ok,
so i installed everything except the airbox, this is a non-turbo 603 btw.
anyway, after quite a few cranks, the engine sputtered to life, it didn't idle as rough as i would have thought, in fact it seemed it to idle just right, though there were a lot of noises, i guess the lifters still haven't filled up with oil.
anyway, what should i expect from a newly fired engine with a rebuilt head? it sat for a month. how long should the noises last?
almost everything in the head is new, all the valves, guides, valve seats, seals, chain have been replaced.
What i didn't change are the lifters, cam and sprocket.

I didn't re-time the IP though, i'm not exactly sure but i think its set at around 5* ATDC, past the OT mark on the crank.
I alligned the Cam/tower mark with the OT mark at the crank.
What i did was i rotated the engine while peering through the inspection hole on the IP, i stopped rotating when i located the "line" through the hole on the IP. is it supposed to be a protruding line? or a recessed line? it seemed as though it was raised and not recessed. Am i looking at the right marking? i didn't see anything that resembled a "line" except for the one i assume is the mark..
i know the IP should be at 15* ATDC, is the 10* difference that significant? i'm guessing it is.

I let the car idle for a while, black smoke at the exhaust was evident when stepping on the throttle, not that much but its there, the throttle response seemed fine, not at all sluggish...

i did notice some bubbling at the number 1 prechamber collar, i don't have the tools to remove this...

SO... is the 5* ATDC IP setting responsible for the black smoke?
IF EVER, is IP retiming a DIYer? I managed to do the head removal and assembly on my own... i was afraid to push it with the IP.

__________________

85 190E 2.3(SOLD)
86 230E (-->300D) sold
87 300D (-->300TD) sold
68 250S w/ a 615 and manual tranny (RIP)
87 300TD (SOLD)
95 S280 "The KRAKEN" (Turbo 2.9 602 transplant) traded
86 190E 2.3... current project

Yes, you were looking at the protruded line, I like to think it looks like the business end of a slotted screw driver. I used a 3/8 wooden dowel and cut a slot dead center and when the governor body of the IP has that slot lined up perfectly in the hole, the center slot of the dowel pin will slide right on indicating the IP is centered. You can then look at the flywheel to see where the pointer is pointing. You mentioned 10 degrees after, that's close but I believe 15 degrees after is more ideal. And while black smoke is not unusual, my turboed 603 has little to no black smoke after running it up to temperature. It may take a little while for all lifters to fill, and also injectors may be making noise too. What about your belt tensioner? They wear out and make ticking sounds that are often mistaken for lifters and injectors. Lifters can and do wear out as well.

I'd run it for a week or more to let things settle out and get better acquainted with the sounds. It's hard much of the time detecting what sounds you hear are and there are ways to detect for sure which are which. Just keep an eye on your guages, oil, temp, as oil will idle at 1-1/2 bar and above 1000 rpm should peg at 3 bar. Temps should average between 80c and 100c Much above 100c is not normal.

Also, do you know how to set the IP timing? If not, loosen slightly (not remove) all bolts holding the IP to the block, then turn the set screw (forgot which direction, but you can test this turning one way or the other until you reach 15 degrees ATDC)

Note, I am not fully sure that 15 ATDC may be correct for a non-turbo 603, it may be, but I am not acquainted with knowledge for a non-turbo 603, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn express last night!

hmmmm, that dowel trick sounds good, i may opt to remove the IP to do the timing. I'm at 5* ATDC give or take, i think more than 5* off merits an IP removal to retime...

How can you not have knowledge about a non-turbo when you stayed at the holliday inn?! they still have those non-turbo attendants don't they?

__________________

85 190E 2.3(SOLD)
86 230E (-->300D) sold
87 300D (-->300TD) sold
68 250S w/ a 615 and manual tranny (RIP)
87 300TD (SOLD)
95 S280 "The KRAKEN" (Turbo 2.9 602 transplant) traded
86 190E 2.3... current project