I heard a really disturbing sound today when I tried to start my 86 420 sel(unknown miles, best guess 350k), most like a crunch and grind at the same time. The old girl cranked again but v e r y s l o w l y... I'm thinking timing chain... hope I'm wrong...
Thanks for any help.
Mike

Pop the left bank valve cover and take a look. It could be the chain, I wouldn't try starting it until you verify the chain is intact.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

Seems that the rocker on at least one of the cylinders has become loose- bent valve huh?
was quoted 3800.00 to fix....
looks like it's going to the boneyard

Well, at least you got your money's worth, I hope. Any further description of the post-mortem? Wonder when the last time the guides/tensioner/etc were changed...

__________________
86 560SL
With homebrew first gear start!
85 380SL
Daily Driver Project

http://juliepalooza.8m.com/sl/mercedes.htm

bought the car used, absolutely no idea of prior work history
best guess on miles +350K

Did you pop the left bank valve cover or just look at the cam & rocker throught the oil fill? If you pulled the cover a broken chain would be readily noted due to the bare sprocket. $3800 sounds like a complete upper end job due to t-chain failure.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

i popped the valve cover-the chain is intact, looks like some of the support (plastic looking) for the chain has disintegrated...

Good news that the chain is intact, however with the chain guide(s) possibly broken you could have jumped time, which could cause bent valves. On the up side this means your cam is likely safe, quite often the left side cam breaks into several pieces when a chain lets go. Sounds like the cost of repair might have just gone down...significantly if it is DIY.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

This car is worth repairing; you couldn't buy a decent car of any kind for what it will cost to repair it.
You gotta do it yourself, the cost is much more reasonable. That is how these cars go down: they get old and cost so much to repair at dealers and garages, that people junk them.
I was buying tires Friday; heard the shop quote an old guy $1100 to replace the ball joints in a Ford Ranger pickup. What a shame. Truck looked like it was about 3 years old.
Don't be afraid; it's not any more difficult to repair than anything else.
By the way: I have one just like it: 1986, Diamond blue metallic.

Didn't panic, but the car has gone to its Valhalla.

Went directly, did not pass go-

did not collect 200.00 doll-halla's....


I need a replacement, eventually, after I'm done grieving.

A grease conversion diesel, perhaps...