Engine failure

[Ian B Walker]

Well it had to happen. I have to change the cylinder head gasket on my 260E, its only done 228,000 mile too . And here was me thinking it would go for ever. Well chance to look into the beast and see what makes it so smooooooooooth.

 

[Will]

Considered writing to MB to ask for a contribution?

Oh well - one of those things eh, can't grumble with nearly 1/4 million miles on it!

Will

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Engine failure? Don't you mean 'gasket failure'?

hehe You could always buy a Rover, their head gaskets last for ages....

 

[Ian B Walker]

Engine failure? Don't you mean 'gasket failure'?

hehe You could always buy a Rover, their head gaskets last for ages....

I had to edit my title as it was slightly, errr.......... disrespectful

Gaskets on Rovers, yeah shame about the rest of the car though l

 

[aka$h]

These might be of some use:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/mercedes-260E-block-w124-124_W0QQitemZ150055812127

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/mercedes-260E-Head-w124-124_W0QQitemZ150055816247

 

[Ian B Walker]

These might be of some use:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/mercedes-260E-block-w124-124_W0QQitemZ150055812127

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/mercedes-260E-Head-w124-124_W0QQitemZ150055816247

He is a comedian isn't he, can be welded then skimmed

 

[KLP 92]

He is a comedian isn't he, can be welded then skimmed

Look he'll even do it for you if you want, what more could you ask for!

 

[pluggers]

He is a comedian isn't he, can be welded then skimmed

If its an ali head its possible,Ive welded them myself ready for skimming, in the past.

 

[Ian B Walker]

If its an ali head its possible,Ive welded them myself ready for skimming, in the past.

So have, I but would you pay £99 for a damaged head? My reply was sort of tongue in cheek.

 

[pluggers]

Depends on how desperate the buyer is but nope, I doubt I would buy a knackered head either.

 

[ADY1983]

I do have a 3.0L block head everything you need if you fancy doing a swap.. , even got new head gasket and valve seals that I never fitted, bearings need replacing tho..

 

[grober]

Some folks reckon the 2.6 is a sweeter engine with water all round the bores rather than the 3 litre which has siamesed bores. They dont share bore or stroke so I dont know about head swaps? Remember to do the valve seals and maybe the guides?? while the head is off Ian.

 

[Ian B Walker]

Remember to do the valve seals and maybe the guides?? while the head is off Ian.

Just got home after fighting with the exhaust It won Did the valve seals, lapped the valves in and checked the guides. I am amazed at how well it looks inside. No play in the single chain either. Bet the modern Mercs dont look as good after mega miles. I should have taken some pics but was too engrossed in fixing

 

[grober]

Result!

The difficult part in removing the cylinder head on these engines always seems to be removing the bolts securing the timing chain slide rail. As Haynes euphemistically puts it " be prepared for the bearing bolt to be quite tight" and advocates the use of a slide hammer! Glad you got it sorted Ian.:bannana:

 

[Ian B Walker]

Well I have driven it about a fair bit and I am impressed. Its just so silky smooth. I still have a lot of engine cleaning to do but that can wait a while. To remove the pin in the chain rail was easier than I thought it would be. I have a sliding hammer and "adapted" a fixing for the end. Two thumps and there was the pin, undamaged. To those who want to replace the down pipes, there is a trick. Fix the front pipe first. You can do it from within the engine bay Haynes ( Awe bless ) says take the head off complete with manifolds. Believe me when I tell you its better to take the manifolds off the head before removing. Less weight and more manoverable. In hindsight I should have done a HowTo. Is it too late?