Getrag 240 5 speed conversion

[satsuma]

Hi all.

I recently brought two tii's with the plan of restoring one of them. Along with the cars I also brought a Getrag 240 overdrive 5 speed from a 318, the box has the same mounts as a stock '02 4 speed and runs a speedo cable. I have seen the conversions for the Getrag 245, but none for the 240, I need to double check my measurements for how much needs to be chopped off the prop shaft. Does anyone have any numbers or know of anyone who has done a conversion?

Cheers

Ben

[satsuma]

Hmm I take it that this box is rare?? I took another look at it today and i was wrong as the mount is more towards the back of the car that the standard '02 4 speed. By about 20mm or 3/4".

I dropped the prop shaft off at my local fab shop and asked them to cut off 47mm (1 7/8") I hope its right If anyone hears of different numbers please let me know.

Cheers

Ben

[Harv]

Does it have a 3 bolt drive Guibo flange?

Are you sure about a speedo take off?

John

[satsuma]

I'm 100% on the speedo as part of the old cable is sticking out.

It has a 3 bolt flange similar to the automatic. I will take some pics tomorrow and post them.

It was the main reason why I brought the cars off the guy, he told me over the phone that he had a 5 speed box, I assumed it was out of a '02. I drove up to collect (380 miles!!) one of the cars and the gear box, it ended up that it was out of a early 318. I was a very disappointed to say the least but I gave him £50 for it instead of £250 and took a risk.

It seems that it wasn't a complete wast of time, I hope!

The car, a 75 tii Lux...

[JohnN]

We (at least me) assumed E30, as soon as you named the price, I realized it was an E21.

The Getrag 240 5-speed was available in the US in the 1983 E21. It is an overdrive unit but considered less desirable than the 245/4 5-speed.

If you're going for a high performance engine, its said to be a less than ideal choice.

Regards,

John N

[satsuma]

I have read that they are meant to be a weaker box than the 245, but only on the bimmers web site. What this is based on I don't know, might be a single persons opinion?

I would expect the quality of the moving parts would be very similar to the 245, the weight is only a few lbs different.

This was on a Opel website "GETRAG 5 SPEED (type 240)

With .87:1 fifth gear. One of the finest quality built transmissions in the world."

Will get the pics up shortly.

Ben

[Guest Anonymous]

I have read that they are meant to be a weaker box than the 245, but only on the bimmers web site. What this is based on I don't know, might be a single persons opinion?

The biggest difference is that the 240 box has 1pc aluminum selector forks and shafts which are a little less durable than the brass/steel fork and shaft assembly in the 245. When they are worn beyond an acceptable point it can cause the kick-out-into-neutral symptom you get with old tranny's sometimes. For street use it should probably be fine for quite a long time assuming it hasn't been abused or run short on oil in the past. For Auto-x or track use I'd prefer a 245 though.

Just about all bimmers made after the mid-80's have aluminum selector forks, so as long as you keep oil in it and don't beat on it too hard it could last for a long time.

[satsuma]

Thanks for that bit of info Matt.

[Guest Anonymous]

across the rear of the housing than the 245 (unfortunately, right in the area where clearance between the transmission case and the '02 tunnel is at the tightest) - it's the other factor (in addition to the strength/durability issues) that makes the 245 the preferable unit. Overall length should be the same.