Hey, first post here. As a quick introduction I've been in the import scene for quite sometime, always loved the w124/w126. My most recent project was turning my completely stock Evo 9 into a 900bhp street machine. It just sits in the garage now that it's finished and I need something else to start dumping my money into . I sold my wrangler and was in the market for a new daily, when I found a 300SDL Turbo. The only negative is that its an automatic. I'm curious if anyone here has succesfully swapped a 5 speed(or any manual trans) into an 86/87 300SDL. I've looked into the swap for a 300TD however I'm curious what would be different for doing this to a 300SDL. Any input/help would be greatly appreciated. If anyone has a list of parts I would need that would also be extremely helpful. Which trans would be best? Clutch? Driveshaft? Flywheel?

Its been done on an OM617 powered 300SD. I would check out the Super Turbo Diesel page. There are lots of folks there who would know which transmission you would need.

Forum member TylerH860 has done this.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/380470-manual-transmission-conversion-my-1984-300sd.html?highlight=300SD+manual

https://youtu.be/bVkl_rdmUSA

His is a 1984 with an OM617. 86 300SDL will have an OM603. That will be more in common with an 87 300TD, someone on here has done that swap.

__________________
The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

Don't forget that the SD is also a "standard" wheelbase, the SDL is a "Long" wheelbase. Expect to have to do some driveshaft modifications.

If you're wanting to go stick for performance reasons, you may want to consider a W124 instead. The SDL is always going to be a boat, regardless of what you do to it.

__________________
Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

There are Euro spec 126 cars out there with clutch pedals. I don't know if a 240D clutch pedal fits a 126. The clutch pedal from a 124 or 201 won't fit without significant modification. You can bolt up the flywheel and 5-speed from any 190 or the rare 300E MT or Euro 230E (not 230). A heavier flywheel might be ideal but the rest will work. The dogleg first gear from a 190E 16V has a 1:1 ratio 5th which should work with the SDL's 2.65(?) diff. Otherwise an overdrive MT will be good for high speed cruising, less so for pulling the heavy SDL up a hill at 50 mph. Your on your own for shift linkage. There's also the 6sp MT from a late '90s/early '00s C230.

Just my preference but for the cost and effort consider 606 turbo and 722.6 swap.

Sixto
83 300SD
98 E320 wagon