Kablam !! Big bang. Cracked valve cover - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#16 06-14-2002, 02:09 AM

Yes thank you for the run down. If I could emphasize your point about making the Y hook up in the back of the valve cover that was where I got into a scrape. The temptation is to just hook up to one side or the other with the chain and lift it out. I was able to get it out but not without the engine falling off to the side.
There would have been no way to install it that way. Next time I would remove trans and engine as a unit. I really think that would save time.

tcane · #17 06-14-2002, 03:19 AM

Jim:

I know you have a hard decision to make with several variables. I agree with you that pulling the head is the first thing you should do so you can begin to see how extensive the damage is to the rest of the engine so you can begin to narrow your choices. If, by chance, the dings in the piston crowns are very minor then maybe, just maybe the lower end is OK and only head work needs to be done with replacing all the timing chain guides and tensioner along with the timing chain (this a bit of work as the injection pump has to come off, belt pulley and harmonic balancer (M-B calls a balance plate) removed so the lower chain guides can be accessed and R&R'd. I'm really relunctant to say to not look at the lower end, but I've seen so many times when something like this has happened, a partial repair was done, and soon after the engine failed again. On the other hand, sometimes only doing the really obvious and easiest repair has worked OK. It is a roll of the dice, or as Dirty Harry said " Do you feel lucky?"

My, very cheap, $0.02 worth.
Tom

JimSmith · #18 06-14-2002, 11:10 AM

Anon-E-Mouse,

You might get in touch with Speedy300DTurbo and see if you can somehow acquire the motor out of his car. He just posted a very unfortunate sequence of events for him that wrecked his car, and he is looking to sell it for parts. He also posted a shot of the engine just before the accident, and it looks like it came off the factory floor yesterday. Check the posts, I believe both are still current. Jim

tcane · #19 06-14-2002, 07:10 PM

Anon:

What restrictions are there, if any, to import say an engine into Canada from the US? I do know cars have to go through a process before Canada will allow importation. I'm just curious about other major components. If you can import an engine without problems, then Jim's suggestion is a very good one.

My $0.02 Worth!
Tom

leathermang · #20 06-15-2002, 09:52 AM

Guys ! If you Listen to Tom =

If you don't =

P.E.Haiges · #21 06-15-2002, 01:06 PM

You can check for a bent rod by checking the height of each piston at TDC with a dial indicator. They should all read approximately the same. The cam towers are designed to break which reduces the force on the pistons and rods so the bottom of your engine probably isn't damaged.

Check the sprocket on the crankshaft that drives the timing chain. I stripped a few teeth when my chain broke.

P E H

#22 06-16-2002, 12:11 AM

Got the head off a few minutes ago and called my neighbour down to look it over for me. (he's a retired mechanic who's worked on most engines including big diesels for the highways dept.)

He was looking for evidence of damage to the piston crowns (looked for shiny bits) and found none. He took a hammer and hit the tops of the valves at the adjusting nuts while he held the valve faces with his fingertips.He said even the valves seemed OK. So far so good.
He was skeptical about the bottom end nonetheless but said he wasn't all that familiar with this particular engine and that it certainly looked OK.
We tried to turn the engine over but I don't have a 19mm and extension the right length to turn the main bolt. I tried to turn it over with the alternator pulley but the belt just slipped. I thought that was odd because when I adjusted the valves I was able to use the power steering pulley bolt to turn the engine over.

I got a coat hanger and pulled up what I could of the chain but it is bound up on itself down below. That's probably what's making the engine hard to turn.

As for checking the crankshaft sprocket I don't see how to do that without pulling the engine and the same goes for installing a new chain. I'm quite nervous about reinstalling all the chain guides too. The Haynes seems to be pretty good on this but it is a little bit daunting nonetheless.

Y'all been talking about engine re and re and it sounds like it might be an idea for me to try this.
I've heard about a shop who are good with Mercedes heads and I am thinking that now that I'm this far I might just take both the engine and head to them and see what they think. They can replace the busted cam and the towers on the head and at the same time give it a thorough cleaning. I think I should ask them to replace all the valve seals etc. while they're at it.
Sound reasonable so far ?
Then they can put everything back together including the head, they can set the timing, and do all the stuff that is making me nervous so that all I have to do is put the engine and tranny back in and reattach the jewellery.
Plan B involves me finding a way to get at the sprocket off the crankshaft and replace if necessary and reinstall the chain guides and the new chain while letting the the shop deal with the repairs to the head.
After getting this far with the project I dipped into my stash of Scotch while writing this. I suspect I have not made myself entirely clear but it is after all Saturday night and all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
The suggestions regarding Speedy300DTurbo's engine are still rattling around in my brain especially as mine was smoking even after adjusting my valves but I'm hoping that new valve seals, correct ignition timing and a tighter head may give me a solid engine once again.
My sympathies to Speedy300DTurbo and I know how he's feeling.
I just did the identical damage to a 240D in December. Right after replacing the right hand fender.
I think we should all go back to horse and carriage. Hmmm . . maybe not

Anyways Tom . . . .
Do I feel lucky ???
Good question . . .
Yeah , I think I do.
Even the repair shop guy I talked to said he thought the bottom end was probably OK based on what I told him and if I do go the route of lugging the whole kit and caboodle to him then he can use a dial guage to check the piston heights while he's got it.
Of course that involves me renting a cherry picker twice, renting a pickup truck twice ( or using a cartage company) and all that entails.
Really my hope is that I can somehow deal with the chain myself and only have to lug the head over there. That will fit in the teunk of my car

So there you have it !

Thanks to Tom. Jim, leathermang, Old Deis and P E H for all the help here.
Also to brandoncrone for your offer of heads and Billybob for the EBAY suggestion.
The Ebay thing is a bit trickier in Canada because with our much smaller population I never seem to find anything close to home.

Well, that's it, the Scotch is kicking in now and my wifes calling me for dinner.

Jim.

#23 06-16-2002, 03:02 AM

Here's the valves . . . the colour variation is because of the flash.

#24 06-16-2002, 03:05 AM

I joined two pictures for this one.

#25 06-16-2002, 03:06 AM

Nice and busted

#26 06-16-2002, 03:08 AM

Buried.

#27 06-16-2002, 03:15 AM

This might be difficult to reinstall.

By the way, I hope all the bandwidth I'm using here isn't a problem. I really love pictures myself and I thought it might help someone else some day to take a look at these.
Also maybe the "pundits" will see something that I missed.
Speaking of which . . any good suggestions for good maintenance and prevention of further faults while this thing is at it's present stage ?

Jim

JimSmith · #28 06-16-2002, 03:19 AM

Anon-E-Mouse,

How about a shot of the broken camshaft, cam bearing pedestals and valve cover, for those of us who have never seen that kind of damage. I am curious about where the camshaft broke, and how the pedestals give. I see the chain is partly retrieved. You can take the oil pan off the bottom and gain access to the lower chain box area and the crank sprocket, I believe. Pretty challenging project you have, and glad you have a digital camera.

Good Luck, Jim