Converting to manual HVAC control

[Honus]

I love my 1979 300SD and intend to get a early 1980's 300D to go with it, but can we agree that the ventilation systems on these cars are junk? Has anyone had success converting their "automatic" (i.e. worthless) system to manual? Believing that form should follow function, why shouldn't I go to the junk yard, get the controls from any old Dodge Dart and shove them into the part of my dashboard that now contains a series of worthless buttons and a temperature dial?

[Badinfo]

I think the process would be a bit more complicated. I don't know how things work on earlier diesels, but from what ive read, my 92 300E has a pretty whacko climate control. It is all computer linked and changes air ratios according to speed etc. So I don't think you could just pop in another unit, you would have to rewire everything related to the AC in the car, and I think that would take weeks. But, I don't know what the AC system is like on your cars, it might be simpler....