240d 5speed conversion
 

Hello,
I am interested in converting a 240d 4speed to 5speed. I know 5speeds are impossible to find, so I was considering a 5speed from other models. I read a post somewhere (not even sure which forum), where the poster was going to take a 190d 5speed and put the internals into a 4speed case. I was curious if it worked out?

nope. will not work

240d 5speed
 

I was also curious about which other Mercedes models came with a 5speed that might be suitable for converting for a 240d or 300d. I read the 4speed conversion thread, nice thread. I am also curious who makes the mercedes 5speeds, or 4speeds,ZF? I would like to know what other cars/models might use a similar transmission that would work for a conversion. I have the means at my trusty friends machine shop to have custom modifications, adapter plates, bellhousing modified etc. My friend remembered a Volvo 240 transmission looked similar, we might even look at a ford 5speed RWD. I want to employ the KISS principle (keep it simple #@$!).
I will of course post any info I figure out :)

Are you sure about that? I am not, infact I am going to try it out.

well then...

I am certain now that the housing for the 123/107 5 speed is the same as the 4 speed with the exception that the 5 speed arm is on the back and the 4 speed has all 3 (so a conversion would leave a hole in the 4 speed).

I can't see any particular reason that they would have wholly changed the internals. I bet most of it will fit. I will look for 5 speeds at the yard this weekend.

If you dont find one I do know of one ready to ship

Good luck. Hopefully you will stumble across one too. :D

the bellhousing on the w126 and w123 5 spds are pretty far apart. there are holes that just wont line up even if you move the starter wart which is what I was thinking. maybe a combination of moving the starter and an adapter plate, but I havent got my hands on a w123 5spd to check it. i dont know about the 4 spd case swap. it might be easier to tackle a chevy t5, except the rear has a slip yoke. I am also looking for other combos that might work.

Luckily the bell plate that bolts to the engine block is changeable.

yep, thats what im thinking too, but looking at the pics of the 2 5 spds they seem to be clocked differently on the top two bolts, it will be interesting to see what the w126 5spd looks like against my extra adapter plate.

Where you gonna find a 126 fiver?

Tom W

sorry i mean the 190e/d, I dont know the designations.

w201/w124 is the more easily found 5 speed.

did you say you had access to one of these?