Can I take the steel head from a 84, or 85 steel cylinder head and put it on a 87 or 88 sd. Thus getting away from the aluminum head? Thank you. Charlie

Did they make a six cyl. head in steel?

To even think of doing this is a folly. But to answer your question, no, there are no steel 6 cylinder diesel heads made for these cars.
Henry

__________________
63 190d (sold)
69 220D (sold)
69 280SL (sold)
76 BMW 2002 (sold)
86 190E-16v (Demised at Laguna Seca Turn 9)
87 300SDL (sold)
87 300SDL 135k
87 300TD 280k (sold)
95 E320W 211k
95 E320w 111k
05 C320 4matic
06 E320 CDI 90k (Totaled by a texting 19 year old girl in a nissan)
2013 GLK 250 Bluetek 4MATIC

Charlie,

Where did you find an 87 or 88 SD? SDs were only available in the US from 78-85, SDLs in 86 and 87.

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
81 300SD

Charlie,

The '86 SDL and later models had a completely new 6 cylinder engine unlike the 300D which was a 240D with one more cylinder. Thus very few of the parts are interchangable. Even the oil, air and fuel filters are different.

A 5 cylinder cast iron (not steel) will never fit a 6 cylinder engine. I also wish it was possible to get a cast iron head for a 300 SDL. I can never understand how an aluminum head works on a cast iron block because of the difference of the thermal coefficient of expansion. Aluminum expands about 3 times as much as cast iron.
So when the engine heats and cools, there has to be a sliding motion between the head and the block. It seems to me that this sliding action would cause the head gasket to wear and leak.

P E H