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  #1  
Old 09-14-2012, 10:10 PM
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Location: Queens NY
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1991 350SD engine need help!!

This was posted in MBWorld and someone directed me to contact Sixto. He and Engtwork gave me lots of help.
1991 350SD engine problem, need help!!!
Overheating problem was solved but Coolant starts to leak into the engine again. A qualified MB mechanic opened the head and found out problem is the block. It will be too expensive to take the block out, take it to a machine shop to level it ( I believe the mechanic said because of overheat, the sixth one is dented,the machine shop will wield something on it then shave it to the same level). I really don't understand how the machine shop do but I do understand that the block and the head must be level and smooth in order to put the gasket between, then the coolant will not spill into the engine.
Now, please help me out. If this method is too expensive, can I just buy an old engine from the junk yard and replace this one? If I can find 350 SD that will be great, but Benz only produce limited amount of 350SD. If I cannot find the same engine, what other engine can I use that doesn't require too much work? I meant what model and what year engine is compatible? Can someone help me?

Now I'd decided to buy a used engine from the junkyard to put in my car. I'd called many junkyard in the tristate area but no much luck. Then one place told me that they have one 1986 ( what I asked for) just came in two days ago and the engine is still in the car. 120,000 miles. I jumped up and drove one and half hour (New York traffic) to see. They jump started the car for me, the engine seems to be running fine, the mileage is 168000 not 120000 which I really don't mind. But when I looked at the car again, I have a funny feeling that it looks like 83-85 model not 1986 model. Does anyone know how the junkyard keep their record? How accurate is that? If they don't know the previous owner how do they know exactly which year is the car? According to Sixto, only 86-87 engine is 603 and can fit into my car with some adjustment. So I have to make sure that I am buying the right engine. By the way, at the back of the car it has "300SD" on one side and "turbo diesel" on the other side. Any help is really appreciated...

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  #2  
Old 09-14-2012, 11:11 PM
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The 300SD you looked at would not fit. That would be a 5 cylinders engine. You need a 3.0L ( 86-87 ) or 3.5L ( 90-94 ) engine. 3.5 engine has a bad reputation, rod bender, so try to avoid if possible. You engine is 6 cyl.

There is a label on the driver door pillar with the year of manufacture stamped on it.
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Not MBZ nor A/C trained professional but a die-hard DIY and green engineer. Use the info at your own peril. Picked up 2 Infractions because of disagreements. NOW reversed.

W124 Keyless remote, PM for details. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/334620-fs-w124-chasis-keyless-remote-%2450-shipped.html

1 X 2006 CDI
1 x 87 300SDL
1 x 87 300D
1 x 87 300TDT wagon
1 x 83 300D
1 x 84 190D ( 5 sp ) - All R134 converted + keyless entry.
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  #3  
Old 09-15-2012, 12:04 AM
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Sorry, it was 300SDL. He said on his computer it said it is OM 603 engine. Does this shows on the label on driver's door too?
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  #4  
Old 09-15-2012, 01:07 AM
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The label would not show the om603 engine #, only the year of manufacturing. The label has the VIN that you can look up. If it is a 300SDL and manufactured in 86/87 then it should fit. The engine would be a direct fit but you may need some minor mountings. There are a lot of info on 3.0L to 3.5L swap here.
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Not MBZ nor A/C trained professional but a die-hard DIY and green engineer. Use the info at your own peril. Picked up 2 Infractions because of disagreements. NOW reversed.

W124 Keyless remote, PM for details. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/334620-fs-w124-chasis-keyless-remote-%2450-shipped.html

1 X 2006 CDI
1 x 87 300SDL
1 x 87 300D
1 x 87 300TDT wagon
1 x 83 300D
1 x 84 190D ( 5 sp ) - All R134 converted + keyless entry.
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  #5  
Old 09-15-2012, 01:22 AM
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As far as the VIN, ignore WDBCB20 (81-85 300SD) and go for WDBEB33 ('87 300D), WDBEB93 ('87 300TD), WDBCB25 (86-87 300SDL) or WDBGB34 (92-93 300SD and 94-95 E350). Obviously there's your WDBCB34 and the SDL WDBCB35.

300SD and TURBODIESEL does not sound like an SDL. The 300SDL has TURBO on the right side, not TURBODIESEL. I believe your car has only TURBO as well. IIRC the 92-93 300SD and S350 went back to TURBODIESEL.

Sixto
87 300D
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  #6  
Old 09-15-2012, 07:50 AM
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See if you can get him to give you the vin number off of the tag at the door or at the base of the windshield, drivers side. Compare the vin to the above info to confirm.
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  #7  
Old 09-15-2012, 09:27 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Smile123 View Post
Sorry, it was 300SDL. He said on his computer it said it is OM 603 engine. Does this shows on the label on driver's door too?
If it has six cylinders, that's your engine. If it has five cylinders, that is NOT your engine. It doesn't get any simpler than that.

If it still is a quandry, I'll stop at the junkyard and confirm it for you.............or, just take a photo of the engine and post it on here. We can confirm which engine in five seconds.
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  #8  
Old 09-15-2012, 06:17 PM
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Sixto, thank you very much. You are really an expert to let me know what vin # I should look for. I went back this morning to check and sure enough it was the wrong one. It's vin# is WDBCB 20 (81-85 300 SD). Luckily they are willing to give my money back to me.
Since I was in Newark, I went to another junkyard who told me that they had two engines of 87 300SDL in stock. They have no record how many miles on the engine. They showed to me: one looked very old with soot all over the engine, the other one looked quite good with the transmission connected to it( of course transmission is not included). They will give me 30 days warranty on the engine. I want them to deliver the engine to my mechanic, they want to charge me $100 delivery fee. While I was negoiating with the young man about delivery charge, his boss ( I believe he is the young man's father) suddenly stepped in and said that I could just tow the car there and he would put the engine in for me. He will charge me $500 for it. (My mechanic charge me $1200 if I find the engine and deliver to his shop). the boss assures me that in two days, he will have the car ready for me to DRIVE back to New York.
I am confused now. Is swapping the engine sounded as simple as he said? I emphasis that this is a diesel engine, he said he knew it. May be he is a mechanic may be not. But look at the differences $500 vs $1200, even I have to pay $200 to tow the car there minus $100 delivery cost I have to pay, I could save $600 (since I have problem with the car I felt I was ripped off left and right by different mechanics because of my limited knowledge of car repair. i.e.$4300 for changing head gasket and was overheat right away) Could this junkyard boss do any more damage to my car than it is now? (Now, The engine head and all parts that the MB mechanic took out are in the trunk. He charged me $600 for it because I really don't have $6000 to spend to fix whatever he said will work) If I use my mechanic and if the engine was no good, I have to haul the engine back to the junkyard exchange for the other one and then bring ir back to the mechanic. He might charge me twice for installation...........Aii.....Can you give me some guidance whom I should use.....
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  #9  
Old 09-15-2012, 07:27 PM
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Quote:
his boss ( I believe he is the young man's father) suddenly stepped in and said that I could just tow the car there and he would put the engine in for me. He will charge me $500 for it.
That is what I'd do. It is not really that big of a job to swap engines out, especially if the one coming out has already had the head removed. See if he will provide any kind of warranty or guarantee.
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  #10  
Old 09-16-2012, 12:19 AM
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That's an interesting puzzle. Given the opportunity, I'd Plastigage the main and rod bearings, check timing chain elongation and do a cold leakdown test on both candidates. In a pinch I'd check the chain and upper guide since that only requires pulling the valve cover. Oh, and check whether one has a later head casting. Take a close look at the front crank seal on whichever engine you choose. Much easier to do that job with the engine out but I wouldn't touch it if it isn't leaking.

Make sure you get all your old parts back, particularly the IP, cylinder head and vacuum pump if it's been updated. It would be nice to keep the 3.5 block because it might be in good shape but you might damage your car driving it with a block in the trunk. One sharp turn or sudden stop and it's going to make some serious dents and possibly rupture the fuel tank. And how do you remove it when you get home?

Sixto
87 300D
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  #11  
Old 09-16-2012, 01:02 AM
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With no dis-respect. You are digging a big hole here. You have spent $4300 for a no good head gasket job. Now you may spend $600-$1200 on an unknown engine. I would ditch the car. It is very difficult and expensive to maintain a 20 years old MBZ unless you wrench it yourself, or at least do some of the work. You just do not know when the next shoe is going to drop on an old car.

Good luck.
__________________
Not MBZ nor A/C trained professional but a die-hard DIY and green engineer. Use the info at your own peril. Picked up 2 Infractions because of disagreements. NOW reversed.

W124 Keyless remote, PM for details. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/334620-fs-w124-chasis-keyless-remote-%2450-shipped.html

1 X 2006 CDI
1 x 87 300SDL
1 x 87 300D
1 x 87 300TDT wagon
1 x 83 300D
1 x 84 190D ( 5 sp ) - All R134 converted + keyless entry.
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  #12  
Old 09-16-2012, 07:22 AM
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ah-kay brings up some very valid points.
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  #13  
Old 10-29-2012, 06:50 PM
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Location: Queens NY
Posts: 41
Question God and bad news of my 1991 350SD

Good News: After 5 weeks of waiting, finally the junk yard called and said my car is ready. I DROVE the car back to New York.
Bad News: When they handed the car back to me, the engine vibrated quite severely, the young man told me that the engine was cold and in half an hour it seems to be much better. The engine seems to run well (of course except the noise) transmission seems to change gears quicker than it should, the highest speed I can go in Long Island Expressway is 60 mph (which I don't mind). As I was driving back the young man angry voice suddenly came back to me "I gave you a better engine, what else do you want. The 5 cylinder is much better the 6 cylinder." I was already close to home so I was not willing to go back. Now I am really have a bad feeling of this: Did they put the right engine in? Took some pictures of the engine. Could someone please tell me if they'd put the right engine in?

Sorry don't know how to attach pictures here, so I posted in ShopForum Gallery
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  #14  
Old 10-29-2012, 06:56 PM
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The pictures posted are of a 5 cylinder diesel. Used in 85 and older 300SD. Others may be able to determine better the exact model the engine came from but it is not the six cylinder engine type you car was orginally manufactured with.
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  #15  
Old 10-29-2012, 07:06 PM
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Don't know how much you paid. It is not the right engine for the car. The tranny was changed also. Not sure about the diff. You dug yourself a big hole.

Good luck with the swap.

__________________
Not MBZ nor A/C trained professional but a die-hard DIY and green engineer. Use the info at your own peril. Picked up 2 Infractions because of disagreements. NOW reversed.

W124 Keyless remote, PM for details. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/334620-fs-w124-chasis-keyless-remote-%2450-shipped.html

1 X 2006 CDI
1 x 87 300SDL
1 x 87 300D
1 x 87 300TDT wagon
1 x 83 300D
1 x 84 190D ( 5 sp ) - All R134 converted + keyless entry.
Reply With Quote
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