Engine # gound off block - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

sedecrem · #1 03-26-2007, 12:19 AM

I am in the process of swapping engines from a '80 240D parts car into a '79 that has an engine that was overheated and supposedly has a blown head gasket. I got the donor engine out last weekend and worked on it a little this weekend cleaning it up checking the clutch etc. . Started to disconnect every thing on the blown engine to pull it and looked to see the engine # to price out rings etc. in case I decide to rebuild it later. I was supprized to see that the engine # on the block was ground off!

The 616 was still there but the rest of the surface had obvious grind marks and no numbers. The car has a salvage title because it had some body damage to the right front fender at one time and the insurance co. totaled it(according to the guy I bought it from). Does anybody know why the engine # would be ground off. Could the engine be stolen or is this something that is done when the car is salvaged. Would this be done if the car had another engine installed. There is 354k on the speedo so it is possible it is the second engine.

Sedecrem

bgkast · #2 03-26-2007, 01:42 AM

could be a rebuild.

WINGAS · #3 03-26-2007, 10:58 AM

Well, why would they try and obfuscate the # on a rebuild?

#4 03-27-2007, 07:23 AM

I have complained many times before because people don't put their location in their profile. I guess here's a good reason for NOT putting it in.

sedecrem · #5 03-27-2007, 03:26 PM

Mr. Bible

Thank you for the rebuke. I was unaware that not have my location in my profile ws limiting responses to my questions. I appreciate your pointing it out.

bgkast · #6 03-27-2007, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 427L88

Well, why would they try and obfuscate the # on a rebuild?

Not sure...perhaps just to show it was a rebuild. I got a rebuilt turbo that had the # missing. Don't think it is stolen.

sedecrem · #7 03-27-2007, 10:43 PM

The guy I bought it from claimed he bought it from the service manager at a local mercedes dealership. He said the car had belonged to the man's son. I noticed that most of the consumable parts on the car such as hoses, batery, belts etc. were genuine Mercedes parts with the Mercedes emblem. So his story sounds plausible, and I don't think they would be dealing in or having anything to do with stolen motors. It seems strange though that anyone would grind off the engine # being as it is necessary to insure you are buying the right replacement parts. I noticed that some of the parts available through Fastlane requires the engine # to insure the correct parts are ordered.

bgkast · #8 03-28-2007, 12:40 AM

Take a look at the glow plugs. If they have a small head it is a newer engine, if it has glow plugs with large heads (15 mm or so) then it is the older style.

sedecrem · #9 03-28-2007, 12:52 AM

Yes the glow plugs are the old larger style that are wired in series. It could still be a second engine though if it originally had the older type and was rebuilt without changing them.

This reminds me. The engine I am putting in had the newer series wired glow plugs with the relay box. what chnges do I have to make to the wiring on the '79 to get them to work properly. I know i have to use the relay box from the '80 but I am not sure how to hook it up.

Any suggestions of course would be appreciated.

Thanks