So I have read a lot of post here and have one simple question. Are there any special tools required to do a head gasket on a 1990 300E 2.6? I am also all ears for tips. Everything I have seen seems pretty straight forward.

Have a look through this thread.

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/engine/49516-howto-change-head-gasket-12v-3ltr-m103.html

Pretty good write up.
It's pretty straightforword, but there are a couple of tricks.
You definitely need a stout 12-point bit to pull the head bolts loose.
We've used a super-hard pull on a big breaker bar, while we hit the top of the tool with a brass hammer, to break those babies loose. They are tight.
The chain tensioner spring is pretty stout - when you put it back in, you will need to fabricate a socket of sorts to wedge between the tensioner cap and the smog pump or something in order to get the spring pushed in and the threads on the tensioner cap started. Just McGiver it.
You can remove the entire fan assembly with the center allen bolt, if you hold it from turning with the little "L" shaped "welding rod" tool behind the pulley. You've probably seen it here.

Good luck.

Another tip, just keep all things in the same order they came off. Organization.

Hose the manifold studs with some good penetrating oil before trying to remove, I snapped one off pulling a head in the JY.

Since you have to drain all the coolant, I would replace ALL of the hoses under the hood and perform a coolant flush while in there.



How old are the ignition components?

How old is the water pump?

Does the front main seal leak?

How do all the rubber vacuum connectors look?



If any of these items are suspect, replace now.

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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

Thanks for that!

My recommendation would be to purchase the flywheel locking tool (if you don't already own one) and lock the crank in when you have it at #1tdc. Let's just say it "keeps things straight".

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Jim

The only problem we found is removing the threaded dowel from the cam chain tensioner...
Use a bolt put thru a long socket, as an extractor.

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2009 Mercedes ML320 Bluetec