I have an 87 300TD wagon (124 body style) with a non-running motor. I have another 6 cylinder diesel (I think it was out of an 86 SDL) motor that I want to swap in. The service manual says to remove both the transmission and engine together, but I was wondering if it was possible/advisable to remove just the engine.

Since you can remove the transmission without taking the engine out, I assume that you should be able to get the bolts that hold the engine to the transmission off from the bottom. Is the splined shaft on the tranny too long to allow you to get the engine out forward or something? Is it just more work to do it that way?

Thanks for any input from you experts out there...


Max Behensky

1982 240D Manual
1991 300D 2.5 Turbo
1987 300TD Wagon

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1981 Datsun King Cab Diesel pickup
1982 240D 4 speed manual
1987 300TD wagon
1991 300D 2.5 turbo

You can remove the engine without removing the transmission. There is no splined shaft with an automatic transmission. You unbolt the transmission and torque converter from the engine then lift.

The engine mount arms obviously need to be swapped but make sure you check whether you can run the SDL oil filter housing and oil cooler lines in the TD. If they have to be swapped, do it while the engines are out of the car. I think you can use the TD oil filter cap in the SDL housing so no need to swap housings just for the cap. It'll be hell removing the SDL oil filter cap in the confines of the TD engine bay.

I don't know how much of the cruise actuator and throttle linkage have to be swapped between the SDL and TD engines. A safe bet is to swap cruise actuators and the throttle linkage bits attached to it.

Sixto
87 300D

Thanks so much for the info. Now I remember about removing the torque converter from the flywheel on the engine. I had done that when I swapped the SDL's transmission into my 300D 2.5 (which basically worked, although the transmission leaked and I eventually replaced it with a rebuild).

I think I'm going to try and take just the engine out. I'll report back here with what happened..


Max Behensky

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1981 Datsun King Cab Diesel pickup
1982 240D 4 speed manual
1987 300TD wagon
1991 300D 2.5 turbo

I have done that 7 times. I have found that it is easier to remove them as a unit. It is faster to remove them as a unit.

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Greg
2012 S350 BlueTEC 4Matic
2007 ML 320 CDI
2007 Leisure Travel Serenity
2006 Sprinter 432k
2005 E320 CDI
1998 SLK230 (teal)
1998 SLK230 (silver)
1996 E300D 99k, 30k on WVO
Previous:
1983 240D, on WVO
1982 300D, on WVO
1983 300CD, on WVO
1986 300SDL 237k, 25k on WVO (Deerslayer)
1991 350SDL 249k, 56k on WVO - Retired to a car spa in Phoenix
1983 380 SEC w/603 diesel, 8k on WVO
1996 E300D 351k, 177k on WVO

I find it easier to remove them as a unit too but don't have an issue doing it either way.

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Jim