On advice from friend/MBZ mechanic to remove spark plugs in order to try and turn engine (see other thread titled "86 560SEL, what happened??"), i removed air cleaner for easier access. Since it was my first time seeing what was underneath the air cleaner of a 5.6 I was looking around closely.

Unbelievably, my intake manifold has a hole in it!! tried to take picture but is blurry and dark even with shop light shining on it.

this is so disheartening. locked up engine and now hole in manifold. on a car with 64K miles?

should i just resign myself to parting her out?

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R Martin
Dallas, TX (Addison)

86 560SEL, 128K

i just noticed that on the other side of the intake manifold or at least i think it is the intake manifold, what the throttle body bolts to, there are round quarter inch holes in the valleys. are the holes supposed to be there??

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R Martin
Dallas, TX (Addison)

86 560SEL, 128K

Never mind, my mechanic says the holes belong there. What i'm looking at is the "air plenum"? not the intake manifold.

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R Martin
Dallas, TX (Addison)

86 560SEL, 128K

Don't force it you will just do more damage. I'd yank the valve covers and take a look at the chains. If it skipped pull the heads and see if the pistons are OK. If they are send the heads out (I'd use Metric Motors), and see what its going to cost you to fix.

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1969 280SE
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