I'm looking to replace the automatic transmission on my '86 240 sedan with a 5speed version. I can get a M46 package locally, but was wondering if I should look into a M47 setup too. Which would be the better box for 50/50 city/highway driving. I'm looking to bump up my mpg too, so the OD or 5th gear will help me acheve that. Also, how do I find out what my rearend ratio is in order to get the best mileage. I'm no speed demon, so quick off the line is not an issue.
Thanks for your thoughts on this in advance.
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'86 sedan with 475,000 miles on the original engine and automatic transmission

I prefer the M46.
In addition to the pros mentioned above, it is nice, when using cruise control, to be able to downshift into 4th while ascending a hill without disengaging cruise.
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1966 122s, 1968 142s, 1969 144s, 1979 245dl, 1989 244gl

if you decide to go with the M47 try and get the M47II ...which was redesinged with a filler hole higher up on the case. the earlier ones suffered from Underfill due to the location of the filler. And they changed the bearings at the 5th gear part of the box to tapered bearings. Earlier the underfill and the bearing design caused the bearings to faill...putting metal flakes into the fluid and chewiing up the syncros adding more metal...

the orginal M47 on my 87 was toast before 100K in the hands of the PO and his family as drivers.


There were not that many M47s in the US as they were introduced at a time when Volvos were getting pretty pricey....my 87 wagon with a 5 speed --- the org owner paid over $19,000 new. And traffic was getting heavy so Automatics were what was wanted...plus as Nanny Wagons...the help could easily drive them.

For the M47 you also need a different front piece for the drive shaft as they use a Flex Disc(Guibo in BMW speak) instead of a U Joint.

What years started with the "M47II" version?
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'86 sedan with 475,000 miles on the original engine and automatic transmission

I think it was 1990....

oh and by the way...I visited a local pik n pull and got the hockey stick ...thanks anyway.

you might find this interesting.

read down to the 4th post

http://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=39134

Thanks for the gear oil info CB and glad you got your hockey stick.

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'86 sedan with 475,000 miles on the original engine and automatic transmission

According to the '86 240 Owners Manual---auto equipped cars were 3.73:1---M46 equipped cars were 3.31:1. No options were listed as they had been in some earlier model years.
I've only driven one 240 with an M47--worked fine just as I would expect any 5-speed car to work. I've owned/driven many M46 240's (as well as other makes that used the Laycock OD). My own preference is for the Laycock OD. Going into top gear is a one finger operation (I only use a light application of the clutch on "at speed" downshifts out of OD) rather than a full shift as with the M47 going up or down. My current M46 car is an '80 245 with over 270K miles.--Dave

So Heck, if I were to get either setup, would it be best economy wise to get a rearend from the M46 version?
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'86 sedan with 475,000 miles on the original engine and automatic transmission