Some interesting comments from Ken300D and psfred.

First of all, I'm really surprised that glow plug pieces can get into the cylinder given the small holes in the prechamber that the pieces have to get through. Of course, I guess it doesn't take a very big piece to do damage to a cylinder. I would think a BB could wreck it pretty bad.

The questions about the liners and getting the pan off in frame brought my imagination alive. WHAT IF, these engines had easily replacable liners and were situated such that the pan would come straight off with engine in frame like a '55 Chevy? These cars are so ideal to begin with, I think that would bring them into the PERFECTION category.

On up into the sixties there were cars on which you could do an inframe overhaul. In the early seventies, I had a six cylinder, '66 Mustang that was my work car. It had almost two hundred thousand well cared for miles and needed some attention. I pulled the head, put in rings and bearings, and an oil pump, took the head to the machine shop for a valve job and put it back on. I had less than nine hours in this in fram overhaul. Those were the good ol' days. Of course, the engines and lubricants in those days caused you to need those overhauls more often.

To answer your questions Ken. The liners are simply dry sleeves like the machine shops use on any standard block. The difference with these engines is that these sleeves are used at the factory instead of the cast in cylinders being the wear surface. The machinist bores to the OD of the liner, drives it in, tops it off flush with the deck, then bores and hones to fit the piston. No MB magic here.

Jim,

If you're going to tear it apart anyway, why not just sleeve that cylinder and replace that piston? Have you gotten a better look at the other three cylinders and maybe mic'ed them?

Have a great day,