Engine removal W123 300D

[DieselClack]

Anybody ever try pulling a motor from their W123 without the tranny attached? It looks like it would be easier to remove both and separatethem later.

[junqueyardjim]

I think the easier way is to pull engine and transmission together. Front and rear both off the ground to allow the trans to slide under the firewall, hood all the way open and radiator out and a protective piece in front of the AC condensor.

[DieselClack]

Yeah, that's what I ended up doing. I couldn't find a way to remove the torque converter to flywheel bolts! I'm working on my wagon and it has a non-turbo motor from a 1980 300 TD in it. I'm replacing it with another motor from a 1982 that I had the head overhauled on. both cars had the trannies attached and the replacement drove fine. It just seemed easier in such a small compartment under there!

[winmutt]

The other engine is a SLS head? Its easier to pull both and crack em out of the car. Its a 2-3 day job. You will need plenty of clearance to pull them. Front AND back jacked up.

[DieselClack]

Originally Posted by winmutt

The other engine is a SLS head? Its easier to pull both and crack em out of the car. Its a 2-3 day job. You will need plenty of clearance to pull them. Front AND back jacked up.

Well, both were an SLS head and I have a spare one of those. But the motor in the '83 came out of the '80 and the '80 motor is a non turbo. The previous owner tried to replace the timing chain mimself on the '83 and didn't do it properly, so when he cranked it over with the starter, it broke the camshaft in 3 pieces, bent 2 valves and broke the timing chain and sprocket and all those parts fell into the oil pump drive and sheared it off as well! Idiot! I got the original motor with the 2 cars and took it apart. It suffered some damage, but it was reapairable. He bought the 1980 car for parts and I have one wagon rust free (1983) and one with little rust in minor areas (1980) and I'm switching the motors back since he sort of hacked it in there!

I took the running engine out of Charlotte (the car I bought awhile back and posted about the body being shot after it was crashed, but ran great and drove straight) and put my SLS head on the bottom engine case and put all accessories back on it.

It has 166,000 miles on it an still had plenty of power in Charlotte (the white 1982 300D) so I had my SLS head overhauled at a machine shop and put that one on charlotte's block while it was still in the car and attached to the tranny. Then I ran and timed the engine and got it all set up and ready to go into the wagon, then I'll strip charlotte for parts and sell what I do not need, but I would up with a spare great running Turbo Diesel!

I'm considering in the 1980 wagon, converting it to the Turbo Diesel and tranny from the 1982 along with the comfort controls assembly and keeping it, but that dsecision will be made further down the road when Frau Bluker (1983) is finished! Then i'll work on Frankenstein! (1980)

Both have nice bodies and interiors. I hope converting a non turbo 300TD into a TDT with the '81 anbd later climate control system won't devalue it much. I have a feeling it would be more desireable with these options! It could be a real pretty car with paint!

[DieselClack]

Almost done1 an entire engine and transmission install in one weekend. All that's left is to hook up minor things! Shift linkage, wiring, fuel lines and heater/radiator hoses.

[rcounts]

Well, FWIW, I recently did an engine swap in my 300CD, WITHOUT removing the tranny. Wasn't too bad...