[W126 Coupe] 560 SEC cracked engine block

[Jay Hirsch]

I second Ernie's thoughts
The Chevy 350 V-8 is one of the all time great engines...and bullet  
proof
keep cruisin
Jay H
On Nov 5, 2010, at 10:24 AM, Ernie Stephens wrote:


> My fellow Cpe lovers,

>

> This has been an interesting conversation for sure.  You know, I  

> have a comparatively cheap American made old 350 Chevy engine in my  

> 58 Corvette.  It's just a thought but my 58 Vette doesn't seem to  

> mind that I have a 350 and not a 283 in it and for sure nobody else  

> gives a flip what I have in it (it's clean, looks good and runs  

> like a bat out of a cave).  Point is, I have no idea why we put up  

> with engines and parts that cost a leg and an arm when there are  

> other options! Are there any shrinks out there that can render an  

> opinion?.

> Smiling regards,

> Ernie

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: Marcus Johnson

> To: mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com

> Sent: Friday, November 05, 2010 4:36 PM

> Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] 560 SEC cracked engine block

>

> This is an interesting thread for me as I also had a cracked engine  

> block.

>

> I wonder if there are any parallels in Dawid's case?

>

> It was as a result of mechanical ineptitude, not wear and tear or  

> engine stress.

>

> The 'experts' agreed that they had never heard of such a thing and  

> that the blocks are pretty bulletproof.

>

> I have an Australian-delivered 1989 560 SEC. Blue-black with grey  

> interior, lowered on H&R's and with 18x10 / 18 x 8.5 18" AMG rims.

>

> In my case, this all began after the car began idling roughly.  

> After several things were tried, the diagnosis by Mechanic #1 was  

> that the heads needed to be reconditioned.

>

> They were pulled and found to be very clogged. The car had less  

> than 100k but the previous owner had only ever driven in town at  

> low speeds and not for long periods.

>

> After machining, they were put back on the engine and everything  

> that could also be replaced such as old, deteriorating rubber parts  

> was done at the same time. I expected a smooth idle. But this never  

> happened even after a lot of mucking around. The mechanic believed  

> that the exhaust manifold was warped and wanted to bring in an  

> engineer to check it.

>

> By now, I had had enough and the expenses were piling up. This just  

> didn't seem to make sense. I continued to drive the car and just  

> felt generally cheated and pissed off.

>

> I then took the car to Mechanic #2 who was a 'German car expert'.  

> He looked over the car and showed me that the heads (and the  

> exhaust manifolds) had not been tightened correctly and in places  

> were almost finger tight. So much for following the correct MB  

> tightening method.

>

> As a result, the heads had been allowing enough air in between the  

> block to cause the rough idle. No problem, we can have them  

> machined and dressed (again) and all should be fine. The heads were  

> sent off again and came back with lovely flat and shiny decks.

>

> Once bolted on, the rough idle was better but certainly not 'glass  

> smooth'. He had bad news. The block, most likely as a result of the  

> heads 'walking', had cracked. This may or may not have been  

> repairable, but the engine would need to be pulled down and  

> everything carefully examined. Many hours, many dollars.

>

> The alternative was to find a replacement or reconditioned engine.  

> Fortunately, one was located and installed. And again, my  

> expectation was for as-new performance, idle and overall enjoyment.  

> Nope, still idling rough but just in a different way. By now, six  

> months had elapsed and both my patience and bank balance were  

> wearing thin.

>

> After more inspection, diagnosis and head-scratching, Mechanic#2  

> declared through his bristly German moustache that he 'vas happy'.  

> Really, what he was saying was 'go away'. I went.

>

> After parking the car in disillusionment for some time, I spied a  

> local MB mechanic and went in for a chat. This guy asked that I  

> tell him little and leave the car with him to go through his  

> checklist. After some time, he came back with a solution. It had  

> been driving him nuts and he was unable to sleep at night. I had  

> actually been sold a high-compression Euro block as a replacement.  

> Which made sense when he did a compression check and the numbers  

> were higher than usual for the de-tuned Australian blocks.

>

> The engine and the electronic management systems were from  

> different parts of the world (no emissions controls for Euro motors  

> that were mandatory in Australia, for instance) and were unable to  

> talk to each other. He developed some work-arounds and the engine  

> and electronic are now on speaking terms. The car idles smoothly  

> and is quick off the mark, much more so than with the Australian  

> 560 SEC engine.

>

> So, this has been a long, arduous and expensive exercise.

>

> So yes, a cracked engine block is a possibility. I know, from  

> painful experience.

>

> My advice is to find a mechanic who knows these cars. They will all  

> say they do and have words like 'Mercedes-Benz specialist' on a  

> board outside their workshop. But finding the real deal is hard.  

> you will probably know by a couple of indicators: they will be in  

> their 50's and their apprenticeship years will have been in the  

> 1980's. And they will be busy and probably not need the work so you  

> may have to wait while they personally service a long queue of MB  

> owners who have discovered them.

>

> My other advice is to think carefully about cutting your losses. I  

> know you love your car, as I do, but this stuff becomes the  

> equivalent of a second mortgage.

>

> Hope you get a good result.

>

>

> Cheers,

>

> marcus johnson

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> On 06/11/2010, at 6:33 AM, mbcoupes-request at mbcoupes.com wrote:

>

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>> Today's Topics:

>>

>>   1. Re: 560SEC cracked engine block - how?? (Dean Slone)

>>   2. Re: 560SEC cracked engine block - how?? (Dawid Loubser)

>>   3. So, I need a M117.968 Block and Pistons -

>>      www.mercedesengines.net opinions? (Dawid Loubser)

>>

>>

>> --------------------------------------------------------------------- 

>> -

>>

>> Message: 1

>> Date: Fri, 5 Nov 2010 09:01:04 -0700

>> From: "Dean Slone" <daslone at saber.net>

>> Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] 560SEC cracked engine block - how??

>> To: "Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists" <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>

>> Message-ID: <EE092F044B574784A12F22D8F856B84D at D2DXLQ51>

>> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";

>> reply-type=response

>>

>> Sorry for your troubles but maybe we can help each other.

>>

>> I do not know where you are located but one of your options might  

>> be to buy

>> my 1981 500SEC, chassis 000474.

>>

>> Some particulars on my car at:

>>

>> http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w126-s-se-sec-sel-sd/1446405-1983- 

>> euro-500-sec-lorinser-post.html

>>

>>

>> Don't let the 1983 vin number fool you as it has all US officials  

>> for 27

>> years.  If anyone in Germany has access to old registration  

>> records and vin

>> numbers, I would like to know who owned WDB12604412000474 in  

>> 1983-1984,

>> BEFORE being imported to the US of A.    Interpol is not  

>> interested as I am

>> not a police official.

>>

>> No rust through or major damage, just small dings that I have  

>> found.  Rusty

>> spots are only surface caused by cracks in the paint.  Come and  

>> get it, I am

>> ready to deal.

>>

>> DazzleOne (DASlone)

>>

>>               SLONE REALTY

>>   DEAN SLONE   -   Broker/Owner

>> P.O. Box 5291   -   Eureka, CA 95502

>>        Broker at SloneRealty.com

>>             daslone at saber.net

>>                (707) 499-4999

>>

>> ----- Original Message -----

>> From: "Dawid Loubser" <dawidl at solms.co.za>

>> To: "Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists" <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>

>> Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2010 10:32 PM

>> Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] 560SEC cracked engine block - how??

>>

>>

>>> Attila, if what you are saying is correct, that's likely

>>> the cause. Its very possible that enough coolant escaped while

>>> I moved the car to a safe spot for this to happen.

>>>

>>> Darn, an expensive lesson to learn! I'm going to survey my

>>> options and contact some people after the week-end.

>>>

>>> Dawid

>>>

>>>

>>> On 04 Nov 2010, at 11:02 PM, Attila wrote:

>>>

>>>> You were likely down on your coolant, quite a bit.  Your

>>>> warning light should have come on, long before the block

>>>> cracked.  You can run these 117 engines for 30 seconds,

>>>> without any coolant.  That's it, no more.  In the States

>>>> there are about 3 reputable rebuilders who will take yours

>>>> as exchange and send you a rebuild, at around $5k to 6k.

>>>> They may be able to build you a Euro version, for about

>>>> the same.  It's worth asking, in these economic times. Of

>>>> course, it would be great fun to custom build your own.

>>>> I wouldn't take a chance on any of the original parts,

>>>> even if all tests come back positive.

>>>>

>>>> -----Original Message-----

>>>> From: mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com

>>>> [mailto:mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com ]

>>>> On Behalf Of Dawid Loubser

>>>> Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2010 12:34 PM

>>>> To: Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists

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

>>>>

>>>> 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

>>>> The MB Coupes Website!

>>>> W126 SEC Mailing List

>>>> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

>>>>

>>>> The MB Coupes Website!

>>>> W126 SEC Mailing List

>>>> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

>>>

>>> The MB Coupes Website!

>>> W126 SEC Mailing List

>>> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>> =======

>>> Email scanned by PC Tools - No viruses or spyware found.

>>> (Email Guard: 7.0.0.21, Virus/Spyware Database: 6.16180)

>>> http://www.pctools.com/

>>> =======

>>

>>

>>

>> ------------------------------

>>

>> Message: 2

>> Date: Fri, 5 Nov 2010 21:14:35 +0200

>> From: Dawid Loubser <dawidl at solms.co.za>

>> Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] 560SEC cracked engine block - how??

>> To: Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>

>> Message-ID: <8417D013-26A9-4F27-B7A4-21FDAF48329F at solms.co.za>

>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes

>>

>> Thank you Dean - you are not the first list member to contact me with

>> an offer

>> to sell his car to me! Fact is, I have no intention of getting rid of

>> my SEC, and

>> even the most expensive engine repair job will not cost as much as

>> replacing

>> my (mint) 1990 560SEC.

>>

>> Also, as per my original e-mail, I am in South Africa, so it's not

>> possible for me

>> to bring a whole car over here (though I might have to get a rebuilt

>> engine block

>> from the US!) and I really wouldn't trade my car for an earlier-

>> generation SEC.

>>

>> all the best,

>> Dawid

>>

>> On 05 Nov 2010, at 6:01 PM, Dean Slone wrote:

>>

>>> Sorry for your troubles but maybe we can help each other.

>>>

>>> I do not know where you are located but one of your options might be

>>> to buy my 1981 500SEC, chassis 000474.

>>>

>>> Some particulars on my car at:

>>>

>>> http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w126-s-se-sec-sel-sd/1446405-1983- 

>>> euro-500-sec-lorinser-post.html

>>>

>>>

>>> Don't let the 1983 vin number fool you as it has all US officials

>>> for 27 years.  If anyone in Germany has access to old registration

>>> records and vin numbers, I would like to know who owned

>>> WDB12604412000474 in 1983-1984, BEFORE being imported to the US of

>>> A.    Interpol is not interested as I am not a police official.

>>>

>>> No rust through or major damage, just small dings that I have

>>> found.  Rusty spots are only surface caused by cracks in the paint.

>>> Come and get it, I am ready to deal.

>>>

>>> DazzleOne (DASlone)

>>>

>>>             SLONE REALTY

>>> DEAN SLONE   -   Broker/Owner

>>> P.O. Box 5291   -   Eureka, CA 95502

>>>      Broker at SloneRealty.com

>>>           daslone at saber.net

>>>              (707) 499-4999

>>>

>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dawid Loubser"

>>> <dawidl at solms.co.za>

>>> To: "Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists" <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>

>>> Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2010 10:32 PM

>>> Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] 560SEC cracked engine block - how??

>>>

>>>

>>>> Attila, if what you are saying is correct, that's likely

>>>> the cause. Its very possible that enough coolant escaped while

>>>> I moved the car to a safe spot for this to happen.

>>>>

>>>> Darn, an expensive lesson to learn! I'm going to survey my

>>>> options and contact some people after the week-end.

>>>>

>>>> Dawid

>>>>

>>>>

>>>> On 04 Nov 2010, at 11:02 PM, Attila wrote:

>>>>

>>>>> You were likely down on your coolant, quite a bit.  Your

>>>>> warning light should have come on, long before the block

>>>>> cracked.  You can run these 117 engines for 30 seconds,

>>>>> without any coolant.  That's it, no more.  In the States

>>>>> there are about 3 reputable rebuilders who will take yours

>>>>> as exchange and send you a rebuild, at around $5k to 6k.

>>>>> They may be able to build you a Euro version, for about

>>>>> the same.  It's worth asking, in these economic times. Of

>>>>> course, it would be great fun to custom build your own.

>>>>> I wouldn't take a chance on any of the original parts,

>>>>> even if all tests come back positive.

>>>>>

>>>>> -----Original Message-----

>>>>> From: mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com [mailto:mbcoupes- 

>>>>> bounces at mbcoupes.com

>>>>> ]

>>>>> On Behalf Of Dawid Loubser

>>>>> Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2010 12:34 PM

>>>>> To: Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists

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

>>>>>

>>>>> 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

>>>>> The MB Coupes Website!

>>>>> W126 SEC Mailing List

>>>>> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

>>>>>

>>>>> The MB Coupes Website!

>>>>> W126 SEC Mailing List

>>>>> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

>>>>

>>>> The MB Coupes Website!

>>>> W126 SEC Mailing List

>>>> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

>>>> =======

>>>> Email scanned by PC Tools - No viruses or spyware found.

>>>> (Email Guard: 7.0.0.21, Virus/Spyware Database: 6.16180)

>>>> http://www.pctools.com/

>>>> =======

>>>

>>> The MB Coupes Website!

>>> W126 SEC Mailing List

>>> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

>>

>>

>>

>> ------------------------------

>>

>> Message: 3

>> Date: Fri, 5 Nov 2010 21:33:08 +0200

>> From: Dawid Loubser <dawidl at solms.co.za>

>> Subject: [W126 Coupe] So, I need a M117.968 Block and Pistons -

>> www.mercedesengines.net opinions?

>> To: Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>

>> Message-ID: <FE4E9219-053F-48E5-98C0-17A159072614 at solms.co.za>

>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; Format="flowed";

>> DelSp="yes"

>>

>> Hi Guys,

>>

>> While I am working on local options, I am pre-emptively also having

>> a look at sourcing a replacement (remanufactured) block and pistons

>> overseas (U.S?) for my 560SEC engine that developed a cracked block

>> after the head gasket ruptured.

>>

>> What are your opinions of http://www.mercedesengines.net ? Any other

>> sources

>> I should be looking at for a decent price? I am sure that shipping  

>> it to

>> South Africa will be very expensive, but there are usually many  

>> options,

>> depending on whom one contacts, especially if one can get it included

>> as part of a shipment of somebody who regularly brings in engine  

>> parts,

>> so I am not too worried yet.

>>

>> Any opinions and suggested would be greatly welcomed. Help me get her

>> up and running again!

>>

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>>

>>

>>

>> kind regards,

>> Dawid

>>

>> ------------------------------

>>

>> The MB Coupes Website!

>> W126 SEC Coupes

>> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

>>

>> End of MBCOUPES Digest, Vol 77, Issue 2

>> ***************************************

>

> marcus johnson  |  creative director

>

> ubu communications

>

> 82 St.Kilda Road,

> St.Kilda VIC 3182

>

> 0407770092

> (03) 9029 8469

>

> The MB Coupes Website!

> W126 SEC Mailing List

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> The MB Coupes Website!

> W126 SEC Mailing List

> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.


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