We have a 1987 300d with a rebuilt 603. the mechanic working on it wants to put a head from a 350 onto this 300. He said it was "beefier" and more "robust".

Is this good, bad, or ugly?

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77' 300D, "Cartman" SOLD @ 150K (didn't know what I had)
83' 300SD, "The Superdon" 325k+ @ 28mpg
95 E320 wagon, "Millennium Falcon" 231k+ @ 24 Mpg
95 E300D, "Sherley" 308k @ 33.69 Mpg, currently anticipating a head
99 Suzuki Intruder "Trudy" @ 45 mpg

I think you'll also need to swap over the pre-chambers from the 300 head, as the 350 pre-chambers will lower the compression-ratio.....

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http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z...0TDnoplate.jpg

Alastair AKA H.C.II South Wales, U.K. based member

W123, 1985 300TD Wagon, 256K,
-Most recent M.B. purchase, Cost-a-plenty, Gulps BioDiesel extravagantly, and I love it like an old dog.

W114, 1975 280E Custard Yellow,
-Great above decks needs chassis welding--Really will do it this year....

There should be no argument with his thoughts. Easier if he can get the fuel injection lines with the used head as well. The old lines do not fit the same. Depends a little on cost though.

I would do it at the drop of a hat if the original #14 head was on the engine. I imagine you would not be doing this unlesss you want to keep the car. A lot better than the constant concern of when the old head might crack. It may never but odds are it very well might as well.

Others will mention if the prechambers have to be modified at all. I just cannot remember. Overall a real upgrade to the 603 engine of your vintage in my opinion.

The prechambers match the head, and injectors match the prechambers, as do the glowplugs, injection lines match the new angle of the injectors.

If your car has a #14 head, you will want the new head complete with prechambers, injectors, glow-plugs, and injection lines. You can modify the pre-chambers from your #14 head (the original head in '87) but since you're paying for labor, it will probably be cheaper to just buy the ones that are in the 3.5L head.

If you have the donor car, get the glow-plug relay and its harness, and the temp-sensor it plugs into and you'll have the "afterglow mod".

Your mechanic appears to know 603s, if the original head is on the '87 it has a known weakness, which the later heads did not.

Ask which casting number is on the old and new heads.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Sounds good. I'll add the pre chamber and fuel line comments to the swap. This is a car we are working on for a client and it has a rebuilt tranny and rebuilt motor, now we are swapping the head.



This 87 300D will be completely restored at the end of the show.

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77' 300D, "Cartman" SOLD @ 150K (didn't know what I had)
83' 300SD, "The Superdon" 325k+ @ 28mpg
95 E320 wagon, "Millennium Falcon" 231k+ @ 24 Mpg
95 E300D, "Sherley" 308k @ 33.69 Mpg, currently anticipating a head
99 Suzuki Intruder "Trudy" @ 45 mpg

If this is a project and you have the donor car, you might also consider using the turbo from the 3.5L, it is a slightly higher trim and has no ARV, although slightly shorter intake, eliminate the airflow sensor under the filter box, re-plumb the whole thing. Better still would be to find a replacement air filter assembly that will fit down in that well ahead of the inner fender better after all of the emissions stuff is removed, the challenge there being how to bring the cold air in from the fender as original.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Will the new head relieve the noisy lifter issue we have been having? the 603 head's lifters are all new and still noisy, we are hoping the new head will help with oiling the lifters.

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77' 300D, "Cartman" SOLD @ 150K (didn't know what I had)
83' 300SD, "The Superdon" 325k+ @ 28mpg
95 E320 wagon, "Millennium Falcon" 231k+ @ 24 Mpg
95 E300D, "Sherley" 308k @ 33.69 Mpg, currently anticipating a head
99 Suzuki Intruder "Trudy" @ 45 mpg

If the lifters were tapping they were probably defective. How much are new ones? INA brand ones are holding up fine in my 1.6 VWs.

-J

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1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

600-700 oem from the dealer
325$ here from the good people at fastlane.

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77' 300D, "Cartman" SOLD @ 150K (didn't know what I had)
83' 300SD, "The Superdon" 325k+ @ 28mpg
95 E320 wagon, "Millennium Falcon" 231k+ @ 24 Mpg
95 E300D, "Sherley" 308k @ 33.69 Mpg, currently anticipating a head
99 Suzuki Intruder "Trudy" @ 45 mpg

Hmm... rather spendy.