When I got my current driver '70 145, it had a fairly low mileage (113k), but worn engine, and an automatic that worked fine. Planning to a complete drivetrain conversion, I didn't care much about preserving what was in there, and I drove the s*** out of it for a month. Thats about how long the engine and transmission lasted... by the time I was done, it was missing shifts, slipping...etc.

I did feel though that driven like a mad man might do, it got me around fine, and rarely did anyone catch me on the mountain roads to my house.. inlcuding a neighbor who tried to catch me in is 4spd/OD '74 142. But that was redline shifts about every time, and usually manually shifting it.

And it only lasted a month.

If you don't mind how it drives, and you take it a bit more easy than I did, keep it in there. Especially since a conversion to manual is more difficult in a 122 than in a 140. But you'll likely like hte car more with a stick.

-Matt
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-Matt '70 145s, '65 1800s, '66 122s wagon, others inc. '53 XK120 FHC