On the Rebound ....or Stop Me Before I Buy Again

[rs899]

I just missed out on an apparantly sound but rusty 82 300D turbo for $400 that I could have used as a worst case parts car for my OM617 yesterday.

Today I ran across an 87 300SDL for decent money that is in fairly good shape. Blue leather interior in OK shape. Light Blue metallic paint (repaint) starting to peel. NO RUST that I could see. No rust underneath, Likely a Florida car from day 1. A/C blows cool at least (not hot out today). 191K miles

But ....it has a "14" head WITH the trap oxidizer still on! The car was already hot when I saw it so I couldn't check the coolant (it looked GREEN). Didn't run hot (but ambient temp was only 80 after a rain).

Also, this thing was a DOG off the line compared with my 300Dt.

I'm a cast iron kind of guy - really get squeamish about warped heads especially in Florida.

1) Does the presence of a trap oxidizer for all these years increase the liklihood or hasten the inevitability of a cracked head?

2) Does this barge have a second gear start?- or is there some other explanation why the ~148 ponies in this yacht are not the equal of the ~120 in the 300Dt?

An inquiring mind wants to know.

Rick