Diesel Mercedes ???

Need some info- I'm right at the beginning of the learning curve.

What 5 spds will mate to the 300 TD motor?

Performance ideas?

Any good links?

I just did a little look and it sounds like they may have had a 5 speed available for the european model 123s, but they are so damned rare it is like a wet dream. Not to mention all the goodies that go with it, it is prohibitively expensive.

I could get you a part # on EPC but I doubt it will help you.

Good luck!

Maybe an adapter plate, and transmission of your choice? I can see that being potentialy cheaper, and maybe easier. I guess it would depend on the input/output situation.

What about G-wagen transmissions? Are they only 4x4? A friend had an 85 diesel 5 speed iirc.

A 4 speed manual came in some of the diesel cars. The 190d came with a manual but I'm not sure it would bolt up.

It totally sucks that we don't get the cool diesels. I just watched the Top Gear where they drove from France to England in a diesel Jag, Subaru, and VW. The mileage they got was amazing. But no, we don't want that here.

Sorry for the thread jack, carry on!

I found a diesel with a manual at the pick-n-pull once, I should have grabbed it since it was when I had my 300td.

As far as performance, the injection pump isn't easily or cheaply modified to provide more fuel from what I have read.

Here is a good forum: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/forumdisplay.php?f=15

I really miss my 300 and wish I still had it...don't miss the little things going wrong every day though.

I was at the local Mercedes shop today, which has a large boneyard. Owner was pretty helpful.

Apparently, the bellhousing isn't exactly a bellhousing in the normal sense of the word. It's not part of the casting. It is a plate, which can be removed (with some effort).

He suggested the manual trannies from either the earlier versions (like the 240), or the later ones (like the 190), and the matching plate from whatever car it came from. He also suggested that it probably didn't matter if it was a gas burner.

Unfortunately, he had no manuals.

So, maybe I'm building a plate. Any thoughts?

Do a search for an SAE adapter clutch housing, and then you can pretty much have your choice. The Merc diesels were used in some rare genset applications, a couple marine apps, and in some european medium duty trucks. Finding an SAE bellhousing should be relatively easy.

From what i remember the 240d 4 speed is by far the easiest manual swap, the 190 tranny doesnt really work ( I think it will bolt up but the input shaft is the wrong length or something like that). Most of the people say the automatic is better for everything except mileage though. There are non turbo 5 cylinder ones around with manual trannys, but i think they are still 4 speeds. I think the 4 speed swapped turbo 5 cylinders usually use the differential from a non turbo 5 cylinder as well. Getting much power out of them isnt cheap, i have seen people do stuff like intercoolers, bigger vnt turbo, vw tdi injectors, etc, but you cant even make 150 hp without buying a $$$$$$$ myna diesel rebuilt injector pump. I wanted one for a while, so i read alot of stuff about them, then i kinda got interested in other things. lol