I think your right that the 1981 300d does not have a bowden cable, at least it didn't from the factory.

When looking through the transmission parts listings on fastlane, the replacement cable is absent from the 1981....which was quite different than the 82 onward ones, as that was the year it went turbo, and thus had a different tranny (with a bowden cable).


However, if you do not have the original Naturally Aspirated 5cyl and tranny, but have a transplant turbo motor and tranny, you would definatley need the bowden cable.....

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