but not very nice job to do at home - and I would have to invest in some tools probably to do the job safely.

I have a friendly and competent indie here in town who does excellent work on older Mercedes. I may get a price from him to swap the tranny and I will source a rebuilt unit myself.

Cheers, rl