can anything be done????? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

vcci · #1 05-07-2006, 02:47 AM

I have a C36 with a blown headgasket and was wondering if I can do anyting to increase performance on it once the heads are off.

reinier · #2 05-07-2006, 06:53 AM

C36 has only 1 head.

You can skim the head a bit more, for more compression ratio (= more power, if you use good fuel, octane 98)
You can also flow the head, but thats a lot of work.

jhodg5ck · #3 05-07-2006, 08:52 AM

forced induction...your head already flows very well.

Jonathan

vcci · #4 05-07-2006, 06:12 PM

what exactly does skim the head a little more and what is involved? also while the head is off will it make any performance difference replacing some upper engine parts? Thanks for the help

Al Magaloff · #5 05-07-2006, 07:29 PM

"Skim the head a little more" means take it to a machine shop and have the gasket surface milled flat, required to repair any head gasket issue. While they are milling, ask them to remove more material.

jhodg5ck · #6 05-07-2006, 08:20 PM

But, you can only take the milling so far before you begin to change engine's timing/intake alignment etc, etc..

What upper engine parts? Are you going to spend the $$ for custom pistons, a re-balenced crank, custom knife edged rods, Ti valves and keepers.. I need more to go on the upper engine parts.

Jonathan

vcci · #7 05-08-2006, 02:12 AM

I can have the guy skim it more while he pressure tests it but how much more should I tell him to. As for upper engine parts I think I will pass as it seems like too much is involved. I was thinking about it if not too much was involved but that doesnt seem like the case.

Al Magaloff · #8 05-08-2006, 05:31 AM

Vcci, the normal amount milled off a head is .008-.010". However on some heads we remove .025-.030", for that little increase in compression. Your machine shop can tell you what is safe. The difference is slight at best. I have no experience with your motor, so I won't hazard a guess. Milling large amounts off the head, on a motor with a chain driven overhead camshaft, will change the cam timing.

jhodg5ck · #9 05-08-2006, 07:17 AM

If your machinest doesn't know how far he can go on this engine you have your heads w/ the wrong machinist.. I send all my blocks/heads/cranks..you name it to a guy on Long Island. We have been using him for over 20 years and he has been supplying us w/ spot on work for all that time.

I would Highly recomend you send what ever it is you are doing to him.
516 741 6579, his name is Joe Getler.

Let him know I sent you and you'll be fine.

BTW, the only cars where 'not much is involved' in modding the engine is a Chevy or Ford.. Anything having to do w/ making a Mercedes go quickly is Always going to involve a lot of time and money!

Jonathan

vcci · #10 05-08-2006, 02:18 PM

I will ask the michinist about skimming the heads and by his response I will know if I should let him do it or not. I have been using this guy for quite a while and I know he's been doing this for at least 20 years so I trust he knows what he's doing but if I feel he's not able to skim it correctly I will just have him resurface and pressure test the head and leave it at that as I don't want to cause headaches down the road. I thank you all for helping and will let you know how it went and what I ended up doing.

BenzMacX · #11 05-22-2006, 08:30 PM

Anytime you pull the head you might as well replace the valves, valve guides ect.. because of the labor required to remove the head, you don't want to have to do it again later, so you might as well get it all done in one shot. We have had to take the head off two 16Vs and there is just no point in doing all that work and leaving parts that have over 100,000miles on them in the car.

Al Magaloff · #12 05-22-2006, 09:01 PM

"Anytime you pull the head you might as well replace the valves, valve guides ect.. " I don't agree. If the parts are within spec, there is no advantage in replacing them, and depending on what machine shop is doing the work, by replacing the valves and guides, they can quite possibly make the head worse than before. Not all machine shops are qualified to work within the specs of some OE's. MBZ diesel being one case in point.

BenzMacX · #13 05-22-2006, 10:08 PM

Why would you bring your mercedes head to a machine shop that could not work on Mercedes heads?

It really depends on the milage, if its lower milage, probably under 100,000, then your probably ok, but over 100,000 you might as well, particularly if you have a commitment to the car (i.e. you like it and intend on keeping it) as blowing a valve is much worse than a head gasket as you run the risk of damaging the piston and the cylinder walls. But if thats a risk you want to take, go for it, its not my car, or my $3000+.

Al Magaloff · #14 05-23-2006, 04:58 AM

Well BenzMac, every machine shop will "say" they can. In your expertise, how would you choose? I'm not sure what " blowing a valve" means, and I've been in the machine shop business for a long time. If you are referring to the head of the valve parting company with the valve stem, that is not likely to happen because of mileage. If you are referring to burning the valve, that is also not mileage related. If you do replace parts, I would buy the valves from MBZ, not the aftermarket. I've noticed many people in the Mercedes Benz community, have misconceptions about what the terms OE, OEM, etc, actually mean.

t walgamuth · #15 05-23-2006, 08:49 AM

i suggest checking with mike at metric motors to see how much you can mill.

but personally if it were mine, i would just check for straightness skim for a good seal and put it back together, unless things looked worn enough to warrent replacing parts. a good three angle valve job if mileage warrents it too. you dont say how many miles, but i am guessing it doesnt have enough to warrent even a valve job.

do you know why it blew the gasket?

any modifications to increase power to a noticable degree will get expensive fast and that engine is already pretty good.

tom w