Thanks fellas,

Definitely happy that I won't have to pull the engine to do the head.

Another question though please,,,

It is the left head gasket that is leaking at this point, should I go ahead and do the right head gasket as well? Is it a pita to do either one in particular with the engine installed car and would doing both warrant engine removal?

I have ordered up all the parts, OE stuff which was really not as expensive as I was prepared for. Interesting thoughts on the lower block guides, I will see how energetic I am at that point and who knows, maybe I'll pull the front cover. If I am going to go that far I guess threading a chain is a mute point, I have never done one that way because the last V8 I did, a 380, had catastrophic chain and guide failure so I ended up tearing it all down.

Also, on the 380 someone told me the aluminum blocks head bolt threads would need Helicoiling, somehow they are meant for one-use only. I had to Helicoil all of them, very expensive and time consuming. Is that necessary on the 420 blocks?

__________________
Chas

Had a 380SL, 450SL, 380SEL, 420SEL, 500SEL

Got a Euro 500SEC right now.