New to this forum, whunter invited me to join and post message about this problem on this discussion forum. Have a 1982 MB 300 SD, just pulled the cylinder head and took it to shop, they say its cracked around fuel intake ports in head. Can this be repaired, welded?, I have had several different answers on this point, but nobody seems sure. I have been layed off for over two years now and don't have a lot of money for replacement parts or repair, have to pinch every penny, anybody have any ideas on what's best approach? Any advice would be very welcome...

i seroulsy doubt that you can weld it both parts of the engine are cast meaning that once they crack it looses its strength to hold together and starts to fall apart like tempered glass. your best bet is to tig weld it. make sure you get a good bead into the crack.and then go for it if it lasts one day or one year is the question though.

You should be able to get a head at a pick and pull for roughly the same cost as welding your current one.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

There was a used/rebuilt one on ebay a few days ago, search "mercedes 617", it might still be there.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Someone I know did a similar deal, went on the web, found a used one from a junk yard, guarnteed, well the first one they sent him was cracked too, they sent another, he had to pay shipping twice, that one was okay. He took it to a machine shop to replace and set everything. Heads are not repairable.

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83 SD

84 CD

Cast Iron heads ARE repairable... however it requires EXTREMELY specialized welding techniques, and special fluxes, and a furnace large enough for the entire head to be heated up to the white hot temp just below melting, and the welder has to weld it inside the furnace... then the head must cool EXTREMELY slow, like over the course of 2 or 3 DAYS. the furnace has to be heavily insulated and temp lowered incrementally. VERY EXPENSIVE.
however, simple brass brazing is a good temporary fix on a cheap head. anybody with a oxy acet torch and some fluxed brass brazing rod could be able to seal a small crack in 20 minutes. don't expect it to last long though.
John

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Thank you all for your help. After reading the posts you sent to me I decided to get a reconditioned cylinder head from Metric Motors, they were very helpful, although their product is not inexpensive, they are close to me and seem to produce a very good product. They were very helpful and I wouldn't have found them without reading this forum. Excellent place to get good information about Mercedes repair. Will keep you all posted on my adventure putting this engine back together.

May need more help as I go along, glad to know there is such a good resource for information on MBZ repair.

Rgds

Kevin