I don't have any first hand experience with this innards of this motor, but in any situation where you're considering using longer bolts, you must do two things first:

- Make sure the hole has more than room to spare. A small length of wire poked in the hole will confirm this. You really, really don't want the bolt to bottom out.

- Make sure that the bottom of the hole isn't facing something moving that a longer bolt might hit. That will be even more fatal.

Also, using a mixture of correct bolts and slightly longer ones will probably cause the next mechanic to make a mistake if (s)he's not expecting it.

-CTH

cth350 do you honestly think that i would recommend an action that i had not already tried and proven?there is no speculation here i'm advising based on experience with more than one 103 engine that i have worked on for this same problem.the mechanic that tightened the bolts in the first place was probably not aware that the threads had pulled.he would have had to have had experience with this problem to have suspected this.in the holes there are 8-10mm of spare threads.if you get one that bottoms out you just use an extra 2mm of washer under the bolt head.

^^^ Yup, if the bolt hole has that many threads left, I'd use a longer bolt. That's the least invasive way.

What the mechanic did update!!
 

Well, of course it's bad news. Removed the VC, and basically reached in and pulled the #5 rocker arm assembly off :eek:. All but one bolt was broken off in the head. The top of the intake valve is beat to death and is stuck closed. Try as it may the rocker couldn't push it down and instead broke the crappy bolts the mechanic used and beat the heck out of the VC. I am assuming he used the "longer bolt" technique already:P. Yay! My planned course of action is as follows:

1. Remove head
2. Take to MB mechanic and have him: a. Replace the valve. b. Extract broken bolts and re-tap threads (Helicoil?)
3. Replace head
4. Fill with synthetic oil (10W-40?)
5. Replace VC gasket

I need to have all the parts before I get to the mechanic. Here's my shopping list:

1. Intake valve
2. Valve guide
3. Valve Keeper (2 parts, looks like a wedge mbz009142)
4. Lifter
5. Valve stem seal
6. MB Repair Manual CD's

I am pretty sure this list is not complete. Could you all help me out in making sure I get all I need? The valve is mushroomed pretty bad at the top and will need new stuff from there down. Thee seems to be a part at the top of the spring I can't find? Also, I cant find the Rocker Arm Assembly here anywhere. Any Ideas if it turns out I need one? Any other suggestions? Thanks all for any help you can give me.

Pictures of the job will be posted as I looked here and could not find the job being done.

Thanks again for any help!
Jed

You could find a used head cheaper.

Last one I bought was $100.00 with a cam too.