My local boneyard has a sale on trannies this weekend. I'd like to put an AW71 in my 240 DL (currently has AW 70), but don't know if that could work. My goal is to have a more robust trannie. The gear ratios are the same, but the shift speeds are a couple of mph different.

The trannys will interchagnge with no bolt in issues. Be aware however the AW-71 is valved for an engine with a stronger HP/torque output than an NA 240. The AW-70 is a very robust tranny and will go well over 250K with routine maintenance and it is designed for the output of your engine. Now if you have done serious mods to bring the power up to 16V/turbo range go for it.
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Dave Shannon
Spring Valley, California
'88-240 190K+
'65 1800S ????K
'73 1800ES 117K
'92 745Ti 160K
Jeep Wrangler Sahara 19K
my pages

100% compatible. No issues. My friend (who is at the East Coast VCOA meet this weekend in PA, and I had to work!) has an AW71 in his 89 240 turbo conversion. No mods to driveshaft or anything needed.
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Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: '87 244DL/M47- 234K, '82 245T/M46-182K, '89 244DL/AW70- 212K Not too distant past: 86 244DL 215K, 87 244DL 239K, 88 744GLE 233K, 88 244GL 147K, 91 244 183K

If it's possible, try to get the AW-71L (with lockup). Better fuel economy.

I seem to recall reading that only the NA cars had the Lockup mechanism ... not sure but it should have been a standard feature.

Even my beleaguered '84 has a 4spd auto with lockup.
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Norm Cook Vancouver BC; 1989 745T 200,000KM

Even my beleaguered '84 has a 4spd auto with lockup.

Your '84 has Lockup? The AW-70L was introduced starting sometime around '88 or '89 on the 740 vehicles, and the AW-71L (for 700/900 turbo cars) didn't show up until a few years after that. Unfortunately, the 240s didn't get the Lockup trannies and torque converters till '93 if my info is correct.

I don't doubt that your '84 has "Overdrive," since the AW-70 (4-speed) was a recent upgrade from the previous BW-55 (3-speed) tranny.

God bless,
Fitz Fitzgerald.
--
'87 Blue 240 Wagon, 248k miles.

That sentence should have read:

Even my beleaguered '84 Honda has a 4spd auto with lockup.

My 1989 745T has the AW-71.


--
Norm Cook Vancouver BC; 1989 745T 200,000KM

I did this to my 1983 240 gl and it is one of the most successful mods I have done to the car.Be sure to use the torque converter from the AW70 as it has a lower stall speed. The shifts are firmer in every gear and it will probably last longer too.I say do it!