Ok I found a donor 240 car and now it's time to change out engine and trans as a unit. I have some questions about the procedure from the experienced hands at this. I don't want to take off parts unnecessarally. So here goes;

1) Can I leave the trans cooler lines attached to the auto trans and pull as a unit with the engine and trans, or remove them for safe keeping.

2) Does the fan, water pump, thermostat housing, alternator & AC compressor need to be removed or is there enough clearance when the radiator is removed. (The vacuum pump sticks out a long way also)

3) Does the drive shaft have to be completely removed or just disconnected from the tranny at the flex coupler?

PS. I'd like to find the contortionist that attached the lower radiator hose.
I'll have several blue interior parts to go also if your near Sonora Ca.

Thanks in advance.

__________________
1984 280SEL, 62,000 miles
Euro model in the USA
1983 300D (Totaled out 10/2004)
New Factory Mint Green paint
Palomino int
1982 240D (Steak dinner for two)

The answers to your questions are:
1.) Yes, no need to remove trans lines
2.) No, there is enough clearance
3.) Not necessary to remove, just disconnect

I hpoe taht tihs wlil hlep!

Kevin

On my 240D the lower radiator hose is not to bad to get to if you take off the air cleaner inlet pipe.

__________________
Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



TRUMP .......... WHITEHOUSE
HILLARY .........JAILHOUSE
BERNIE .......... NUTHOUSE
0BAMA .......... OUTHOUSE

Thanks for the input. The swap is targeted for the next two weekends of tinkering.

"I'll be back" with more dumb questions


The lower radiator hose clamp must have been put on with the radiator out of the car as the clamp is against the front lower panel. No it's not bent, just stupid!!!!!!!

__________________
1984 280SEL, 62,000 miles
Euro model in the USA
1983 300D (Totaled out 10/2004)
New Factory Mint Green paint
Palomino int
1982 240D (Steak dinner for two)

I recently swapped engines on 2 of my W123s.
Once the fan and radiator was removed and the p/s and trans cooler lines were disconnected, even the large 300D engine with tranny attached was able to clear the engine bay easily with the water pump, ps pump, alternator and oil cooler attached.
I left the a/c comp on the body so that re-gas was avoided.
I have photos of the removal process. Not every step, but you may get some hints from them. There is one here
Heart Transplant

__________________
Tony from West Oz.
Fatmobile 3 84 300D 295kkm Silver grey/Blue int. 2 tank WVO - Recipient of TurboDesel engine.
Josephine '82 300D 390kkm White/Palamino int.
Elizabeth '81 280E, sporting a '79 300D engine.
Lucille '87 W124 300D non-turbo 6 cylinder OM603, Pearl Grey with light grey interior


Various parts cars including 280E, 230C & 300D in various states of disassembly.

"Once the fan and radiator was removed "
As an old conservative mechanic who has had lots of crazy things happen .....I suggest that the radiator and any other " Soft Targets" be removed from the work area.... the engine , hanging from a chain for instance, does not have to swing very hard into something like the radiator to REALLY MESS IT UP .....
The radiator is easy to remove on these cars.... better safe than sorry... unless your CFO is against you getting a new radiator without the old one being ' indisposed'.... LOL... then by all means drop the engine on it.... and be sure the condensor is with it so you can get a new P-Flow condensor....

Although I removed the radiator, I placed a piece of particle board in it's place to protect the a/c condensor.
I agree, it is not worth the cost of a replacement radiator. Even though my spare parts car has a brand new one, I do not waste car parts if I can avoid it.

__________________
Tony from West Oz.
Fatmobile 3 84 300D 295kkm Silver grey/Blue int. 2 tank WVO - Recipient of TurboDesel engine.
Josephine '82 300D 390kkm White/Palamino int.
Elizabeth '81 280E, sporting a '79 300D engine.
Lucille '87 W124 300D non-turbo 6 cylinder OM603, Pearl Grey with light grey interior


Various parts cars including 280E, 230C & 300D in various states of disassembly.

It's Labor Day weekend , day #2. Both motors are out and the next chore is to play musical cars (not in stereo). Then install new motor mounts and drop in the donor motor in the blue 123(Steak Dinner for 2).

The biggest challenge was making the motor tilt enough to clear. I should have bought a adjustable motor sling for the hoist to make life easier. I ruined the AC hose of the donor motor but I was not going to use that one any way. Second thing to make life easier would be to lube the wheels on the motor hoist. They did not swivel well at all and one was bent, not to mention the the jack was low on hydraulic oil. The motor raised up enough to get of the motor mounts and would not go any higher.

It's all fun. I do need a new wire harness plug for the neutral safety switch on the auto tranny. Both plugs discentigrated during surgery

Again I'll have some parts to go before the donor goes to the crusher. Let me know.

__________________
1984 280SEL, 62,000 miles
Euro model in the USA
1983 300D (Totaled out 10/2004)
New Factory Mint Green paint
Palomino int
1982 240D (Steak dinner for two)

I need an 8 year old girl to tighten things on this car so they don't get broken. Every thing that get's touched seems to strip out. Today's unfaithful event was the oil pressure line at the filter housing. The wrench was a 4 1/2" long 12 mm. How much torque can you put on that? Enough to crack the filter housing.

Then my elbo hits the vacuum check valve near the brake booster and it snaps.

I could have has this thing fired up if it wasn't for the filter housing cracking. Thankfully the back piece that cracked is accessable. I'll need that little girl to tighten the screws as they're only 4mm.

__________________
1984 280SEL, 62,000 miles
Euro model in the USA
1983 300D (Totaled out 10/2004)
New Factory Mint Green paint
Palomino int
1982 240D (Steak dinner for two)

Those adjustable angle deals were only about $35 when I got mine... They really are a safety item in my book... since I am almost always a one man operation.