Greetings Shop Forum.

While this may lead to flamethrowers from all sides, I will be building an electric car in the next few months. While my initial plan was to use an A3 Jetta, I am sorely tempted to try with my 1990 124 300D. It needs so much work to bring it up to Mercedes mechanical spec (no a/c or heat, no cruise, leaking injection pump, worn timing chain, you name it) and yet is so beloved that I am hoping I can make it my new project. The main show stopper is the auto tranny. I can load the car up with a high powered motor and tons of batteries to move the mass but I've got to have a manual transmission. I have a fleet of 123 parts cars, including a 4 speed manual 1980 240D. It would be a huge expense to source a correct 124 manual but since there is substantial fabrication to the EV process anyway, I'm thinking I could make it work, especially since I don't have to mount it to a Mercedes engine. Any pointers that any of you could provide for getting a 123 transmission (or a transmission from another manufacturer) successfully mated to my existing driveshaft would be appreciated.

Best,
Rich Mason
9 240 and 300Ds and counting.

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Rich Mason
Chapel Hill, NC
1990 300D 285k miles
1993 VW Cabriolet converted to 1.6 TD
1985 VW Westfalia 1.6 TD