Go look for a replacement. A lot of people think that large clunk sound when shifting the older tranny into overdrive is a little annoying. I found a later model 740 M47 tranny with low miles. Shelled out about $350.00 with no exchange. I figured I would rebuild the other one for a spare later. There are a few changes to the later model but you have all the stuff from your tranny to make it work. Be careful and do not tear the paper gasket if you have to change the fork location. This is only my opinion, as I am fond of the M47 over any of the others.
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Max..1989 244 DL 5 Spd., V15 Phase II Cam Bilstein HD, Turbo Swaybars, Poly Bushings all round, Turbo Wheels, Black leather interior, Electric mirrors, LED dash and gauge lights and now NEW ECODES with the turn signals, 1992 black 244 next project

How sure are you its the syncro ring? As was said the detent plate can cause this. Another common cause is a spinning input shaft. The m47 seems to be really sensitive to this. It can be caused by a loose clutch cable, seized pilot bearing, or the clutch plate seizing on the input shaft. I had this problem on my 89. It turned out to be the clutch plate seizing on the input shaft in my case. If you can get it into gear with the engine off and 1st works ok once it is in gear I would rule out a spinning input shaft.

Your 89 has a flywheel sensor for the ignition. It bolts into the top of the bellhousing and you can't do without it. You'll need the bellhousing at least!

DS

Are you certain the old trans is dead? Like you, I used to be convinced that worn syncros were to blame for hard shifts. However, I now know that adjusting the detent plate on the shifter may well fix the problem- 20 minutes and an 8mm socket. I just did the adjustement on my wife's '88 the other day and it is a night and day difference. In fact, the detent plate was loose, which caused all sorts of sloppy shifting.
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'92 240 wagon, 268k, '88 240 sedan 280k

After reading the prior posts, looks like making the "new" tranny work would require changing out the clutch and maybe the flywheel, too.

Also, the length of the older tranny may differ. Is there an o/d unit attached to the rear of it? You may still get it to work if you also change out the drive shaft so as to get the correct length.

To me, that's enough work to almost equal looking for a junkyard replacement for the '89.

Good Luck,

Bob

:>)

Have you tried to shift into first gear while pulling up on the reverse lockout? If it then goes into first you can pull up the boot and adjust the mechanism to enable you shift into first normally.

Sorry I have never done the adjustment but have been told that once you take a good look at what is going on it relatively easy to figure out.

Randy