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  #1  
Old 09-21-2009, 02:18 AM
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Busted Camshaft!

So, I'm writing this on behalf of my friend who I sold my '83 300TD to last year, to request some insight.

The camshaft failed on her while driving on the highway, which makes me think there is more severe damage than just the head, but this is where I would like some insight. I pulled the valve cover today to inspect the damage, the info I was going on prior to now was from a mechanic who she took the car to after being stranded, but I'm always skeptical of shops . They quoted her $3000 to fix it (replace the head), and I told her to tell them where to put their $3000.

So, I know that without pulling the head I can essentially know nothing valuable but I wanted to know the worst case scenario. The camshaft broke into 4 pieces, (timing chain still intact) and bent one of the valve tappets as well as the rod that the tappet pivots from (what do you call that rod?). Worst case is that a few of the valves shattered from the remaining piston movement correct? And probably damaged the pistons? And potentially ruined the cylinder walls?

So again, without pulling the head which I am considering either doing, or not doing (and just replacing the engine) what is my better bet?

thanks yall

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  #2  
Old 09-21-2009, 03:11 AM
pawoSD's Avatar
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Location: Grand Rapids, MI
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Unless she has loads of $$ a used engine might be a better option. But finding a good used wagon engine would be difficult.

I find it hard to believe that the camshaft just "Exploded". Either something happened to the oil flow to the cam.....or the timing chain snapped.....I cannot recall any other situation of a cam failing other than that.

If the engine is that damaged, it will probably take more than $3k to logically fix it.....are they sure no damage was done to the bottom end of the motor? If the bottom end survived, then the head could probably be rebuilt and a new cam/timing chain installed, for around or less than 3k. It all depends.
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  #3  
Old 09-21-2009, 06:28 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Germantown, TN
Posts: 5,449
Well, here's an idea.

Replace the engine with a 617 engine from a 300D and fabricate a bracket to hold the combo power steering/SLS pump from a w124 wagon. I happen to have both components if you want to give it a go.
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Germantown, TN

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Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
Cluster Needles Paint
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04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more
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  #4  
Old 09-21-2009, 07:40 AM
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Don't be so quick to write it off with such high numbers. A friend had a timing chain break on his 240D a couple of months ago. It also broke the camshaft.

Parts absolutely needed replacing: Camshaft, 1 Tower, Timing chain, Gaskets, banana rail.

We already had a spare cam and tower so cost was minimal.

There were NO bent valves. The piston cam up and hit one valve and broke the cam. No other valves hit anything. We replaced the one valve just in case, though the machine shop said it was reusable.
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  #5  
Old 09-21-2009, 09:29 AM
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Posts: 4,642
The worst case scenario is a bent rod. Next is a scratched cyl wall. Both of these unlikely but need to be checked.

if this is a wagon, you may be hard pressed finding a head or an engine, however. You can use any bottom end, but the head has a different casting for the attachment of the suspension pump.

if you want to save working time and frustration and its someone else's money, find a good used engine.

If you are trying to save money, pull the head, inspect components. These valves break before they really bend, small dents on the tops of pistons are no big deal.

Invest in a dial indicator and measure the max height of the piston heads from the top of the block to ensure no rods were bent -unlikely

teeth on the crankshaft sprocket need to be examined.

$3,000 is absurd if you do the work yourself.
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Last edited by jt20; 09-21-2009 at 09:37 AM.
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  #6  
Old 09-21-2009, 12:26 PM
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Thanks for the info everyone.

So, the head IS different on the TD engine? Is this because of the rear susp. hydraulic pump.

I'm gonna do the work myself, so the interest is saving money and doing it right. The most inexpensive option would be to pull the head and inspect before making any real decisions I suppose, I'll let you all know what I find, and I'll try to post pictures as well.

Thank you.
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  #7  
Old 09-21-2009, 02:30 PM
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diesel enthusiast
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Germantown, TN
Posts: 5,449
Yes, the heads are different for a 300TD vs. a 300D because of the SLS pump. Hence, why I mentioned using a 300D and building a bracket for the combo pump I have from a w124 wagon.
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daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
Cluster Needles Paint
New Old Stock (NOS) parts

Past:
3/2008 1986 300SDL "Coda"
04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more
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  #8  
Old 09-21-2009, 04:56 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 5
daw-two: thank you for your suggestion, I just don't really have the time to custom fab a bracket.

yep, the towers broke. So would rebuilding the head be a reasonable way to go?

Actually, I think I just need to rebuild the head and inspect the damage before I ask for too much more help, speculation will only get me so far right now...

thank you all

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