MBJoe,

Thanks for the reply.

No, I don't think that we disagree at all. Had the pistons been in good shape, I would certainly have considered liners, and bore to fit the original pistons. However, a ring land was broken on one piston, I didn't like the looks of the skirt on another.

I have this engine stripped to the bare block and took it to a machinist who knows his stuff and can convert mm to inches in his sleep. The only shortcoming he has is little experience with these particular engines. The other machinist has done beaucoup MB diesels and I was looking forward to his advice and experience with the breed.

The machinist has much automotive machining experience and a "do it right" attitude, so I think we will get it all worked out okay in the end. In my way of thinking, "attitude is everything".

Have a great day,