I'm thinking about starting to offer rebuilds for Mercedes diesels, since there's so many running around town these days. There are very few machine shops around town, and I know one of the ones that does the most business (as far as I can tell) will not touch a diesel.

Do you all think there's enough of a market to make any profit?

I ran the numbers and came up with ~$375 for a rebuild (parts and labor), which would not include new valves or any valve train components other than the valve seals.

What kind of rebuild would you be capable of producing for $375?

Are you able to take 5 thou off the face?
What parts new parts are you putting on?

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1982 300TDT
1991 190D
2022 Metris

Basic rebuild basically includes resurfacing/cleaning, valve job, valve stem seals, prechamber seals. Also, the 375 price is just for a 5 cylinder 617. I need to crunch more numbers.

I'd have to talk to my partner about 5 thou. Resurfacing is the only thing I don't do in house, haven't bought that machine yet.

Keep in mind that the heads that need to be "rebuilt" will have 200K to over 300K on them.. Everything will be shot!!

The Valve guides will be shot and will need to be replaced, the valve stems will be undersize so the valves will need to be replaced even if they “could” be ground.

The springs will be tired and should be replaced as well...

Replacing stems, valves, springs, etc is all fine with me, it's just more $$$ (for parts, labor is pretty much the same). I've rebuilt a lot of heads. I rarely see anything that needs guides or valves (unless burnt, cracked, bent, etc), even on engines with a few hundred K. If a valve straight, in spec, and not burnt I've got no problem putting it back in an engine. As far as guides, I've only ever had to replace guides on SBC's, Pontiac 400's, and one Saturn.

As far as whether they "can" be ground, unless they've been ground many times and are knife edged, there's enough meat to grind.

With most people, "rebuilt" means it is starting off new, or in other words, will last as long as a new one would before the parts are worn outside of speck..

If warn parts are used.. Lets say 1/2 of the tolerance is left, then the reality is it would be like buying a 60,000 mile tire with 30,000 miles on it, all be it, it has been Armor Alled and has a fresh balance on it..

There is a difference between rebuild or remanufactured, and overhauled.. reusing parts is a practice used when over hulling something, where as any worn part is replaced in a rebuild.. For example, a rebuilt engine has had it’s cylinders bored and oversized pistons installed, where as an overhauled engine will only have it’s rings replaced.

Semantics I know, but expectations are key to any successful exchange..

New parts can fail too, so there are no guarantees, but an Overhauled head with used parts will not last as long as a Rebuilt head with new parts.. The difference is price and an understanding of what the customer is getting..

I don't mean to seem like I am jumping on your case, I have just seen problems with overhauled items that have been said to be rebuilt... It would probably be more trouble than it is worth.. Just my 2 cents..

I understand you're not jumping my case, and I respect your opinion.

It all comes down to one thing, the money. That's why I used the term "standard" above. Replacing valves, springs, retainers, keepers, etc is fine with me, the labor is all the same as when I'm reusing the old ones. Replacing guides is a little more labor, but not that much. If a customer wants new parts, I'll put them in.

Honestly though, I would recommend an "overhaul" to one of my customers with a 30 year old car.

I would go after the BMW cylinder head work too. More of them.

__________________
Jim

Where is here?

To give you an idea. In NY, I had my head done last year for $600. But my seats and valve guides were shot, in addition to the usual clean up work. I was happy with the price and the result.

Western North Carolina. I'd probably be looking for another ~$150 for guides.

Another issue would be the 2 way Shipping.

Moneywise think you would be better off getting the Cylinder Heads at the Junk yard and selling them outright on eBay.

People that work on Gasser Heads will think that you can knurl the ID of the Valve Guides which on some Gasoline Heads the Valve Guides are cast into the Cylinder Head.

I don't know about on Valves that have Rotators but it is common to regrind the Valves with a little wear on the Valve stems the Valves can often be reused. You simply need to measure them and find out the wear to decide.
It also depends on how much wear is on one side of the Valve Stem. However, you would expect Stem wear to be more even on rotating Valves (assuming the Rotators are working).

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I have had several 617 heads done locally, and they all have needed exhaust guides. The valves were fine on all of them, and even a few intake guides. The first couple heads he only charged me $200 each + the cost of the guides ($6.00 each). His price is up to $250 with the last head he did. Doing these heads requires equipment and tools that some engine shops don't have. My guy has an oven that he heats the head in to remove the prechambers. The head jobs he has done are the best I have seen. I agree about shipping though, it would not be cost effective to send an iron head half way across the country and back. Even the same state I think would cost prohibitive on shipping.

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All Diesel Fleet
1985 R107 300SLD TURBODIESEL
2005 E320 CDI (daily)

LOTS of parts for sale!


EGR block kit
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/355250-sale-egr-delete-block-off-plate-kit.html

1985 CA emissions 617 owners- You Need This!
Sanden style A/C Compressor Mounting Kit for your 616/ 617 For Sale + Install Inst.

Sanden Instalation Guide (post 11):
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/367883-sanden-retrofit-installation-guide.html