I really hate seeing my coupe just sit there ,I would really like to get it on the road with a turbo motor . This is what I came across yesterday in a junk yard after roaming for parts for my bronco .An 83 300 d, says it runs but needs a tranny . Will this fit the tranny of my 78 300cd. Should I get the whole car for all the extra parts needed for a turbo motor or just buy the motor .My motor is cooked and these turbos sound very good when running strong.

Are you out of your mind? Just buying an '83 turbo longblock and expecting everything to fit into the '78 Coupe is filled with hazards, fiddly bit "upgrades" of the later version that will nickle and dime you to death.

Absolutely buy the entire junkyard car then do a side-by-side. Discrepancies will include wiring harness and electrical relays for pencil plugs, tach sender and cruise control, throttle linkage, vac lines for the engine shut-off, exhaust and intake manifolds, probly the lead muffler pipe too, oil separator etc...... just to name a few parts you'd otherwise miss. Plus you will want the speedometer/odometer to agree with your new engine instead of the old chassis.

Meanwhile think about paint marking each and every connection and/or taking accurate close-up digital photographs of each engine's electrical, vacuum and linkage connections before you begin. Then when you're done you can "sell" whats left of the hulk back to the boneyard with the dead engine sitting in the trunk.

Its a fine backyard project you've got. Making the swap wont be difficult, it will just require alot of ingenuity. Glad to hear another classic 1978 coupe is getting put back on the road.

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'80 300SD/ w116
'79 240D 4-spd
'71 750cc Guzzi

previously owned:

'83 240D 4-spd
'77 280SEL 4-spd
'74 280/8
'72 250/8
'65 220Sb 4-spd
'63 220Sb 4-spd
'63 190c 4-spd
'61 220Sb 4-spd
'60 190b 4-spd

Ya might consider, if you have the entire 300D parts car and can do the side-by-side there, as well, converting from the Chrysler's Revenge servo ACC-II to the monovalve ACC-III. You may have to live with a non-burl zebrano panel for your horizontal-button switch panel vs the coupe's burl (?) vertical-button control panel, but a small price to be rid of the ACC-II (spoken as someone who has had the dubious joy of first having to learn his way around, then restoring a 78 280CE's ACC-II to full operating condition)

I think you might also want to raise the question with some folks more knowledgeable on the "oilburners" as to whether or not the turbo's tranny has very different shift points from the normally-aspirated, any significant strength/load capability changes which accompanied the turbo's higher power; also the proper respective rear end ratios.

Stan

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stanbabu@3bubbas.com
59 300d
65 250SE/Cpe
70 250/8
72 250C
78 280CE

you will find differences in the turbo tranny as noted above.

also the rear diff will be diff. and the speedo. diesel dog is right on. buy an entire car and they you will have all the parts you need. all the better if it is in running condition

good luck

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.