So I am looking at this car- a 1978 240D. The owner says that the chain was installed wrong and then the car was attempted to be started. Brilliant. Report is that a few parts were "cracked around the cam" and were replaced. I think it is best to assume that at least valves were also bent/damaged, which has not been adressed. Car will not start, with timing chain now installed correctly and cracked parts around cam replaced. But here is my question- would this car most likely need a new head with all the parts, or would I expect lower end damage also? Any other comments? Walk away or try to fix? I could put a new/rebulit head on but more than that I am not really interested.... Thanks

... are they giving the car away? or does it have a 5 speed or something? a 78 240 in great shape is not worth a great deal, a damaged one better have some really nice paint and interior to be worth messing with.
if they are asking any money, it better be a totally rust free example with pristine seats, and new tires on it. and it better have the aluminum hubbies wheels, and a full tank of fuel.
if it's auto, and the a/c works, you will have difficulty pulling a hill with the a/c on. the york a/c is a good compressor, but it sucks 1/4 of the power the motor makes.
couple that with the power robbing characteristics of the auto trans, and it just does not seem a great vehicle. throw onto that a bad head, and possibly a bad set of pistons, and it's really not a very appealing vehicle.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Piston collision with valves, walk away

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Cheers!
Scott McPhee

1987 300D

There is actually 2 major issues.
The first always is if the seller is telling the whole story.
If it was me I would like to know why the Timing Chain was being replaced to begin with. Maybe the real story is the original Chain snapped while the Car was running at a higher speed and load and it cracked those parts that were replaced.
(In the above case there is a good chance Pistons, Valves, Head and related parts were damaged.)
So they decided to replace the Chain and the cracked parts and see if it was OK.

However, if the the story in the first post is true it is possible for the Pistons and the Head to be reusable (it stll should be pulled to check for bent Valves and cracked Valve Guides).
I manged to drop a Screwdriver into the Timing Belt on my Volvo Diesel while the Engine was idling. The Head on it is Aluminum as well as the entire Pistons (no Steel inserts); so it is not nearly as sturdy as a 240D Engine.

The Damage was a few Bent Vlaves and it cracked 4 or 5 of the Tappets/Valve Lifters.
I pulled the Head and replaced the bent and cracked items and I am still driving it now.
Note: the Camshaft Bearing Journals are actuall part of the Head and there is no Bearing Towers to Crack on the Volvo Engine (made by VW).

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

It is possible to break cam towers without damaging pistons or valves. It could be non start due to the cam installed 180 degrees off.

compression test will reveal broken or bent valves.

I would do compression test first, adjust valves second.

The 180 degree off thing can be analized visually, I think.

ask Barry here.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

The guy would have to pay me $1500 to take the car off his hands, and then, I would look for a good used engine instead of dropping money into a bottomless pit like this.

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96 E300d

the car is in very good condition inside and out- yet it is an automatic with a/c and no aluminum wheels. the basically unanimous opinions here helped me not waste any time. thanks!

The presence of hub caps on a Benz does not guarantee steel wheels.

A 100% good, rust free, body with a pristine interior that was "garage kept"(most of its life, anyway) is worth money to an "enthusiast", engines are easy too come by or fix, but a nice body......not easy too find

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

It is a good reminder to all that even if you think you have done a perfect job changing the Timing Chain Rotate the Engine by hand at least 2 complete rotations (in the direction of normal rotation) before you attempt to start it!
If the Seller or who ever worked on the Car had done that they would be driving it.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel