WTB shift rods for w123 617a 5spd swap
 

New guy here... I'm desperately trying to locate a set of shift rods to complete a long drawn out transmission swap. I have a 85 300d 5cl turbodiesel and am needing to connect up to a 717.400 trans. Anyone have anything that might work?

thanks

I have a set from a 190D 5 speed they work but they need to be adjust about a year and half ago I sold a transmission like yours 717400 and I didn't have the original rods and I send him a set from a 190D and he make them work he's name is Kavi I forgot his user name here

If you had a set of the correct rods to examine and copy could you then use them as a pattern to fabricate a set for yourself?

Yes I could

HA! That is good, but the question is really can the original poster who was looking for a set for his project!

dealer
 

When I received mine from the dealer for the 4 speed they were straight. I had to bend them myself to make it work. Thats the way they come. You have to make the adjustments.
I do have some welded ones for my uninstalled 617/717.400 setup. I could take you some measurements and a pic if desired. The dealer may help if you can give them the transmission Id. It depends on how helpful your dealer is. Mine here in Santa Rosa, Ca will help if they can.

Obama I was thinking you had a set and you wanted me to copy so I can sent it to the original poster

I do have a set from a 123 617 installation as part of a complete package, but I would not be willing to separate them and then end up like the original poster. If I where to make them available for someone to copy it would have to be with a substantial deposit because I want the ones I have returned to me. I don't have the inclination to fabricate a set for others, I suspect it would would take more time, effort and expense on my part than the cost of buying them straight up from Mercedes.

I didn't understand from your post that you were offering anything other than what you did in the similar situation that someone was able to make work.

You have a 717400 transmission and the complete package? for sale ? if you do what is the price for the complete package?

I do, I haven't decided to sell it, the last one I sold went for $2100 plus a couple hundred for shipping.

This one came out of a gray market 1984 300d NA was a diplomat's car in NYC, 158,000 miles. Correct 617 heavy flywheel , correct 123 5 cylinder engine - length driveshaft just the way it was originally installed at the factory in Germany. I've even got the 3.46 differential with the ABS sensor that this car also came with, got the entire ABS system also for the most adventurous!

Thanks for all the responses, looks like I need to update my notification preferences. My 300d (US spec) was originally an automatic. The previous owner made the conversion to a 4 speed manual. After I took delivery of the car, I found out that the 4 speed trans he stuck in the car was from a w114 chassis. Needless to say it was totally wrong in every way. Since then he stopped returning calls (of course). I've sourced everything to make the car right including the 717.400 but the missing link are the shift rods. (pun intended)
I guess these are my questions... Does anyone have a set that will work that they would be willing to part with? if not, Will the rods from a w201 190d 5spd work without modification? or If I were to modify a set how much longer do I need to make them, and where along the multiple bends do i splice in a section?

thanks

I can only answer a few quetions I don't think the rods from a 190 will work without modifications but they will work because I sold the shifter and rods from a 190 and the 5 speed transmission like yours 717400 to MNBenz he is a member here and he was able to make them work send him a PM and ask him I do have a set from a 190 for sale if you want to buy

Send me a private message if you want pics and some measurements. Don't forget all shift rods from the dealer come straight you have to figure out the bending places yourself. Use a small size tubing bender. If you found out which vehicle has the longest shift rods you could order those and then cut them to length and use a die to rethread the end for the adjuster. I don't know if that helps.
When I do my swap I'll take some pics of the difference between the rods from a 4 speed.

C.Doner I'm doing a set for a shifter That I brought from Germany but I need to cut one. Where can I buy a die to rethread? do you know where can I buy one?

Im pretty sure its 10mm 1.5 pitch. Ill have to check though. Whatever it was it is common. I just used the standard made in USA. Trying to remember the name, Irwin. Use the one that slips into a decent handle so you can turn it with both hands using arm strength. Don't forget oil. Don't use chinese crap dies. Those will mess things up bad. I know from experience.