Howdy all needing a bit of special expertise
So to provide a little bit of insight I've swapped a B230 block and AW71-L (from a 1987 740) into my 1982 240 GLE which originally had a BW-55/B19E combo
i've put some pretty considerable effort into making everything fit snuggly and correctly, and internally the engine is in exceptional mechanical condition.

Shifting from park to other gears there seems to be no reaction to the shift. the engine doesn't labor and the transmission doesn't feel or sound like it's attempting to make the change.

The only logical excuse I can think of is that I've still not filled the transmission with enough fluid for it to engage but it's a rather slow and messy process trying to get fluid down that narrow filler tube.
Naturally I'm going to keep adding fluid until I'm certain the transmission is full. but I'd like to know if there's any other possibilities. just because I had figured by now there'd be at least enough fluid that the transmission would make an attempt to shift.

A couple notes that "may" help

• Transmission confirmed working before swap excluding OD Solenoid being non functional

• Only Modifications made

-Tailshaft housings swapped to accommodate (NEW) speedometer cable
-Shifter linkage shortened
-ATF lines modified to fit in 240

• Far as concerned transmission kept clean during swap/modifying process

• Fluid Pressure verified after a leak formed in an ATF Line (promptly fixed)

• High Engine Idle (approx 1900RPM)

• My 740 Haynes manual seems to indicate the shifter linkage having an actuator and reaction rod but looking at pictures of the assembly before i removed it from the donor vehicle this doesn't seem to be the case. While there was two connections/rods one of these connections was simply bolted to the tailshaft housing and did not indicate any importance

Thanks Lads.

 

Did you remove and reinstall the torque converter verifying it engaged in the pump.

 

Oh oof. Been a hot minute since I made the swap.
uhhh I remember making sure the torque converter was sitting properly, because if it wasn't, the bellhousing and block (from reading) doesn't bolt together without damaging anything.

I briefly recall putting the transmission into gear and spinning the converter to see if i could get the tailshaft to spin and to see if fluid would pump out the fittings?
Far as i know i would have verified both before putting the block and Transmission together. Course I could just be remembering what I want to hear but I'm relatively confident it shouldn't be the case.

 

That's a tough one. There isn't much to goof up, except for what jagtoes recommended.
The only other thing I can think of is that when you modified the linkage it does not have enough throw to move the belcrank that selects gears.
Does the belcrank move when the selecter is moved?
The 240 shifter and 740 shifter are different in their orientation despite looking similar. Did you swap selector boxes too?

 

That's something I've been pondering actually. I had taken the linkage for the 240 shifter and shortened it what with the transmission coming further back but I wonder if perhaps like you said it doesn't have enough throw. Once I've swapped out the filter in it to be certain I might try disconnect the linkage and just shift it manually from the side of box to make sure it shifts then make sure the linkage is working as intended