So I was reading some stuff on the rod bender engine the 350 motor. The wiki article states that a bad head gasket is the cause for the rod bending as it leaks enough oil cause a hydraulic lock up and hence bending the rod. Is this really the core problem for the rod bending?

Take a minute and do a search

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1996 s10 zr2 with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1996 c2500 suburban with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1981 300sd with a turbo 617
Monte carlo figure 8 car

X2 but you will find a lot more reading than a minute would allow. You statement is only one of the many possible failure modes that have been discussed.

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Charles
1983 300D, bought new, 215k+ miles, donated to Purple Hearts veterans charity but I have parts for sale: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=296386

I was allowing a entire minute for the search...

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1996 s10 zr2 with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1996 c2500 suburban with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1981 300sd with a turbo 617
Monte carlo figure 8 car

That is the only theory that I feel is possilbe. That and the possibility of carbon building up enough to cause the rod to bend.

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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.

Didn't they beef up the rods?

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Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

I am not an expert on them- but from what I have read I believe Mercedes put the blame on lower cetane fuel used in US. I know these are also prone to head gasket failure but I don't think they are related.

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81 300D Turbo 190K sold
83 300sd 319K best $500 I ever spent-daily driverw/ 2 tank WVO set up

Whomever submitted the wikki article apparently has made up his mind.

However, there are several theories, none have been proven/documented yet, and some are very passionate about their theories.

I agree, do some reading, spend the day reading about it. What I think that you'll find is that there is not yet a smoking gun, probably never will be, and if you find a good one with a reman engine, your risks are low.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

I mean if they do have head gasket failures they should have looked to resolve that problem first before looking into other possibilities. It is strange that it only occurs on the 3.5 motor. The 3 litres motor is almost identical.

Hardly!
the 3 liter motor has sleeves, the 3.5 does not (no room for them in the block with the larger bore!)
the 3 liter has LONGER rods which give a better angle during power stroke
the 3 liter has a shorter stroke which gives the crankshaft a more meat for strength.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
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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!

That is what I pointed out and I believe it has piston rock at BDC.

I swear someone said the sleeves were lengthened.

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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.

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