I’ve been reassembling my 230SL without the engine and transmission following a rotisserie restoration. Stand-up access to the engine compartment makes it very much easier to assemble the car stuff. I planned to install the engine and manual transmission as a single unit after the rest of the car is finished.
Here’s my potential problem. I am integrating an air conditioning system (my design) into the original heating and ventilation system and am almost finished with the under-dash system. I’ve built the AC system into a console that I’ve designed. As a result of the design, removing the front upper tunnel plate will require removal of the AC system.
Here’s my question. If I install the transmission on the engine with all of the manual shifter system installed to the transmission except for the shift lever parts encircled in the attached EPC illustration, will I then be able to attach the encircled shifter parts to the rear of the transmission rods without removing the front upper tunnel cover? My plan is to tie the rods in place by strapping each one to the transmission with some heavy cord, then after the engine and trans are installed, clip each cord as I attach that part to the shifter lever and plate to the rear of the trans rods.
Will that work? I seem to remember that I didn’t have to remove the upper tunnel cover when I replaced my bushings at the rear. If that’s true, then I shouldn’t have to remove the tunnel cover to assemble the shifter system, so long as the rods are already attached at the front.
Any opinions or experience?
Tom Kizer
