manual transmission? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ctaylor738 · #16 05-22-2006, 09:42 PM

Alex Dearborn had a 5-speed 3.5 cabrio for sale a year or two ago for huge money. Claimed it was original, and if anyone would know, he would.

sjefke · #17 05-22-2006, 10:41 PM

I heard a rumor once that Bud Benz had a 3.5 coupe with sunroof, A/C and 5 speed for sale for huge amount of money, and still had to be restored. Not sure if it was true. I also was told once that only 5 111 3.5s were ever imported with a 5 speed in the USA. Also not sure if that was true.

And yes, I meant G76/27A-5, which is the offical 5 speed type designation for the A series V8 tranny. Workshop manual states that G76/27A-5 is "MB 5-speed transmission-similar to G76/27-5, but with reinforced bearings for all shafts, a different drive shaft, and slightly changed transmission ratios".

Bert

katja · #18 05-22-2006, 10:56 PM

I've never seen a 3.5 or 4.5 V8 with a manual transmission, although I might have come across one in Europe and not paid attention to it. I remember seeing several 300TD's with 4-speed manuals there in the 80's and wondering why we couldn't get those here! I've seen quite a few older cars with the 4 speed, including some SL's; I've seen only 190E's with 5-speeds here, although there was a nice 300D just sold on ebay with a 5-speed retrofitted.

My 240D with the 4-speed shifts like sjefke's 280E does (only slower!) - you don't find yourself in 1st gear long, and in fourth at 70mph you wish you had a 5th - the RPM's are maxed at just over 80!

-AC
'76 240D "Katja"

sjefke · #19 05-22-2006, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katja

My 240D with the 4-speed shifts like sjefke's 280E does (only slower!) - you don't find yourself in 1st gear long

My boss told me that even his little 1990something SLK's 1st gear did not do much and acted similar as the older ones (out of it in no time). Must be a MB design intended for Bavarian mountains...

Bert
70 W111 280SE/c 3.5 4 speed.

deanyel · #20 05-23-2006, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjefke

Must be a MB design intended for Bavarian mountains...

Also minimizing clutch wear.

Tony H · #21 05-24-2006, 10:47 AM

When I first got my coupe I did some research on installing a late model 6 speed trans. I found a place in AU that would fab a adapter flywheel, clutch and bellhousing but i quickly found the project to be too expensive and I didn't want to permantly alter my coupe. I can be done if someone wants to spend a lot of $ and cut their car. I found the 3.27 rear end to be a good solution and it can be brought back to stock if need be.

t walgamuth · #22 05-24-2006, 11:00 PM

that sounds like a good and practical solution. why would you ever want to anyway?

retorical question.

tom w

deanyel · #23 05-24-2006, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony H

I found the 3.27 rear end to be a good solution and it can be brought back to stock if need be.

It's not like you have to be 3.69 to be stock. U.S. cars, which of course were all automatics, were all 3.69, but Euro cars could choose from several optional ratios. My first 3.5 stick was 3.92 which was really ridiculous. I think there was also a 3.4x and a 4.08 or something like that.

Tony H · #24 05-26-2006, 08:44 PM

There is a 3.46 that is used on the 300SEL 3.5 but that's such a small change it would hardly be worth the trouble. I had one well known authority tell me "that's the way the factory designed it-don't mess with it-the 3.5 is a high RPM engine" I know these engines are designed to run fast but 3000+ RPM at 60mph is ridiculous for a car with 230HP.

t walgamuth · #25 05-27-2006, 07:18 AM

i think the 346 is pretty well matched to a stick tranny. at least in a diesel. perhaps with a big torquey v8 the higher gears will work fine.

tom w

Tristar1959 · #26 05-27-2006, 12:27 PM

Tom W and Tony (or anyone else with the answer)

A couple of us bin seeking a longer-legged cruisin' rear end for our 114 coupes, but my manuals only show 3.69, 3.92, 4.08 and a tree-climbing Hong Kong 4.36 for 114/115's.

Are the 3.27 and 3.46 found only in the swing-axle 111/112/108/109 rear ends, or does anyone know of any for the 114/123-type chunks?

Stan

ctaylor738 · #27 05-27-2006, 12:39 PM

There are a lot of lower ratios for the 123 diesels - like a 3.08 in the 1985 300D. If you do a search, you will find a lot of posts. A good one is by user Channel1, who did the swap in his 220D

cth350 · #28 05-28-2006, 10:59 AM

I've got three of the 4-speeds from 350SL's I've acquired over the years. Unfortunately only the clutch hardware and fly-wheel for one. Would love to find another flywheel.

All three of mine have side-controls.

-CTH

t walgamuth · #29 05-28-2006, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctaylor738

There are a lot of lower ratios for the 123 diesels - like a 3.08 in the 1985 300D. If you do a search, you will find a lot of posts. A good one is by user Channel1, who did the swap in his 220D

but the 123 is a fully independant rear not a swing axle, so if they interchange, which i dont know if they do, you would have to swap the ring and pinion, which is a rather complicated task requiring some special tools, i believe.

tom w

ctaylor738 · #30 05-29-2006, 01:38 PM

TTBOMK, the 114/115/116/107/123 all have the same basic differential rrangement. There are some differences in the connection to the axle shafts and mounting bolt patterns, but a number of them exchange.