Coverting a 3.5 to 3.0 - head gasket compatibility?
 

I'm currently in the process of replacing the 3.5 rodbender in my 350sdl with a 3.0.

I am only using the 3.0 shortblock, since the head is the weak link on the 3.0 cars. I will be using the 3.5 #20 head.

PelicanParts shows different head gasket sets for the 3.0 vs the 3.5.

Which head gasket set should I use? Will both work? I can't really find detailed photos to show the differences between the two gaskets.

Any other advice for the swap is appreciated. I'm not anticipating a lot of difficulty since the two engines are so similar.

Use the 3.0 gasket. It will match the piston size. HG available standard and thick.

Thanks. Now that I think about it, that makes sense- shouldn't have needed to ask the question in the first place.

I can really only find Reinz gasket sets. I've used Reinz before but never on a Mercedes (in fact, this is the first Mercedes head gasket I've done). Would that be a bad move on this car? I'm going to call the dealer on Monday to get a quote for a genuine gasket, but if it's much more expensive and the Reinz works as well, might as well not throw $ away.

I am facing a headgasket purchase for my S350D project. If the engine checks out I'll reinstall the head that has a bent valve and now at the machine shop for repair. The cam broke in it and according to PO it was ticking a while but he kept driving it until it went kaboom (duh!). I intend to get the headgasket at the dealer because the nature of the rodbender I want it to be right.

I've used Victor Reinz headgaskets before and was told they are tops. There's one on my '87 300D now. I suspect they probably deliver to MB.
Anything else I would avoid, this is not a place to save a few bucks!
DDH