300 te...bad cam?
 

1989 300te...I was at the mechanic's today...as a result of loud tapping sound, the valve cover was removed, to reveal a worn lobe at cylinder #1. What to do now? I could drive it "into the ground", but I know that eventually it will start 'missing' and causing me grief. I could get rid of the car, but I have put $$$ into it (new hydraulic suspension parts, new shocks, some bushings here and there... money).
Mechanic says "Look for a clean used cam with the rockers- must have mated rockers or I will need new ones".
Where do I get such an item...one that I can trust and won't blow out in 6 months?
Any thoughts on the matter?

I've seen several 103s in junkyards, nobody touches the engines, they go to the crusher. I'm guessing they're not too hard to find used.

Can the cam be replaced easily? On older straight 6 motors, some of the head bolts have to be removed and that's not good for an old head gasket.

Parts motors are abundant. -CTH

No head bolts need to be disturbed on an M103.

just be aware that you may:D need thread inserts for at least some of the cam tower bolts. Also, early and late cams had different diameter sprocket bolts. Match what you have or get both new cam and sprocket together. Performance is the same.

I just bought one from sun valley mb wreaking yard, make sure you get the dist drive as there are 2 different ones, the cam was $100 plus rockers, I bought new ones