I have a conversion to make which seems pretty straightforward, but would like to run it up the flagpole to see if anyone has any ideas or experience with those unanticipated headaches which pertains.

Take one 77 123.123 stick 240D which I bought for its stick tranny for my 114.023 project...(already have a 115 220D tranny on donor 114.920 engine)

Take one 79 123.150 auto 300CD which I bought for its glass and sheetmetal as spares for daughter's 78 280CE (this is known as the "umbrella principle" - carrying an umbrella prevents rain)

Take one 78 123.033 280E which I bought for its ACC-II parts and spare engine/tranny, etc for same daughter's 280CE. (Already donated hood and driver's door and sundries to the 240D - they're even the same faded pale sickly yellow)

If I transfer everything with the 300 engine and automatic, such as its larger oil cooler, its engine mounts and flex disks, front exhaust, etc, does anyone see any problems other than the shorter front driveshaft section, and adapting the rotary A/C compressor lines to what were York-equipped hoses.

I plan to replace the 240D's springs, hopefully using the front springs out of the 280E - does anyone know the approx weights of a York AC-equipped CIS M110/auto and the rotary-equipped 617/auto - I suspect the 300 might be just a mite heavier than the 280 - which I can address with the mount rubbers, if its nose attitude bothers me. I'd rather not bother messing with the 300CD's front end, if I can avoid it.

I also have other 123 rear ends, if the 240's is too short and I want to put longer legs in with the 300 (the 240 seems to max out at about 75). I'd also rather not pull that out of the 300CD if I have something usable lying around.

This 240D 3.0 may end up being a keeper as a "spare", or a good "college car" that I'll sell which will serve someone well for a few years of cheap, reliable, safe transportation (body is going).

Assume that I can handle all the routine transfer/adaptation stuff - mostly need to know "problem" areas, please.

Anyone who has already done this conversion with the normally-aspirated 300 into a 240 please PM or email me.

Thanks,

Stan

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

i have done one. i started with an 83 us 240 and a euro 300d stick na. i switched (actually my indie) all the 300stuff to the 240. only one thing fabricated, the second engine shock lower bracket. you have to remove a tab that sticks into the back of the 240 oil pan cause there is no place to accomodate it in the 300 pan.

i recommend the 346 rear end ratio. i had that first and then swapped in a 307 and got really great mileage but taking off was dicey. you have to change the rad, engine, driveshaft, speedo and rear end (imho).

the na 300with a stick and 346 rear end makes a very very nice car to drive. and wont use much more fuel than the 240.

i got lost in all your options. were you going to use the 280 body? the 240 ac controls are the simplist to maintian.

good luck with your project.

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.

Planning to pull the 616/stick and replace with the 617/auto, and swap out 280E/auto front springs into the 240D to accomodate the added weight of the 617/auto - hoping that those two (the 280E and 300CD) would need about the same front springs.
So far, perusing some earlier threads, I gather that other than bringing all the 300's aux stuff, I'll need to add an engine shock bracket to the 77 240D's frame, find or fabricate an appropriate length front driveshaft section, and perhaps address some relatively minor wiring differences - which I hope to find by studying the respective wiring diagrams.
Then, if I change out the rear end, change out the speedo itself or the inner tranny drive gear (????). Anyone who can clarify that option, please sing out.
When I changed out my daughter's noisy original 145 mph 280CE speedo for the 280E's 85mph, the new one was exactly on calibration +/- 1mph in the whole range - so if I put in a chunk of the same ratio as the 300CD's, I'm hoping that its speedo will work fine with its tranny and that rear end. Comments?

And absolutely concur with the 240D's manual heat-A/C controls. Wish I had same in daughterperson's 280CE!!! (More ACC-II spares also available in the early 300CD, in addition to the glass and sheetmetal aft of the A pillar)

Stan

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

yep. the speedo follows the rear end.

this will include the hash marks for shifting assuming it comes from a diesel equipped car. if not the hash marks will be too high.

on the other things it sounds like you have it all. did you mention radiator? i dont know if the 280 rad is the same as a 300 or not. i doubt if it is. but it may work anyway. anyway you can try it and if it gets hot too easily you can always replace it later.

i ran the 240 rad for a while after the 300 conversion because the indie didnt understand he was to change it. and it wasnt dramatically bad but it didnt cool adequately under heavy stress conditions.

good luck

tom w

__________________
[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.

Gonna use all the 300's engine compartment stuff, like the slightly different firewall glow plug box fed from the old chassis wire, its radiator, and its oil cooler (about twice the size), etc.
Everything I know about diesels could be placed in a small cup - I've only ever owned and rebuilt and worked on '59-'78 6-cyl gassers. But there's a lot of good stuff here on forum which I'm pickin' my way through (Thanks, everyone), and fear not, I'll spit up and divulge my ignorance at will on the oilburner forum if I run into trouble.

Stan

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