Yeah, my mechanic friend thought it was just the head gasket, says he's not seen any that cracked (and he probably hasn't --he retired a couple years ago). I got a good deal on the car because we thought the head was bad and/or the head gasket was bad at the time (heavy knock, shaking at idle, low compression in a couple cylinders but no oil consumption), so I got 100,000 miles for free.

I'll check out the head this weekend and if it needs new guides will get that done before I tangle with it.

It sure helps to have done a couple, the job shrinks amazingly with practice!

And the head gasket WAS blown, completely separate from the cracks, those were a new thing. I suspect that it was installed badly OR the head itself "went bad" as the gasket was the original type without re-inforcement at the front oil passage.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!