Re: [MBZ] Head gasket fun
On Sun, 18 Feb 2007, Joe Knight wrote: Don't fret too much Peter. I pulled the head from mine with a chain winch suspended from a bit less than 8' ceiling in a too small garage. Came out all right with the turbo exhaust manifold attached even though I didn't have the winch very well positioned. Kinda resist the temptation to put the head back on with those bits detached. I did I used a 2x4 with a helper as a lift to pull the head off a 617. I believe that I pulled off the manifolds first to make things lighter. I got some all-thread of the proper type and cut a couple of alignment pins out of it (make sure they are a couple inches longer than the longest head bolt!) Oh yeah its a good opportunity to clean out your manifold! The WORST part was threading the T/C oil feed line back into the oil filter housing! -j.
[MBZ] Head gasket fun
Finally got to changing the head gasket on the 87 300D today, in hopes that a new gasket will cure the oil collecting in the coolant tank problem and that I won't discover a cracked head (yes, its a 14 head, probably the original with 262,000 miles now). Between tracking down my engine hoist (never store your stuff at someone else's barn.) and a torpedo heater (9 F last night), we didn't get started anywhere near as early as I'd have liked, and I really don't want to do this job anyway. No major problems until we finally got to removing the head bolts, and found four that weren't really tight (between #4 and #5 cylinders -- #4 was low on compression with a terrible knock that turned out to be badly installed pressure valve holder seals when I got the car some years back. Then, the last bolt on the left side broke off at the start of the threads. So the car is sitting at my buddy's barn in bits, head still on, and I'm going shopping tomorrow for head bolts, a new belt, some jounce bumpers for the front struts, and probably some things I've not found yet. Never rains but it pours, I guess. Any suggestions on getting the black goo out of the cooling system? Upper radiator hose and heater hoses seem to be full of it, along with the expansion tank.. Peter
Re: [MBZ] Head gasket fun
Want to do another one after you finish yours? Mine's been leaking the last 150,000 miles. Thanks, Tom Hargrave 256-656-1924 www.kegkits.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Peter Frederick Sent: Sunday, February 18, 2007 8:01 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List Subject: [MBZ] Head gasket fun Finally got to changing the head gasket on the 87 300D today, in hopes that a new gasket will cure the oil collecting in the coolant tank problem and that I won't discover a cracked head (yes, its a 14 head, probably the original with 262,000 miles now). Between tracking down my engine hoist (never store your stuff at someone else's barn.) and a torpedo heater (9 F last night), we didn't get started anywhere near as early as I'd have liked, and I really don't want to do this job anyway. No major problems until we finally got to removing the head bolts, and found four that weren't really tight (between #4 and #5 cylinders -- #4 was low on compression with a terrible knock that turned out to be badly installed pressure valve holder seals when I got the car some years back. Then, the last bolt on the left side broke off at the start of the threads. So the car is sitting at my buddy's barn in bits, head still on, and I'm going shopping tomorrow for head bolts, a new belt, some jounce bumpers for the front struts, and probably some things I've not found yet. Never rains but it pours, I guess. Any suggestions on getting the black goo out of the cooling system? Upper radiator hose and heater hoses seem to be full of it, along with the expansion tank.. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Head gasket fun
Whoo, I think this one will be enough for me for a while! My hands are gonna ache for days as it is, and I'm less than half done! Peter
Re: [MBZ] Head gasket fun
Don't fret too much Peter. I pulled the head from mine with a chain winch suspended from a bit less than 8' ceiling in a too small garage. Came out all right with the turbo exhaust manifold attached even though I didn't have the winch very well positioned. Kinda resist the temptation to put the head back on with those bits detached. I did that just to save myself the aggravation of positioning that big chunk over the block, but I'm here to state that while all those bits can be reassembled with the head installed that it's not exactly an exercise you'll want to remember. I did apply a thin smear of Hylomar HPF to the new gasket and so far no leaks that I've been able to find but then it's only got ~150mi on it as yet. Oh yeah, and absolutely no residual cooling system pressure (fingers well crossed) After it's got a few more miles on it I'll hook up the forced open t'stat and the flushing connection to the top hose and give it a Cascade enema. But that's just for oil; dunno about other forms of black goo. -joe
Re: [MBZ] Head gasket fun
I understand - that's why I've not done mine yet. My head gasket started leaking 3.5 years ago, I put stuff in to keep it sealed decided that I'd fix it when it gets worse. 150,000 miles later and the symptoms are covered up as long as I keep stuff in the radiator. Maybe it will get bad enough one day for me to pull the head.. Thanks, Tom Hargrave 256-656-1924 www.kegkits.com -Original Message- From: Peter Frederick [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, February 18, 2007 8:27 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [MBZ] Head gasket fun Whoo, I think this one will be enough for me for a while! My hands are gonna ache for days as it is, and I'm less than half done! Peter
