Silk purse outa sow's ear - ye gotta be crazy thinkin rework the rebuilt engine instead of swappin yer reliable parts car engine in there. And new subframe bushings plus A-frames count for alot with 115 suspensions. At best salvage cyl head from the 'build reconnoitring useful item when original parts car longblock hits 350k+ miles.

And I agree with dkveuro that new oversize rings is the only rebuild procedure an original factory ballanced Stuttgart engine oughta ever need. Morons go ape rebuilding these things with "new" imballanced pistons, i dunno why. Meanwhile Deves of Sweden makes aftermarket soft-metal rings specially designed for tired high mileage factory blueprinted Mercedes engines keepin original ballanced pistons, rods and crank intact.

Otherwise yeah it's gospel truth that 1973 and earlier 220D are considered better cars than '74-76 series w115. Buncha factors: German steel workers strike forced MB to import rustprone Russian and Italian steel for sheetmetal circa 73-79. And then there was "safety" lunatics abolished flamable seat glue in '74 that gave old models better upholstery. Plus outlawed corner vent windows for blocking peripheral vision of driver, can ye believe it?

Arguably 1974 was beginning of the end when it came to automobile craftsmanship. Now if it was 1968/69 4-spd 220D with manual sunroof then I'd like to own it myself - reconnoitre $5k USD for one of them in excellent original condition.

__________________
'80 300SD/ w116
'79 240D 4-spd
'71 750cc Guzzi

previously owned:

'83 240D 4-spd
'77 280SEL 4-spd
'74 280/8
'72 250/8
'65 220Sb 4-spd
'63 220Sb 4-spd
'63 190c 4-spd
'61 220Sb 4-spd
'60 190b 4-spd