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  #1  
Old 06-10-2005, 08:23 PM
iNeon's Avatar
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discuss with me the merits of a 4spd conversion--'79 240D

I am a manual transmission person, i just prefer them to be honest.

the 240 has an automatic that i am not that fond of, it works fine, but i feel like i steer, not drive. if that makes sense to you, then you know what im talking about.

what are the merits of a manual transmission beyond the cost of a rebuild? the car has 135k on it so i think im safe for a while in that area, but i do like a manual....alot. i know itll get a mile or two extra for each gallon of fuel, but that isnt terribly important.

the car is completly manual and i like it that way! i'd like it to be honest-to-goodness a manual car, the auto is almost out of place in it! this leads to another question, then: how hard are early 123 240s with manual sunroofs and transmissions to locate? i'd like to have a manual sunroof instead of the power(troubles with every one ive seen!) mine doesnt even have a sunroof. but it does have working air conditioning=)

thanks in advance!

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  #2  
Old 06-10-2005, 08:43 PM
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Converted my '83 240D to a manual about six years ago after almost 300,000 miles with an automatic. Best thing I ever did to the car. Feels like it has more power now. Or at least you're in charge of it.

Len
'83 240D 344,000 miles original owner
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  #3  
Old 06-10-2005, 09:30 PM
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SPEED !!!! Well, speed with in little letters... but now your car is SLOW in CAPITALS..... LOL
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  #4  
Old 06-10-2005, 09:43 PM
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I sometimes even use a radar detector now.

Len
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  #5  
Old 06-10-2005, 09:45 PM
t walgamuth's Avatar
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driving pleasure

the difference in a 240 with auto and with stick is like being in the penalty box versus on the ice playing. with auto the 240 is dangerous to get across busy intersections and merging. passing on a two lane is nigh onto impossible unless it is a tractor or riding lawn mower.

with a stick the 240 is engaging to drive and even fun.
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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.
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  #6  
Old 06-10-2005, 09:46 PM
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Greg, you should get a radar detector.

If you ever go to Dallas, the 240 might hit 85 mph about 1/2 way up there.
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  #7  
Old 06-10-2005, 10:16 PM
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is my transmmission worth the swap value?

i dont have the money to buy all the parts, im putting out curb feelers to see if my automatic transmission would be worth someone doing the swap for me.

my parents crackheaded, alcoholic independent mechanic could do the swap itself, but i would most likely have to do the vacuum tweaking and maybe even the pedal/shifter swap.

it might just be easier to find a manual transmission car, huh?

anyone have one that isnt crusty that an artist could afford?
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  #8  
Old 06-10-2005, 10:20 PM
t walgamuth's Avatar
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thoughts

yes to the right party the trans might be worth the cost of the converstion. the stars would have to be right though. in hard dollars and cents selling the car and buying one with a stick probably makes more sense (cents?) ... but you know your car and what is right and wrong with it.
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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.
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  #9  
Old 06-10-2005, 10:30 PM
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i havent put much money into it beyond the maitenence being behind whenever i bought it but it does have a dent which makes it not as desirable.

the humidity in alabama also causes a little rust, not rot like up north, but around the bottom edges of the doors he has a little rust forming.

if i can ever get pictures to show up, i could post a few to gauge a starting point for sale.

i know of the exact same car with a manual transmission, but it has all power, and i would like to keep my manual windows and a/c. i dont want to deal with automatic climate control!
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  #10  
Old 06-10-2005, 10:44 PM
t walgamuth's Avatar
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240 stuff

i have never seen a 240 with the automatic climate control... you sure about that?
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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.
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  #11  
Old 06-10-2005, 10:49 PM
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seems like the 83s have it?

i cant be sure, i look at so many 123s. maybe a nice 4 speed 300sd, a 116(i think) chassis car would be good for me. i'd REALLY like a 126 manual. i like a big car, but im afraid of 20 year old technological features.

give me a nice manual everything 240 and id be done for a while!

here are the pics of the car. yall tell me what you'd think hes worth? none of this "ill give you 500 dollars to take that eyesore off your hands" stuff, please? heh heh

to youall that have seen them-- sorry!

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=1209541&posts=17&hl=shlomo
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  #12  
Old 06-10-2005, 10:57 PM
t walgamuth's Avatar
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speedy 240

where are all these 240s coming from that can go 90? i thought the governor kicked in at 84 or so.
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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.
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  #13  
Old 06-10-2005, 11:02 PM
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bigger tires? is my speedo off?
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  #14  
Old 06-10-2005, 11:15 PM
t walgamuth's Avatar
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dunno

the speedo could be off. have you checked it? first check the odo. run on the interstate and look at mile markers. one mile should be one mile... period.

if the odo is correct then put it on 60 and time a mile by the interstate mile markers. should be one minute. if not the speedo is off. btw do it when there is not much traffic.
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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.
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  #15  
Old 06-10-2005, 11:48 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by t walgamuth
i have never seen a 240 with the automatic climate control... you sure about that?
My '81 has one - I thought it was kind of odd. No sunroof, power windows, auto tranny. Came from Florida.

I can't use it anyway, I'm missing some AC parts and have a vac leak in the AC control system, so I plugged off that line. Not priority right now.

I'm with iNeon, I would much prefer everything manual. I am picking up a parts car tomorrow that is a stick - how hard is the conversion? I probably wouldn't tackle that one myself, any idea how many hours for an Indy?

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