Hey, I bought a 1982 300TD wagon today, I think the engine is fried. One idea is to swap a 300D engine and rear end from a '79 parts car that I have. I know the engine will plug in but will the rear end from the sedan bolt in to the wagon??
My wife is actually HAPPY that I bought this car!!!!

Umm...IIRC, a 300D engine won't go straight into a 300TD. The 617 used in the 300D's (and 300CD's and SD's) doesn't have a spot in the cylinder head for the self-leveling suspension hydraulic pump.

So, I think you'd need to swap the heads at the very minimum. There may be more, but I honestly don't know. I don't know if the "standard" suspension from the parts car could be swapped into the wagon, although if it were feasible, it might be cheaper than fixing the self-leveling setup.

I would venture to assume that the rear end (I assume you're referring specifically to the differential?) is the same, except that you'll have a different gear ratio in the '79 than you will in the '82 (pre-'85 turbos have a 3.07 gear ratio; nonturbos, I think, have a 3.90 gear ratio), meaning that you'll accelerate somewhat faster, but will have a higher cruising RPM.

Hope that helps some...good luck!

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2001 VW Jetta TDI, 5 speed, daily driver
1991 Ford F-350, work in progress
1984 Ford F-250 4x4, 6.9l turbo diesel, 5 speed manual
Previous oilburners: 1980 IH Scout, 1984 E-350, 1985 M-B 300D, 1979 M-B 300SD, 1983 M-B 300D
Spark-free since 1999