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  #1  
Old 09-18-2010, 08:13 PM
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cracked head

I am looking at an 87 SDL with approx 175k miles total but 20k on a rebuilt engine. Seller says engine was rebuilt because of a cracked head, which I understand the SDL's were prone to because of the aluminum. Should the rebuilt engine put me at ease or are there other issues I should be weary of when buying a car after the head cracked?

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Old 09-18-2010, 08:14 PM
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Rebuilding a M-B engine is either very expensive, or not very comprehensive at all.

Perhaps most of the parts were still good. Perhaps the rebuild didn't replace all that needed replacing. And last of all, perhaps no rebuild took place.
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Old 09-18-2010, 08:25 PM
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Thanks. So my plan is to look at the receipt for the rebuild, talk to the mechanic who did it, and have an independent mechanic look it over. Any other steps I should take? Any specific issues I should have the mechanic look into?
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  #4  
Old 09-18-2010, 09:12 PM
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Too much stuff that could be wrong with any car, but it's always a crap-shoot to buy something used.

A compression test will tell something, but it's harder to do on a diesel. Timing chain stretch can be easily measured and guide wear evaluated at least in part, if he pulls the valve cover.
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Old 09-18-2010, 09:32 PM
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The rebuild means absolutely nothing if it doesn't include a new head. Check the head casting number by the #2 injector. It should be of the form 603 016 XX 01 where XX should be a number higher than 14; like 17, 18, 20 or 22. If it's 14, either they repaired the head or found one in [hopefully] better condition. You're really rolling the dice if it still sports a 14 head. If it's a later casting, find out whether they made the old style injectors work on the later casting or upgraded to later injectors. It's not a deal killer either way but a blank stare in response suggests the shop isn't qualified to do the job they say they did.

You might be in better shape if the seller is embellishing a head replacement as a rebuild.

Is there any warranty that transfers to a subsequent owner?

Sixto
87 300D
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Old 09-18-2010, 11:11 PM
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Thanks Sixto for the awesome response! Both educational and practical.
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  #7  
Old 09-18-2010, 11:22 PM
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To clarify for the future, I'm not disparaging #14 heads. In this particular case, I assume an accurate diagnosis that the head has cracks. Repairing a head with cracks is IMO not worth the money. Replacing with a known good #14 head is reasonable, but whose opinion should one of us trust that a used #14 head is good?

Sixto
87 300D
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Old 09-19-2010, 04:47 PM
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What is the significance of getting a # above 14? Does that mean it is not made of aluminum?
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  #9  
Old 09-19-2010, 05:11 PM
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Still aluminum but re-... uhh... formulated to be more tolerant of overheating.

Sixto
87 300D
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Old 09-19-2010, 08:14 PM
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can a 606 head be bolted onto a 603 block?
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  #11  
Old 09-19-2010, 09:06 PM
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Probably from a bolt pattern standpoint but the prechamber and valve reliefs in 603 pistons won't align with their 606 counterparts. And the 606 has four valves to the 603's two. I imagine the front covers are different as well.

Sixto
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