Hey Pat, since it looks like you might read this, I will ask.

What is the feasibility of buy a used head (complete with cam, etc), and just cleaning it and bolting it on and running it as is, and maybe just replacing the valve seals on both sides?

My car is a 1983 380SEL, and the head has an 82 cast into it.
I have bent valves and a broken cam.

I just checked the Potomac site and it says they have this:

1982 Head(Cylinder)
Mercedes 380 380SEL (126) LEFT- USED 1POTCR $150.35

Is that head going to have a 81 cast in, or 82? Do wrecking yards classify a part like this by the year manufactured or the year the DMV says it is?


If that price is complete with cam, it's a good price, and it would be worth it to pay the shipping to me on the west coast. I'm trying to fix this car on the cheap.

George