1975 245DL Tranny Swap

Hey Friends,

I have a 1975 245DL that's a bit of a mish mash of parts. The previous owner swapped in a B230 Penta, kept the original M45 tranny but swapped the output shaft and added a J type overdrive onto the back of the M5. The tranny is finally on its way out so I'm trying to figure out what the best course of action is.

If I can find a working M46 would that be a straight swap since my driveshaft has already been changed to accommodate the overdrive unit? Any other considerations with this swap?

I'm also a little hesitant to put a junkyard M46 tranny in there, so is there a more modern unit I could swap in that wouldn't be huge undertaking and would be a little more reliable?

Thanks!

Spend a couple grand on a noisy T5?

I guess I could go that route. Do you think most T5's are pretty well worn at this point too though?

Part of me is like...this would be a great time to go LS/T56 but honestly the thing that makes that swap feel daunting isn't even the engine...it's the rear end swap since I know the Dana would only last about an hour

SN95 V6 t5s didn't get beat on half as bad, are 20 years newer and can be found for $150 at the PnP

Send a picture of the M45+OD, iirc US never got OHV M45 trans <citation from smarter person needed>, and you couldn't get an m41 in a 75 245 according to the original Volvo literature I've read.

James M said:

SN95 V6 t5s didn't get beat on half as bad, are 20 years newer and can be found for $150 at the PnP

Send a picture of the M45+OD, iirc US never got OHV M45 trans <citation from smarter person needed>, and you couldn't get an m41 in a 75 245 according to the original Volvo literature I've read.

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Yes we did usually on 76's & stripper 245's for the first couple years.

Redwood Chair said:

Yes we did usually on 76's & stripper 245's for the first couple years.

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Was Volvo parts binning some 76 cars? Thought they exclusively moved to b21.

I know they put m45s behind the OHC motors here, but was under the impression they didn't show up in b20 cars in the states

<a href="https://ibb.co/VHTwkpK"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/VHTwkpK/PXL-20220129-210655352.jpg" alt="PXL-20220129-210655352" border="0"></a> <a href="https://ibb.co/w0PcySR"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/w0PcySR/PXL-20220129-211229055-MP.jpg" alt="PXL-20220129-211229055-MP" border="0"></a>

James M said:

Was Volvo parts binning some 76 cars? Thought they exclusively moved to b21.

I know they put m45s behind the OHC motors here, but was under the impression they didn't show up in b20 cars in the states

<a href="https://ibb.co/VHTwkpK"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/VHTwkpK/PXL-20220129-210655352.jpg" alt="PXL-20220129-210655352" border="0"></a> <a href="https://ibb.co/w0PcySR"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/w0PcySR/PXL-20220129-211229055-MP.jpg" alt="PXL-20220129-211229055-MP" border="0"></a>

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Correct I misinterpreted your post M45s were in conjunction with the B21s for the first couple years, so no special B20 / M45-46 bell housings here.

Thats a good call James. Would a SN95 T5 be any different than swapping an older T5 from a V8 car in terms of whats involved?

Zev Fisher said:

Thats a good call James. Would a SN95 T5 be any different than swapping an older T5 from a V8 car in terms of whats involved?

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The input shaft is a different length you can get a V8 input shaft or trim the sn95 shaft down. When I used a sn95 v6 box I trimmed it down and it was good to go!