Need Some advice, 380 SEC, Ticking noise.
 

I just purchased a 380 SEC, from a fellow over at benzworld. My intentions with the car when i have time will be to swap in a diesel and give myself a second 300 SDC, well on to the topic of this post.

There is ticking, coming from the valve cover, and when I looked through the oil cap, the cam lobe appeared to have some damage on it.

The car has good oil pressure, and does not overheat, I drove it 500 miles today to get it home, but the ticking seemed to become more evident later in the day.

Does this ticking indicate an impending timeing chain failure, The heads on this engine are marked with junkyard grease pen, 85 380 SE, and the car is an 83 380 SEC, so it appears the heads have been changed.

I have no history of this car, but is is relatively safe to drive with the "ticking" noise. I noticed that the car runs alittle rich, and does not have an abundance of power.

The previous owner claimed that the car had been ticking for as long as he owned it.

Lets hear your thoughts

I should add, that I dont really car about this engine, A used 380 engine with issues, isnt worth anything on the market.

I guess what im asking is if i drive it work tomorro, am i gonna be late because the timing chain snapped on me, or could this just be some lifter issues, or the cam oilers.

now that i think about this I doubt anyone can answer this question,

Oh well, Anyone have a timing chain fail on an OM117 or Om116, what does it sound like right before it fails

from
dr bob as for ticking noise i have replaced a trunk full of soft cams and rockers on mb v8 380 and 420 126 models pull off valve cover to inspect cam and rocker you will find both badly worn there is slight chance hydralic lifter is bad but more likely cam and rockers there are aftermarket cams and rockers availble will need all rockers when replacing

Ticking is probably a bad cam lobe (or a few). Had a roasted cam on my m117 (similar engine). Ticked like mad. My m117 still ticks but that's a leaky exhaust manifold... stops if I unplug the #6 injector.

If you replace the cams, replace the rockers and towers as well. The towers are likely worn if the cams are, and the rockers definitely are. Check out one of my first threads here:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/vintage-mercedes-forum/65460-clean-those-camshaft-oilers-please.html

A double-row timing chain has never snapped on an m116 or m117 engine to my knowledge. Yours is likely double-row. What does happen is the guide rail breaks (due to a combination of rail age and timing chain slack). This causes the chain to skip a tooth (or more) on the cam sprocket. Replacing your rails (about $50 and 6 hours DIY labor for a beginner who barely knows how to change oil) can save your engine's life. But it wouldnt tick.

Thanks guys, I looked again and the cam is definitly worn, alteast the lobe i can see, which means the ones i cant see are probably just as bad. Im gonna drive the car tomorro and see what happens,

As I said this 380 is not long for this world, im intalling a 300 617 turbodiesel motor that i have put 60K miles on, as soon as I can get enough room in the shop.

I hope you aren't located in a state where emissions checks are done, then. That swap is illegal in most states.

I had this problem in my 380SL when I bought it, but it was so bad it was a bang. The cam was shot, and many of the followers had visible concavities. I think a big contributing factor to this problem was the oiler tube - it literally lifted off of the cam towers.



Was this the RH (passenger) side?

No emission checks on cars over 20 years here in canada, you could put a jet engine in if you so desired.

the ticking is comming from the passenger side valve cover area, its audiable at almost any engine speed,

I do all my own work on cars, but I had to take it to a mechanic for a safety inspection, he said it was defintly cam and lifter noise.

Although its not good news, its pleasing to know that the chain isnt going to snap on the drive home.