Manual Transmissions for C36

[M104-AMG]

I'm contemplating putting in a 5-speed manual transmission on my C36 powertrain with either a 3.27; 3.07; or 2.87 rear end.

I've narrowed it down to four manual trannys:

1) 300E 5-speed;
2) 190E 2.6 5-speed;
3) 190E 2.3-16v 5-speed close-ratio (5th gear is 1:1)
4) 300SL (R129) 5-speed

Comments, suggestions, etc ?

Anyone know the ratios for options 1, 2, and 4 ?

[GrahamC230K]

I am not a mechanic, so forgive me if this is no use.

But......isn't the C36 loosly based on the C280 engine?


Wouldn't sourcing a manual box from a euro C280 be easier?


Sure there is a power difference, but considering the work, I guess you can pick a clutch of your choice and hope the box holds up.

[M104-AMG]

I would LOVE to find the Euro 5-speed manual transmission, but I have had no luck with any suppliers overseas (I'm in the USA).

As such, I'm hoping that one of the USA manual 5-speed could take the beating.

Specifically, I think the 190E 2.3-16v or the 300SL which had a M104 3.2-24v in it are the best options.

[SpEeDy230]

I think the 190E 2.3-16v would hold up the best.

[coolcarlskic43]

Originally posted by M104-AMG
I'm contemplating putting in a 5-speed manual transmission on my C36 powertrain with either a 3.27; 3.07; or 2.87 rear end.

I've narrowed it down to four manual trannys:

1) 300E 5-speed;
2) 190E 2.6 5-speed;
3) 190E 2.3-16v 5-speed close-ratio (5th gear is 1:1)
4) 300SL (R129) 5-speed

Comments, suggestions, etc ?

Anyone know the ratios for options 1, 2, and 4 ?

Thanks in advance,
:-) neil
1988 E36T AMG
1993 500E

I hope you find a tranny.You will be the MAN! Watch out M3's.I would love to find a manual tranny for my C43.I wonder if anyone has done this!

[Rocky]

Originally posted by GrahamC230K
I am not a mechanic, so forgive me if this is no use.

But......isn't the C36 loosly based on the C280 engine?


Wouldn't sourcing a manual box from a euro C280 be easier?


Sure there is a power difference, but considering the work, I guess you can pick a clutch of your choice and hope the box holds up.

Same engine design, M104 different displacement. I believe the C36 engine is derived from the 3.2 litre inline 6 M104 and not the 2.8 litre version.

[coolcarlskic43]

Originally posted by Rocky
Same engine design, M104 different displacement. I believe the C36 engine is derived from the 3.2 litre inline 6 M104 and not the 2.8 litre version.

The C36 power plant is a modified version of the same in-line 6-cylinder engine that powers the C280. The basic engine is far from wimpish, producing 199 foot-pounds of torque at 3,750 rpm.

But AMG took that engine and enlarged the cylinders. The bore, or diameter of the cylinders, grew from 89.9mm to 91mm. And the stroke - the distance the piston travels in the cylinder - deepened from 73.5mm to 92.4mm. So the overall displacement of the engine - the space in the cylinders - grew from 2.8 liters to 3.6 liters. Those numbers led to the naming of the cars - C280 and C36.

[Rocky]

Ahh yes my bad....i thought i read somewhere it was from the 3.2 not the 2.8.

[coolcarlskic43]

Originally posted by Rocky
Ahh yes my bad....i thought i read somewhere it was from the 3.2 not the 2.8.

I believe the 3.2 is from the same block as well.

[Rocky]

Originally posted by coolcarlskic43
I believe the 3.2 is from the same block as well.

Ahh kewl.

So all the M104's are..

2.8
3.2
3.6

anymore?

[M104-AMG]

3.4 was also an AMG specific displacment for the M104, PRIOR to Mercedes purchasing them.

still looking for a tranny . . .

[dporsche74]

I would be interested in the tossing out the auto box in my C36 and put a 190E 16v trans in it too , the 16v trans is one of the best transmission mercedes ever made, german racing close ratio dogleg trans, it will totally handle the power of the C36 engine, its good too 400hp or so , I am wondering if the trans bolt will line up to the engine , and if the flywheel will bolt to the crank, if so ... easy , then the C36 will be so much more fun to slide around
The C36 is very tame with that auto box compared to the 16v with the dogleg

[M104-AMG]

Taken from:
http://forums.mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=91674

========
You heard right I have ordered the 5spd tranny from a 1996 C280 with all parts needed for conversion. All parts from europe. Parts are as follows

1. 5spd non-auto tranny rated for 320HP
2. Pedals (clutch and brake)
3. Propeller shafts (drive shafts)
4. All fluid lines
5. Flywheel
6. New Clutch
7. All nuts and bolts.

No more tranny problems for me. I paid $1150 for the tranny and all parts. Shipping was another $600 arm and a leg for shipping. And $240 for new clutch w/ shipping. It will take 3 weeks to arrive. The labor is goning to be $600 for all. This is going to be an easy conversion.
If any of you are intrested let me know. I can get all parts needed for you. This is the answer to all of your tranny problems. This conversion works for all C280 and C36 cars that I know of. In europe most C280s are 5spd and some C36s all share the same tranny.
If you look at your brake resivior you can see a spout on the side of it that is closed off that is for the slave cylinder in the clutch pedal assy. And look behind the brake booster you can see black plugs were the lines go you car is all ready for the conversion, so dont let a mechanic tell you its a hard job to do its not about 10 hours of labor its in there service books. The labor for the tranny, clutch and shafts is 6 hours remove and install and the pedal assy. is 4 hours.

[coolcarlskic43]

Originally posted by M104-AMG
Taken from:
http://forums.mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=91674

========
You heard right I have ordered the 5spd tranny from a 1996 C280 with all parts needed for conversion. All parts from europe. Parts are as follows

1. 5spd non-auto tranny rated for 320HP
2. Pedals (clutch and brake)
3. Propeller shafts (drive shafts)
4. All fluid lines
5. Flywheel
6. New Clutch
7. All nuts and bolts.

No more tranny problems for me. I paid $1150 for the tranny and all parts. Shipping was another $600 arm and a leg for shipping. And $240 for new clutch w/ shipping. It will take 3 weeks to arrive. The labor is goning to be $600 for all. This is going to be an easy conversion.
If any of you are intrested let me know. I can get all parts needed for you. This is the answer to all of your tranny problems. This conversion works for all C280 and C36 cars that I know of. In europe most C280s are 5spd and some C36s all share the same tranny.
If you look at your brake resivior you can see a spout on the side of it that is closed off that is for the slave cylinder in the clutch pedal assy. And look behind the brake booster you can see black plugs were the lines go you car is all ready for the conversion, so dont let a mechanic tell you its a hard job to do its not about 10 hours of labor its in there service books. The labor for the tranny, clutch and shafts is 6 hours remove and install and the pedal assy. is 4 hours.

Yea I saw that. I wonder if they have a tranny that could wrk on the c43.Maybe a E39 V8 540i or M5 tranny with an adapter plate?I guess the other issues would be console,linkage and foot pedals.

[2phast]

Mercedes did not make the 16 valve manual trans, it was made by Getrag, hence why it is built so well.

[coolcarlskic43]

Someone posted the C320 manual tranny possibly being able to wrk.