I've got my 77 300d on jackstands, ready to replace the starter with the heavy duty model. I've reread many of the posts about the starter but most of the directions seem to apply to the turbo engine. The exhaust runs above and behind the starter with the turbo, but on the non-turbo it runs directly under the starter, in the place where most people seem to describe how they got the starter out through the steering rod obstructions.

Can anyone tell me exactly how to drop the starter from below on the non-turbo engine? Just looking at it, it does not appear to me that there is enough room to snake it in and out? Anybody done it? Haynes is little help.
I'm pretty sure I can access the difficult bolts but I don't want to unbolt it without having some idea as to how to proceed from there.

Speak up quickly, I'd like to get it done before the Broncos start playing today!

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Hi Kerry , we wouldn't want you to miss the game , so the trick is to take it out the top . Pull the battery and remove the battery box , the starter can be fished up between the fender , firewall and manifold . Good luck.

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Democracy dies in darkness, you have to kick at the darkness till it bleeds daylight

Also, the starter can be removed from underneath. It doesn't look it, but it fits. Since you have it on jackstands the starter slides out between the steering linkage and the body of the car. It only fits one way, and you may have to turn the steering wheel slightly. I've heard about removing the battery and tray, depends on how corroded the tray is. Usually the tray rots from seeping battery acid if it hasn't been maintained.

Have fun!

Brandon

I'll reply to my own post! I started work before reading the two replies. It comes out very easily from below with the wheels turned as far right as possible. It comes out and goes in over the top of the right tie rod with the solenoid tilted towards the exhaust pipe. It's a direct shot with little or no twisting required.
Total time for the job once the car was jacked up was a little less than one hour. It helps to have someone (my wife in my case) hold the front end of the starter up while getting the two bolts started.

Used about a 2' extension with a universal on both bolts. It got me back in the vicinity of the transmission mount. It is hard to position the allen wrench to get a long breaker bar in the correct position to turn. It either hits the ground or the bottom of the car. (the car was too low at that point) I ended up breaking them loose with my half inch ratchet. I had contemplated running the back wheels up ramps to get the back end up before jacking up the front. It would have been much easier if I had done that but I had loaned my ramps out to a neighbor and they weren't handy. I'll definitely do it the next time.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13