Hey there, I have a 1980 300D. I just put a newer tranny in it about 2 months ago... I got it for $550 from a local recycler. I had it shifting perfectly, with the EGR vacuum line disconnected. Let me describe it's operation:

When cold: start in 1st, always, rev to ~13-15 mph, then shift... hard it partial throttle, soft if more. 2nd goes up to about 33, but WOULDN'T upshift to third if I ran it up to 32 and let off the throttle... it'd just slow quickly with the low engine gear braking. (Easy for me to say) 4th was good at 55, but again, 3rd wouldn't move to 4th UNLESS I got up to 55. When she was warm, the shift points all moved down a lot, and the shifts got a little softer.

Last night, I idled it for about 20 minutes, waiting for my GF to get off of BART. When we took off, the tranny was shifting way more like my truck's. It'd shift to 2nd below 10, 3rd around 20 and 4th I don't know when, but WAY earlier... do your tranny's shift like that? It's nice, it's quieter... my car made a hell of a racket getting up to 3rd, and often around town, I couldn't get up to speed to make it there.... howling around in 2nd gear... I didn't mind, but it made me feel a little silly. Also, very important to note is that if I floor it, the shift points more back to normal, 2nd at 15, 3rd at 30, etc, untill I allow partial throttle, at which point she upshifts to easy running.

Insight? Opinion? Oh, I had JUST put a green Autobot sticker on it... but I don't think that had any adverse effect.

Thanks in advance!

Ash

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Ash Peltier - tools, truck, tales
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1982 240D - (272,000)
1998 Honda VTR1000F(RT) Superhawk Freeway (58,000) "Madrid"
1996 Toyota T100 4x4 (84,000) "Mary Kay"