Head question, we have a 87 300TD with a cracked head, we have a 91 350SDL engine with a good head. Will the 350 head fit the 300? Not only fit, but will it function correctly? I have a feeling the 350 head might have a larger pre-combustion camber volume due to the increased piston displacement.
Thanks

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-Randy Wakefield

1969 220D 4 speed (parts car)
1976 280C
1976 280S
1981 240D 4 speed (parts car)
1982 300D
1983 300TD (Ivory)
1983 300TD (gold)
1985 300TD (gray)
1987 190D 2.5
1970 280SEL (sold)
1977 240D 4 speed (sold)
1974 280 (rusted to death)
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1927 Chevy 4 door sedan
1938 Chevy 2 door sedan
1950 Willys Jeepster
1955 Studebaker President 4 door
1977 Ford F250
1979 Glastron 17'
1948 John Deere A
1960 John Deere 2010
1979 Satoh S650G
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2000 Bichon (Doby)

Regardless of the advice you get & I have no idea about the comparability, I would be taking the 2 off the motors & placing them side by side. Are the head gaskets identical? Your pre-chamber question can be solved easily. Fill a pre-chamber from each head with diesel from a measuring cylinder & see what the volumes are. if they are within a few mls I wouldnt loose sleep as carbon build up can be more than that.
You may need to surface the head so that the new gasket mates well. If it could work, it would be a good use for rod bender heads.

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Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

350 head should work, the injector lines need to go with it. because of the angled injectors that the 87 did not have.

Yes it will fit. Need the lines, injectors, etc.

MANY people put the 3.5L heads on the 3.0L motors.

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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

Hey, why not? The 3.5L has bottom end problems and the 3.0L usually has top end problems.

I'm not entirely certain, but I think the extra displacement was from the block, not the cylinder head. You won't be changing your displacement.

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1982 240D, sold 9/17/2008
1987 300D TurboW124.133 - 603.960, 722.317 - Smoke Silver Metallic / Medium Red (702/177), acquired 8/15/2009
262,715 and counting

Uh, what?

__________________
I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

Yes the head is 100% compatible, an upgrade for the 603.96x engines.

The injector hard-lines, injectors, pre-chambers, glow-plugs, and the two bolts in the chain cavity will go with the new head onto the old engine.

Remember that you now will be buying injectors and glow-plugs for a '91 SDL.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff