On an 83 300d, you just take the steering damper off, which is a 2 minute job, and the starter falls out. You just have to orient it properly first. Turn the starter vertical so that the gear (nose) is up. Then rotate it until the solenoid is facing the back of the car and there is a perfect hole where the steering damper was.

That part was easy. The hard part is removing that damn upper starter bolt.

Joe