Thanks for all the input to my questions. After seriously contemplating this engine I have decided to just keep it stock. my goal with this engine is to build it tough and build it right. As much money as these parts cost and as much work as it is, I am not planning on doing this again for at least 300,000 miles. Besides from what I have seen, when these engines are blueprinted and freshly built they purr like a sewing machine. I have been doing some parts research on the web and found a couple of what I think are decent sites. The first is http://germanstar.net I can get rod and main bearing, thrust, head gasket set, lower gasket set, valve guide seals, and valve guides for $292.95. The second site is www.sasponline.com so far they have the cheapest oversize piston I can find at $694.00 for a set of five. The last site if I remember right was jem.benzparts, they have wrist pin bushings for $44.60. All this would put me at $1031.55 minus the block machine work cost. Do these prices sound decent? I am able to save costs on the head by rebuilding it myself. After all this is done and running, I pan on resealing both windshields and repainting. The car is currently white with black interior. I was thinking of going with black exterior and try to locate a set 17" chrome mbz rims. Do all Mercedes cars have the same lug pattern, what year and model rims would fit this description? Thanks again for the input, I really enjoy this site.