Visited my long-lost MB pal today and she runs beautifully. Newly rebuilt engine is spotless. Clatters like a good diesel should. Even has a new squirt of R-12. All she needs is a belly pan and I'm good to go.

My engine was fried, detonated. At least one rod-bearing was fused to the crank. Timing tensioner broke, ripping the front cover plate. Rods awry. Other stuff too numerous to mention. A real mess.

My choices: 1) rebuild the engine, installing a new OEM crankshaft ($2,800), rods (more $$), and lots of misc. parts 2) buy an OEM block set ($5,500) plus the labor for installing it 3) or find a new/old engine.

My luck, it turns out, wasn't completedly gone. My mechanic found a 12-year-old 2.5T engine, sitting on a salvage shelf, with a bad head. Absolutely no crank wear, not a mark. I bought it ($2,000). Used the essential parts to rebuild my old block. Engine like new. Even have some trick extras, including a spare injector pump.

Unfortunately, I'm footing the bill, as I had only liability coverage for what was supposed to be a weekend driver. You KNOW that will change...LOL.

Thank you for the support.

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'91 300D 2.5 Turbo 330K
'00 VW TDI Golf, 190K
'67 BMW R50/2
'73 Norton Commando Interstate