Sulaco

My C43 is down for some restoration. Steering wheel is out getting recovered, headliner, wheels, etc.

While it's down, I'm STRONGLY considering putting a limited slip in it. Anyone got any referrals or recommendations? Who knows, I might get a wild hair and also put a manual from a Crossfire into it.

S6TEN

Yes, Ive placed a Quaife a couple months ago, reach out to BIrds auto in Uk, they are very reasonable and helpful, I also made a write up on installation, some grinding has to be done to fit the diff in the case nothing crazy, just a dremel and flap disc would do. Contact me if you get it and I will send you the write up.

P.S 10000% percent worth it!

unobtanium-inc

I have a six speed manual out of a C280 in mine, it's fun.

---Adam

Sulaco

I've found several people who have swapped a manual into their C43 but I can never get anyone to post a video of them going ***** to the wall shifting gears in it.

unobtanium-inc

Probably afraid for the motor mounts, apparently they are a weak link.

---Adam

MattCordell

How does the transmission from the donor C280 cope with the 4.3 engine and TQ?
Is it BMW Getrag smooth when you shift through the gears?

unobtanium-inc

It's a fast shift until about 4th. The gearbox feels tight, but different then my Porsche's. I've never driven another manual Benz, except for my 190SL years ago, which drove like a pregnant Yak.

---Adam

x463

I swapped in a 70K mile CLK55 engine for my 200K mile 43 engine (which was still great except for all the oil leaks) and soon found the ESP would go nuts w/ the extra power of the 55. Next up was the Wavetrac diff. This fixed the ESP issue and the car "hooks up" very nicely now - especially in passing situations. I looked at the Quaif also but ended up going with the Wavetrac for a couple minor differences and it was coming from the USA vs. UK.

But....the combo of the engine and limited slip has exposed just how slowly the 722.6 shifts. It is possible to upgrade the solenoids and change the tune but instead, I'm manual swapping it w/ a Chrysler Crossfire transmission - which is the same transmission (even with a MB part #) that the 6-speed C class and SLKs use (much easier / cheaper to find out of a x-fire).

Meant to do the swap last summer....but didn't get around to it. Hopefully I'll have time this summer. No idea how it shifts but would agree it is probably somewhere between my 1995 C2 and former 1960 190SL!

Sulaco

This is what I'm chasing as well. I've found people who have done this swap, even in a w210 or w208, but I can't find any definitive evidence that it's "worth it." I can find people saying "having a manual makes it so fun" or videos of people leisurely shifting gears as they drive normally.

I want to see someone going HARD on a manual swapped M113. I want a fire in my heart that says, "my car is nerfed until I put the manual in it." I want driving my C43 (with a 55 swap) to make me hard.

ECTurboGSX

Perhaps this is helpful in getting a feel for how it drives: