[W126 Coupe] 560SEC cracked engine block - how??

[Jonathan Hodgman]

Ouch!  I wonder if you had catastrophic head gasket failure and in 
attempting to compress the coolant cracked the block.  Would have 
expected the rod to bend as well.
Does the engine still turn over??

That said, depending on Just how mangled the inernals are you have a few 
options..

If pistons are good, mate/balance those w/ new rings in a a freshened up 
block.  Of course now is the time to tend to the cylinder heads as well.

Or, ditch this whole assembly, pick up a US engine for cheap, punch it 
out to 6L, new pistons, P&P the heads, use your tri y's and ECE cams and 
have some Fun:)

All depends on what you would like from the car in the long run and of 
course what your budget constraints are.

Jonathan

On 11/4/2010 12:34 PM, Dawid Loubser wrote:

> Well, it's happened -

>

> Without any particular overheating, or other problems, my 

> regularly-maintained

> 1990 560SEC Euro has developed a crack in the engine block (my 

> mechanic just showed

> it to me today) and thus needs to be replaced (at immense cost, 

> obviously). He will

> present the options to me tomorrow. Basically, my car did start to 

> overheat, and steamed

> out of the exhaust, but I immediately stopped driving the car, and 

> towed it to my local

> specialist. I can't believe it overheated for long enough to cause 

> this sort of damage,

> I barely expected a ruptured head gasket.

>

> This all comes as a bit of a shock to me, I know this is going to be 

> incredibly expensive

> to sort out. I would like some opinion from the experts around here - 

> has this happened to

> you? Why would this happen?

>

> I am looking at other options, such as simply finding a good other 

> engine (which I might

> have a good lead on) - but honestly speaking, I am still in a bit of 

> shock.

>

> kind regards to you all (I've been a lurker on this wonderful list for 

> a *long* time - too long,

> in fact)

>

> Dawid

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>



-- 
Jonathan Hodgman
Blue Ridge Mercedes/AMG East
http://www.blueridgemb.com
Offering Enthusiast Service, Restoration and Tuning.
(404)805-1357
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