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Old 07-21-2009, 10:01 PM
sublettd sublettd is offline
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Niceville, FL
Posts: 471
When you pull the cover off, drag your fingernail across the cam lobes to see how much wear is discernible. Also inspect visually for grooves int he cam lobes.

My engine rebuild on the SL has been extended. With just 3,000 miles on it, one of the cam lobes is shedding metal pieces and am now in the process of replacing the cam and all of the rocker arms on that side of the engine.

If you wind up replacing the cams, it can be done (just barely) by pulling the radiator, loosening the motor mounts and raising the engine. However, if you pull the heads, you're much better off to go ahead and pull the engine/transmission. You'll save time and probably money by going this route.

Also, if you pull the heads on the aluminum block, resign yourself to heli-coiling the head bolt holes and putting in timeserts. Kicker here is that you need a plate ($600.00) for proper alignment to drill/tap the holes.

Too, if you wind up having to remove the cam towers, you're also most likely going to pull a thread, which will also require the hole to be heli-coiled. The MB manual says if you heli-coil one hole on a side (bank) then you need to do the entire side.

Been there. Done that. Good luck.
__________________
Don
'85 500SL (Euro) - 186,000 w/a complete restoration and engine rebuild at 154,000
'95 C280 - 174,000
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