datsun 5 speed in mercedes?

Anybody ever put a datsun 5 speed in an old mercedes? I was just curious. Seems like all you would need is a special adapter plate and the proper linkage. This would be a good swap as datsun five speeds out of junked z-cars are pretty readily available. Let me know what you all think.

[ctaylor738]

I'm struggling for words here. But I wouldn't try something like this if I were not a trained mechanical engineer and owned a completely equipped machine shop.

Ane even then, what's the point?

This would be like trying to mate a monkey with a football.

Yeah! And if you did THAT, we couldn't call it a "pigskin" anymore, could we!?

What kind of responses are these. Transmission swapping is no uncommon thing. People do it all the time. I have often read that people are looking for five speeds for their old mercedes'. Why does this seem like such a crazy idea? You mercedes people really dissapoint me as in that you don't seem very ingenuitive. I also frequent z-car boards and these people are always thinking about what to do next to make their cars better. If somebody were able to make a kit that mated a datsun 5 speed to a mercedes engine that would be great. You would have a variety of five speeds available with varying ratios. You would also have a very reliable transmission in your car. Anyhow any real constructive comments would be greatly appreciated.
thanks

I thought my response was kind of funny. Be that as it may, if you're going to keep the car forever, and are just looking for a more "fun" ride out of it, do it. If you are ever going to want/need to resell it, don't. People who buy used MBZ's want stock (you'll note that people on this thread even keep their old stock radios, wheels, sway bars, etc., after they upgrade). If you DO want to mate a 5-speed, why not try to get a MBZ 5-speed (1986-88 300E's, early 300SL's, etc.) In ANY case, if you do not have your own machine shop (as I believe somebody suggested), it is going to be expensive. Good luck.

Mitch, I can appreciate your humor! While in general, we don't want to start wars on this board, a little goon natured ribbing sometimes can't be avoided. There was an old thread on the detail board from an owner that wanted to re-badge his car as a S720 or some other ficticious inflated non-existent MB variant. Another member responded "Does your daddy know what you are doing to his car?" It was absolutely hilarious, but lost on the originator of the question!

DA220S, the advice is truly good advice. If you proceed, we would be glad to offer advice as we can, but in general, you are going into unchartered waters. Another member has put a Chevy 4.3L V6 in a 300TD, and shared the process with some very good narrative and pictures. I would enjoy seeing the same from you if you go ahead, but don't expect it to be a popular mod, like a Chevy 350 in a Jaguar! You might find more support and interest in the HotRod section.

Good Luck!

I appreciate your advice and comments. I wasn't actually seriously contemplating doing the swap, I was just suggesting an idea I had that maybe someone had already done. It seems to me that you old mercedes afficianados are turning out to be purists. Now that is not a bad thing at all. I am used to the datsun boards where people have basically tried everything with their cars. People put v8 in the things, they swap out non-turbos for turbos, some even custom make ignition and fuel control units. And this is all on 20-30 year old cars!! I thought people may be doing similar things to old mercedes' as many of them seem to be very underpowered or low geared (like the diesels!) and could use some mods. As far as keeping a 1970's mercedes original, I say that is ok, but most of them are not worth that much. Maybe they will be in the future, but I kind of doubt it. Seems to me alot of mbz's were made in the 70's and alot of them are still kicking today. I doubt my parent's 220d is even worth 2000 bucks. But who cares they are never gonna sell it as they've had it since 72! Anyhow thanks for the responses

DAS22OD, Pease clarify your comments, since I am not an English major.. is that "aficionados of old Mercedes or "old aficionados of Mercedes"? I my self do not fit ii either category, but am getting lose to both! Concerning your tranny swap, I would think it easier and more productive to do an engine and tranny swap!

[ctaylor738]

DAS220D -

I took your question seriously and tried to give a real answer with a bit of humor - as in it makes no sense.

I guess we are purists on this board in the sense that we all feel that if someone asks a question it is for a real reason, not hypothetical, as yours now seems to be.

So if you want to screw around like this, may I suggest you go back to the Datsun boards?

Chuck

Ok, I didn't realize that hypothetical questions are out of the norm here. As you can see I have only posted here a few times. Glad to have found a half-way busy mercedes forum finally. I really don't see anything wrong with posing hypothetical questions. Isn't curiosity a good thing? Don't you ever wonder if anybody has done this or that to their mercedes and what the results were? Oh, and I meant afficianados of old mercedes by the way. Not trying to start a generation war here.

[andy]

DAS220D,
If someone made a good swap kit I would be interested. Some swaps are fun, others are very practical. My 220d 4 speed seems to scream at anything over 50mph. Who wouldn't love a five speed 300cd? How about that 4.3 litre Chevy swap? Pretty cool to me. I would like to hear about any Mercedes swaps out there. Does anyone know of any? Just this week I thought of swaping a 4cyl 5sp from a Chevy S-10 into my 220d. Just a thought. How about a V-8 powered 123? Know of any? Please share. andy

DAS220D,
I think putting a Datsun transmission in a older MB is a very reasonable idea. A 220D could benefit from another gear, as the engine is working at like 3500 rpm in top gear at 60 mph. Maybe a Datsun tranny could also boost the 87 mph top speed, but that maybe wishing for too much.
If you had a 190E or a W124 there would be a lot more enthusiasm for mods, but on older MB people just don't bother with that. Part of the reason for this is that MB never made performance parts, etc to promote people to tinker with their cars until later on. Datsun started early by offering performance parts for cars like the original 510 and taking part in racing that made mods quite popular with owners.
A 220D will not ever be worth lots of money because it's a diesel and too many where made. It's the same thing for most MB sedans, for example MB has already made more then a million W210's so unless you have a E55 you can't expect collector car values for it when it ages.

[Tobias MB]

I know I'm going to hear a lot of BS about how I ruined a good? car but to each, their own.
Five years ago I took a 138k mile 2.2diesel (75hp) and a dog at that and replaced the whole drivetrain. So now it's powered by a 342" small block Ford, 5 speed and a Corvette differential with limited slip. The 190 weighs 2980, thirty pounds less than a 2.6 and handles well. So putting the whole drivetrain in works but I could never afford to pay someone else to do it.

The tranny only question is interesting as there are two sides to it. One is there are plenty of manual trannys in salvage yards in Germany. The yards are happy to sell for anything more than the factory pays for cores to be rebuilt.
Second, a MB doesn't have a separate clutch bellhousing as its cast into the tranny housing. So a bellhousing would be required...where do you find this? You could find an old AT and strip it to cut off the front and weld on a flange plate to bolt the trans to or make your own from scratch. Either would require specific machining to center the trans on the plate. You wouldn't need a throwout fork as a pilot shaft hydraulic T/O bearing such as McLeod (racing)is what I use. Just have to drill a couple of holes for hydraulic lines, the pressure and the bleed. Just some thoughts.....

TobiasMB
C280Sport,300CE,400E, 190/5.6

[andy]

Tobias MB,
Your car sounds like it would be a blast to drive! How has it held up? Any problems? How about fuel milege? Got any pictures? I'm really interested. What year and model did you do this to? thanks andy

[Tobias MB]

andy,
The car was a 1984 model that a used car dealer had and couldn't sell being only 75hp! There is lots more done that is not mentioned as rack and pinion steering, Bilstein sport shocks, Eibach springs (2.6) S/S brake lines, homemade axles and driveshaft, ie no flex discs or CV joints, 300E front brakes on slotted rotors and 7X16" forged Porsche 928 wheels. The 3" exhaust was made from mandrel bent pipe, cut and welded in 19 joints for free flow! The radiator is custom aluminum from Fluidyne Racing.
The driver's seat is a Koenig, kin to a Recaro.

The only major problems have been the aftermarket parts that were used. The alternator would die every August, the brushes wore out in the fuel pump, the Holley injection died three times(replaced with a carb), the fan temp sensor died twice, the rebuilt rack leaked. What to do??

The car has been to NY twice, Carlisle once and been a daily driver except when out of service for more upgrades and tinkering! With a .68 fifth gear it gets 22 mpg at 70 on the interstate. It's a blast and a sleeper to have fun in as no one expects a MB to haul @$$!! The insurance is low and the cops don't look twice! The only giveaway is the 3" SS tailpipe and the 'High Output' sign under the 190E on the trunk...by then it's too late!!

No pictures on the web as yet...need larger system but all excess $$ goes into cars!!

TobiasMB
4 MBs