Approach roundabout in third gear, off the throttle, foot on clutch, find second gear on very loose shifter, take foot off clutch THUD, brake to give way to other vehicle, foot on clutch, attempt rolling shift into first to take off again, CRUNCH, take foot off clutch THUD, back on the throttle as we go through the roundabout, foot on clutch, Find second (kinda like stirring a pot of porridge), CRUNCH, foot off clutch SLIP SLIP THUD.

Time for some driveline work I think. I've been meaning to replace the rev happy M45 with something that actually has a 5th gear. With a 3.9:1 diff and no overdrive it does rev rather high on the freeway. 120km/h is about 4000RPM, and really fast roads in the middle of nowhere have it screaming. I can do 160, but cruising at the top of the tacho is hardly comfortable for the motor.


The other two things I could use my summer income for would be splurging a couple of weeks pay on some Bilsteins or Konis and replacing all the suspensions bushings, or knocking all the dents out and having it resprayed.

Last summer gave me reco calipers and rotors, new exhaust, new clutch MC and a new brake balancing block. The restoration happens one summer at a time.

Should I go for smooth shifting, a smooth ride, or a car that doesn't have mismatched paint and visible crumbling fibreglass.

And more specifically, Should I have a junkyard trans rebuilt, or buy an 83 240 and take the B23E (bigger engine, mmmm) and M46 as a unit. I'd like to be working with a new gearbox, but it's tempting to get a more horsepower as well for less money.
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A smart bomb. The bomb teaches Shakespearean sonnets, ancient cuneiform, relativity, and the Tibetan language. It may know other things. It has no tolerance for rudeness, so ask nicely.