I think this is one of the best modifications you can do to a 404. The 404 comes stock with a six speed transmission but it is possible to convert one to eight speeds. Without adding any gears! Most of the conversion is removing stuff from your tranny - not adding to it. To explain how this works, forget everything I just told you. The 404 comes stock with an eight speed tranny (4 speeds in high range/4 speeds in low range). Apparently, Ma Benz decided we didn''t need eight stinking gears and blocked off third and fourth gears in low range. This conversion primarily consists of undoing MB''s factory hobbling of this tranny and adding an extra lever to activate high or low range. It is interesting to note that MB continued to sell six and eight speed trannys in later models using the same "modification". You don''t gain anything on the low end or on the top end (which could use another gear or two) but you pick up two intermediate gears that help fill a big gap between the old second and third gear ratios. Makes for a much more comfortable trail riding rig. No more listening to second gear screaming or third gear lugging. Another side benefit is I now have four gears in reverse. What!?! You would be surprised how convenient that is. Before the conversion I had two gears but they were both very low geared and if you had to back up for any distance, it could be quite painful. Plus, it freaks people out when you start changing gears as you drive in reverse.
