300E Head Gasket Replacement?
 

Hey everyone this is my first post. My name is Evan, and im sure you will be seeing a lot of me. The time has come that the Cylinder Head needs to be removed, and gaskets replaced. I just have a few questions that i hope you can all help me with. I am doing this job myself.

Does anyone have documentation, or an online resource about doing the head gasket on a 103 engine?

What small things should i do to the engine, while the head is off to ensure it will not have to come off again in a few months for wear and tear maintanence?

What small tips are there that i should know while performing the head gasket fix?

I am buying a new water pump to replace it while the head is off, is this a good idea considering the engine has about 180,000 miles?

Hey thanks everyone!

Good idea to replace the water pump while the head is off..
As far as the head gasket itself on the M103 engine..click on the search feature on this website..type in head gasket replacement 300e...click on perform search. You should get plenty of information from members. Its a good idea to replace the head bolts while you are at it.
Hope that this helps
Phillip
1999 C43

I am doing the same job on a 300SE now. Remove the front timing chain cover and replace the chain guide rails too. You will probably find out that some of the pulleys on the front of the engine need to be changed at this time too.

While the head is off go ahead and have the guides/seals changed out.

While the cylinder head is off, check your valve guides for wear. At your mileage, if it has not been done before, it will pop-up very soon.
How is your oil consumption?
jackd

I have guides on order.. the oil consumption is one quart every 700 miles

Here is what it will look like when it is going back together:). Another nice weekend and I should have this one finished.

don't make this mistake
 

While going through the 300SE engine I ended up replacing the chain guides (oil pump and timing chain) and the timing chain. While the head was in the shop I figured I would go ahead and assemble the front of the engine as shown in the above drawing. Well little did I know that when I put the chain cover on I did not have the bottom end of the chain securely on the bottom sprocket. I got the lower most inside support post between the chain and the sprocket. After I put the head on:) I went to put the cam sprocket back on. Seems the chain was a tad too short. As you can see the front has been stripped back down just because of this mistake. Oh well, at least the cylinder head is on and torqued down:). Hopefully, I will get it back together this week. I will say that it does not take me hardly anytime to get this far:). Oh well - live and learn and learn from your mistakes.