So, after reading many of the threads documenting the swap from an Om616 to an Om617 turbo in a 240d I've decided to undergo this whole process. I already have a parts car set up and a guy who can balance the 240 flywheel to the 300 flexplate, but I cannot for the life of me find someone who'd be willing to shorten the front propshaft off the 240 by four inches. The local driveshaft specialist pretty much hung up on me after I mentioned the three pointed star, and a transmission specialist said that I'd have to look outside of the county to find someone. I called a shop in Redding and they didn't offer much help either other than saying I'd have better luck even further from me. So there's the problem, would you folks happen to know of a shop that'd be willing to cut down the driveshaft? I would be willing to drive as far as Sacramento, and if my luck is out enough possibly further.


What could also work is if someone had a 300d manual transmission front shaft somewhere in NorCal that they'd be willing to part with as well, but any help is greatly appreciated, cheers.

1) Although, from reading the words of wisdom posted by a multitude of "car guys", one would not know it, measurements using actual numbers are very useful. If you can determine the finished length, using specific points on the front of the shaft in particular, others can measure shafts that they have on hand. Someone may have a match.

2) Is your drive to Sac northbound, or southbound? Stanislaus County has a good shop. Valley Balancing and Machine.

driveshaft

I've used these guys in the past. You can ship the shaft to them and they ship back. Call and make sure they can help before shipping to them though.

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Jim

From when I first started with the forum. Apparently, few places have that facture for the 3 prongs to rebalance a drive shaft on their machine.

Over on benzworld.org there was thread where a shop replaced the U-joint on a W-123 and used a U-joint that can be greased.

From U-joint threads of the past that required them to enlarge the holes on the shaft and yoke meaning it needed to be rebalanced after that. That was the past.

Can you tell me why a used drive shaft would not work?

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Driveshaftpro.com in socal built me a new shaft from the ground up. Now I have a replaceable U joint.

I am giving a like.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

A car with the OM617 in a W123 is still pretty common. I think it would be cheaper to just get one at the yards.

OR, are you doing a manual conversion. If you are doing a manual conversion, please let me know. I can post pictures of the front driveshaft section, with measurements, which goes to a five speed Getrag 717.400 mated with a OM617. I also have the front drive shaft section which goes to the OM616 mated with the Getrag 717.400.

I do not have the front drive shaft section for the gassers, e.g., M110, however.

My 240 is a manual, and I was going to keep it that way. Though I thought that the 717.400 was longer than the 4 speed, having that 5 speed with overdrive would be something else entirely, the perfect W123. What would the length difference of the front shaft be if I was using the 4 speed instead of the 5?

The five speed front section of the drive shaft with OM617 is shorter. I will post some pictures this weekend

I got mine shortened by a local shop when I swapped a 617 into my 240D. I did use the auto trans (722.3 iirc) but I also had to chop 4 inches out of it.

It was one of the only pieces I kept when I junked the car, it's still in my parents garage. If you measure yours, I can see if mine would work for you. I think I paid $300 to have it shortened and balanced close to 7 years ago, but I'm not sure if the shop is even still around. They had no qualms with doing a Benz driveshaft, but were weird about my measurement.

If you're interested we can definitely work something out. It's not doing me any good just collecting dust in my parents garage.

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Milan Brown 1979 240D, rebuilt OM617.952 turbo diesel, rebuilt 722.315 transmission - engine spun a rod bearing, sold to pick your part

1979 300SD, ~90k original miles, all stock

Hey if anyone needs a w123 driveshaft to cut up for parts, I've got one collecting dust too.
Just PM me.