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  #1  
Old 04-03-2014, 06:11 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12
ISO 603 replacement cylinder head advice

In early Feb I decided to take my 86 300SDL with 221,000 mi in to get the head gasket replaced, as it was blown out at the front of the timing chain cover. Lo and behold, the cylinder is cracked. Good ole #14. I'm been on a search now for 2 months for a used replacement, but all 5 candidates found now have show signs of cracking or pitting, mostly #14s and a single #17.

The latest candidate is a 603.016.20.01 attached to an entire pulled engine, sans exhaust manifold and turbo. Owner is asking $350 for the entire engine, and is not interesting in pulling the head.

Is there any sense in trying to haggle the price down to $300, and then hope for a good cylinder head, with the thought that if its not, I could sell other parts of the engine to get back to zero on my wager?

Any thoughts on looking for signs of a cracked cylinder head on an non-running engine?

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  #2  
Old 04-04-2014, 11:13 AM
Diesel Preferred
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Charleston SC
Posts: 2,788
I'd buy the engine if any evidence (like a video) of the engine running can be provided. Also nice to see would be the maintenance records for the car the engine came from, and the mileage. Why was the engine removed? What happened to the turbo/manifold?

Real long shot, but you may be able to get samples of the coolant and the engine oil, and then pay for tests, coolant tested for presence of exhaust gas, oil test for presence of coolant.

If you are satisfied with the engine, or can at least get a 30-day money-back guarantee, install the complete engine and see how she runs. Look for any evidence of a cracked head like an exhaust system which remains pressurized overnight, or coolant mixing with the engine oil.
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/s/
M. Dillon
'87 124.193 (300TD) "White Whale", ~392k miles, 3.5l IP fitted
'95 124.131 (E300) "Sapphire", 380k miles
'73 Balboa 20 "Sanctification"
Charleston SC
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  #3  
Old 04-04-2014, 10:09 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Fredericksburg, VA
Posts: 444
Maybe wipe the interior of the coolant connections and see if there is any oil residue.


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1987 300TD named Klause
1987 300TD named Spouse
1987 300D named Seabiscuit
1980 300TD names Chloie (now sadly gone)
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  #4  
Old 04-05-2014, 11:19 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: MN
Posts: 1,253
If the engine was pulled because the car was totaled in a crash, well, OK maybe.
If the car was parked because it didn't run anymore... keep looking.
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Greg
2012 S350 BlueTEC 4Matic
2007 ML 320 CDI
2007 Leisure Travel Serenity
2006 Sprinter 432k
2005 E320 CDI
1998 SLK230 (teal)
1998 SLK230 (silver)
1996 E300D 99k, 30k on WVO
Previous:
1983 240D, on WVO
1982 300D, on WVO
1983 300CD, on WVO
1986 300SDL 237k, 25k on WVO (Deerslayer)
1991 350SDL 249k, 56k on WVO - Retired to a car spa in Phoenix
1983 380 SEC w/603 diesel, 8k on WVO
1996 E300D 351k, 177k on WVO
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  #5  
Old 04-05-2014, 05:50 PM
Benzguy300
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Fontana Ca
Posts: 1,573
Do research on the #16 head it might be a head for a non turbo engine I know #17,18,20,22 are heads for turbo engines and the original #14
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  #6  
Old 04-05-2014, 06:58 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
Posts: 1,623
Quote:
Originally Posted by benzguy300 View Post
Do research on the #16 head it might be a head for a non turbo engine I know #17,18,20,22 are heads for turbo engines and the original #14
603.016.20.01 = #20 head

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My 1987 300TD wagon was sold and my 2003 W210 E320 wagon was totaled (sheds tear).
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