All other things being equal, would you choose a 5 speed B47 or 4 speed B46 transmission, and why?

Are 240s with one harder to come by than the other?

I have the opportunity to buy a 87 240 with a 5 speed, but there's a nicer 85 245 for a little bit more. Or I can wait on a nicer 5 speed. Just looking for thoughts on the subject.

 

The 46 is stronger, the 47 can't handle turbo cars... I personally like the ancient "weird" top button overdrive but it's got issues, electrical mainly...

The 47 is a true 5 speed but is more fragile, gears are known to fail early, can't really be repaired.

 

But if I'm going for a naturally aspirated engine, no turbo, is there a big difference? The 47 is lighter by quite a bit isn't it?

 

Well, I don't know for sure but doubt it's significantly lighter... 10-20 lbs may be.

 

If you're going NA I'd go for the 5 speed just because it's easier than the overdrive. Probably less likely to break than the overdrive as well.

 

Actually, no... The M47 is way more fragile than the M46, and as far as ease of driving, one pushes a button to go into O/D, one has to be shifted into 5th. Technically, easier to push a button than to shift into a whole new gear...

 

Well, looks like I'm looking at a nice 82 245 Turbo tonight, so maybe I won't go NA after all.

 

M46 is a much better gearbox . Was very expensive to produce so Volvo went on the cheap... and now we have the M47.. absolute junk...

 

it will be hard to find a m47 in good shape. So, in that case I would rather put my money in a m46.