Niks
MB Enthusiast
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2008
- Messages
- 1,542
Right then, before we start... who wants a brew? 
As some of you may know, during the heatwave in July/August my headgasket in the estate went due to severe overheating issues. I had to get this engine replaced ASAP so I started searching for a temporary replacement engine.
Finding a 300-24V engine's in decent enough condition was almost impossible. At the last minute I came across a rear end crashed SL300-24 with only 92,142 miles on it. The engine and some other bits was promptly bought for £350.
Then it was a case of finding someone who would swap the engines over before the Official Mercedes Benz Club's W124 Day in Lake District - 1st September.
Thankfully, Ian Walker (TMS) who just adores 300-24V engines said he will do it. I had the engine sent to him so he could check it out. Results were better than expected, the engine was in great condition with only a slight low compression in cylinder 6. A new headgasket and water pump was ordered.
On Wednesday 28th August, I turned up at Ian's workshop with the car on a flatbed in Kirkham late afternoon. After driving all day long at 55mph, I was shattered. We got the car off, onto the ramps in the workshop where Ian confirmed "yeah its had it...right then, lets have a brew!"...
A 9.30am start on Thursday 29th, we started the process of draining all fluids, disconnecting everything in the engine bay like the wiring loom, engine and gearbox mounts and so on...
Heres the replacement engine which needed a good clean...
While the head was off from the new engine, I started the process of removing the valve collet's, springs and the valves from the cylinder head with Jimmy. After this I started to grind the valves down and get them clean as possible...
After spending pretty much the whole day grinding down all 24 valves, I was shattered and a brew was in order. Next job was the valve guides but we left that to a little later as we started to remove the engine and gearbox out of the car...
This was pretty hairy than I thought it would be, and after a series of epic cursings, we finally had it out...
8.30pm.. was time to call it a day as both Ian and I were completely shattered! - PS.. no Hobnobs eaten by IBW
Friday 30th with a 9am start, Ian guided me in transferring bits and bobs from the old engine to the new one explaining what some of the components do and their purpose. In the mean time, Jimmy was working on the valve guides on the cylinder head.
Once the head was done, the new headgasket was put on and the head torqued down to the block. Then came the process of installing the cams, lobes and chain which Ian and Jimmy did...
Old engine almost completely stripped...
New engine getting there...
After 10 brews, 10 smokes and no hobnobs, IBW enlightens me with a smile...
Towards 8pm, Ian and I had everything transferred from the old engine to the new one, cylinder head all done and it was time to get the gearbox mounted to the new engine. It was either going to go on right the first time, or be a complete pain and take ages!
Gearbox was finally on around 11pm with many brews in between...
By 2.30am, the gearbox and engine was finally in the car, all bolted up, everything connected including the wiring loom. This gave us more time to do the small bits and bobs on Saturday. At this point, IBW looked like a zombie from Shawn of the Dead and I had a severe migrane. It was wise to call it a night.
Saturday 31st with a 10am start, we finished up connecting the final parts of the wiring loom and topped up the engine and gearbox with all necessary fluids.
A 300-24V engine started without the exhaust sounded like a spitfire engine breathing into life with all its deafening might! After checking everything, IBW was convinced the engine was running right and everything was good. We connected up the exhaust, made some adjustments and finally drove the car off the ramps.
A little drive around the block, everything seemed fine and all was well. A job well done I'd say! All that was left was to get the car washed and cleaned. By 7pm, we were ready to go home and close the workshop.
What was left of the old engine...
Sunday 1st Sept, I left Kirkham at 8am and headed to Lake Windemere for the W124 Day. Taking it easy at 50mph all the way up, the car drove great and I arrived there at 9.45am...
As some of you may know, during the heatwave in July/August my headgasket in the estate went due to severe overheating issues. I had to get this engine replaced ASAP so I started searching for a temporary replacement engine.
Finding a 300-24V engine's in decent enough condition was almost impossible. At the last minute I came across a rear end crashed SL300-24 with only 92,142 miles on it. The engine and some other bits was promptly bought for £350.
Then it was a case of finding someone who would swap the engines over before the Official Mercedes Benz Club's W124 Day in Lake District - 1st September.
Thankfully, Ian Walker (TMS) who just adores 300-24V engines said he will do it. I had the engine sent to him so he could check it out. Results were better than expected, the engine was in great condition with only a slight low compression in cylinder 6. A new headgasket and water pump was ordered.
On Wednesday 28th August, I turned up at Ian's workshop with the car on a flatbed in Kirkham late afternoon. After driving all day long at 55mph, I was shattered. We got the car off, onto the ramps in the workshop where Ian confirmed "yeah its had it...right then, lets have a brew!"...
A 9.30am start on Thursday 29th, we started the process of draining all fluids, disconnecting everything in the engine bay like the wiring loom, engine and gearbox mounts and so on...
Heres the replacement engine which needed a good clean...
While the head was off from the new engine, I started the process of removing the valve collet's, springs and the valves from the cylinder head with Jimmy. After this I started to grind the valves down and get them clean as possible...
After spending pretty much the whole day grinding down all 24 valves, I was shattered and a brew was in order. Next job was the valve guides but we left that to a little later as we started to remove the engine and gearbox out of the car...
This was pretty hairy than I thought it would be, and after a series of epic cursings, we finally had it out...
8.30pm.. was time to call it a day as both Ian and I were completely shattered! - PS.. no Hobnobs eaten by IBW
Friday 30th with a 9am start, Ian guided me in transferring bits and bobs from the old engine to the new one explaining what some of the components do and their purpose. In the mean time, Jimmy was working on the valve guides on the cylinder head.
Once the head was done, the new headgasket was put on and the head torqued down to the block. Then came the process of installing the cams, lobes and chain which Ian and Jimmy did...
Old engine almost completely stripped...
New engine getting there...
After 10 brews, 10 smokes and no hobnobs, IBW enlightens me with a smile...
Towards 8pm, Ian and I had everything transferred from the old engine to the new one, cylinder head all done and it was time to get the gearbox mounted to the new engine. It was either going to go on right the first time, or be a complete pain and take ages!
Gearbox was finally on around 11pm with many brews in between...
By 2.30am, the gearbox and engine was finally in the car, all bolted up, everything connected including the wiring loom. This gave us more time to do the small bits and bobs on Saturday. At this point, IBW looked like a zombie from Shawn of the Dead and I had a severe migrane. It was wise to call it a night.
Saturday 31st with a 10am start, we finished up connecting the final parts of the wiring loom and topped up the engine and gearbox with all necessary fluids.
A 300-24V engine started without the exhaust sounded like a spitfire engine breathing into life with all its deafening might! After checking everything, IBW was convinced the engine was running right and everything was good. We connected up the exhaust, made some adjustments and finally drove the car off the ramps.
A little drive around the block, everything seemed fine and all was well. A job well done I'd say! All that was left was to get the car washed and cleaned. By 7pm, we were ready to go home and close the workshop.
What was left of the old engine...
Sunday 1st Sept, I left Kirkham at 8am and headed to Lake Windemere for the W124 Day. Taking it easy at 50mph all the way up, the car drove great and I arrived there at 9.45am...
...
