After final getting my engine back together and installing veg system in my 83 300d. I put about 250miles on it and today while in NYC i was sitting at a light and the brake pedal went hard. pulled over checked the vacuum to the master cyclinder, there was little to no vacuum and car wont turn off. So i had no vacuum and hard breaks, but seemed to be shifting fine, which was odd. I thought if there was little to no vacuum the trans would shift through the gear quickly, but seemed fine. got over the GW and on to the parkway, still no major problems. went another 3-5 miles heard a gut renching sound of metal snaping and the engine died, luckly i rolled right into a lookout point, instead of being on the side f the road. checked under the hood nothing looked out of pace, just for the hel of it, i looked in the oil cap. to my suprise i see my camshaft split in two right before #2 cyclinder.

So what do i do now, go through the trouble of ripping the engine apart an try to fix it, to find out the valves and pistons are shot. Drop a new engine in there (any got one in the southern ny area) or just junk it.

That likely caused lots of damage.....I think you'll be needing a new motor. Anyways....thats a pretty odd and random failure, something had to cause it....

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

whats the overall condition of the car

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1981 300SD 512k OM603

Its in good condition, little rust, floor pans are perfect, i just replaced the driverside trailing arm.

what did you have to take apart on the motor prior to veg install?
um, lack of vacuum could indicate vacuum pump failure... not sure what could have siezed the cam to cause the break but inspect your timing chain to see if the gears got jammed causing the chain to break and the piston contact with the valves could have pushed the cam enough to break it... unlikely but possible.
please at least pull the VP and the VC and look around in there... very odd.

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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!

I replaced the timing chain prior th veg install. i dont think it was the that though. before i left the city the powr brakes failed and the engine shut off valve. when i pulled off the vacuum line going to the master cylinder and put my thumb over it little to no vacuum, so i think the vacuum pump failed and then broke apart after a few miles making the timing chain jump. when i get it home tomorrow i'm going to pull the valve cover and vacuum pump. i'll post pics.

Vac pump takes a dump, dropping parts into the cam chain, locking it up and breaking it. Piston hits stationary valve, driving it up, breaking cam and cam towers.

It happened to me on my 82 300td. Ouch!

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

hmm, that is the only scenario I can come up with. I've never seen it, it just made the most sense.

lesson for all us out there. if the vacuum system quits or makes noise FIX IT NOW!!! don't wait.

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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!

Yeppers, You're screwed......

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Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



TRUMP .......... WHITEHOUSE
HILLARY .........JAILHOUSE
BERNIE .......... NUTHOUSE
0BAMA .......... OUTHOUSE

I'll bet Tom is right! Did you pull the vacuum pump and see if it has missing pieces? Probably! Where are they? Down in the engine and timing chain!

Don't try a new head until you see what damage you have in the lower.

My vacuum pump started making a noise at 200k. I turned it off and didn't start it again till I had a new one (not used or rebuilt) in place. I'd heard that this could trash a 617 in a hurry.

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Charles
1983 300D, bought new, 215k+ miles, donated to Purple Hearts veterans charity but I have parts for sale: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-benz-cars-sale/296386-fs-1-owner-83-mb-300d-turbo-rebuild-parts.html

I would have expected more interference on a failure like that. Is there any indication of this that isn't noticeable in the pics?

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that is the end of your prechamber.. they break and destroy the piston and cylinder wall after the pieces of metal are left to bounce around after breaking.

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wow.

and whats up w/ #3 piston? no surface damage from previous undisclosed failure?

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Inspect and if needed replace the rings on #3, Def replace prechamber on #3. He lost pintle and bottom of pc.

Inspect #4 pc as well. Injector might just be bad or pintle maybe awol.

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1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

there isnt really and surface damage on #3, i would think there would be some due to the prechamber. but it looks fine besides the residue.

I going to spend the money and buy a complete rebuilt head and vacuum pump. i cant aford to have break down while on my road trip. the whole point of buying this car was to have a car i could drive across the country a few times running on wvo. i want to hit up every ski mountain in the north america, then if she still got someleft in her drive her down the chilli, where the best snowbording is at.

to clean the reidue off what do you guys recomend?