The car in question is a 1997 C230 sedan with the 111974 engine - the earlier version. I have successfully remove the cylinder head and replaced a bad head gasket. Set the crank position to 20° after TDC. Reset and installed the 6mm locking pins in the camshaft sprockets per MITCHELL SERVICE MANUAL specifications. My setup was a perfect duplication of the manual's illustrations (supplied by MB). The results are, when I rotate the engine by hand, it is a smooth and without much resistance. When rotating engine with the starter engaged, it spin rapidly, without compression and vapor are pumped out of the throttle body. And of course, the car will not fire.

Upon close inspection, I found 2 locking holes on the exhaust camshaft sprocket mount, and 3 holes on the intake. Which do I use? I have tried 3 different positions, so far, and all have been incorrect. I located a setting where the No.1 and No. 6 lobes are 180° opposite - that didn't seem right - I think I heard piston/valve contact in this arrangement. I have not found a source of comprehensive or stable data on this particular setup.

I have search the net/forum for specifics with no luck. The illustration published by MB show 2 identical camshaft sprockets. The difference is that I have 2 very different camshaft sprockets.

Anyone with a clue as to the correct arrangement, I would certainly appreciate any and all comments and advise.

Best Regards,
davidrol

Hi,

If you have a fax# I can fax you some pages from the Haynes manual that might help. Or I could mail it if you are not in a hurry!! Sorry I don't have the actual answer for you. The Haynes manual has about 1 page on cam timing and 7 pages on complete head gasket procedure.

Mike

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1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra

Cam timing isn't about the sprockets but the cams..the intake cam will rotate itself into the correct position when you rotate the engine to 20deg. AT that point you shouldn't have to MOVE anything to allow the pins into the camshafts. IF you have to move the gear or the cam to install the pins, then the cam timing is incorrect.

IF you think the timing is correct OR in-correct then rotate the engine 2 complete rotations & recheck the timing..again after rotating the engine the intake will be at its CORRECT location.

DON'T forget to re-set the tensioner & assemble it in the engine NOT on the bench.

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