My timing chain on my 1981 300TD with ~330k miles on it broke last week. This was the original factory chain. Car otherwise ran great. No oil consumption, no loss of oil in the incident.

I was accelerating lazily from a stop light when I felt a shaking in my right foot through the accelerator pedal and heard a clanking scraping noise and then the engine died.

The cam broke and it took out a couple towers.

My mechanic is recommending a motor transplant because it would cost about as much to get in and replace the cam and towers and chain. He's concerned that the teeth on the gears might be worn and that a replacement chain could be damaged and cause another failure.

Thoughts?

I'm thinking that my 6-year stint as a 123er is coming to a close. This car is in really nice shape. I'm amazed at the paint and chrome on these fabulous cars.

Part it out? Sell it as a project?

__________________
Mike

1980 300SD
1981 300TD
1998 E320 Gasser Wagon
2000 SL500