it's true, my iron transmission had a hole knocked in the case - and the damage was coming from inside the housing! seriously, it went south. i'll have photos when i get the unit home - i decided to eat the bill for a knowledgable shop handling the replacement. it would be challenging for me to tackle alone at home. maybe with help. anyway, i happened to have a spare 4-speed slopeback from a later 240D at home which i'd picked up for $50 alongside a parts car. brought that to the shop and several of us looked at the two of them side by side. the below aren't mine but they are similar.

i was aware of the speedo cable pin changing shape over time, but it did surprise me to find that the shift levers are in different positions- they point opposite directions. i guess i can either (a) fab new rods, (b) find a set of the rods from a later car, or (c) find another early transmission. what do you all think?

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'77 240D, 504H, OM617.952, etc.