In a message dated 1/10/2006 7:07:06 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
As far as I know, the only engine in the 124 series that has a reputation for cracking heads is the 6 cylinder 1987 model. It has the 603.96x engine. >From my archive: Head model on 603 diesel engines: For the head question, look at the casting number near #2/#3 cylinder. Should be 603-016-xx-20 or something like that. If "xx" is 14, it's the old bad head. If 17, it's the newer head from a 3.5L. And if it's 22, it's a REALLY new head. Thanks, Wray, for saving me the trouble! ;) To clarify my previous post, if the head is number 17 or higher, it is the "good", reinforced head. A number 15 or lower is the old, weak head. I have heard of 5 variations... 14 (1987 version), 15 (?), 17 (3.5L, 1990 to 1995), 20 (newer than 1995-ish), and 22 (last revision, AFAIK). I forget if number 15 exists or if it's a figment of my imagination, but the other 4 are real. The head I bought from Rusty in spring 2002 was a #22. Wray, Dave, and all, I guess you should include the 86 300SDL, which also used the 6 cylinder turbo diesel engine. I know for a fact that some of them came with the #14 head. I pulled a very nice one that belies the opinion that all 14's are crackers. I guess any aluminum head on a cast iron block is subject to cracking if allowed to overheat. Look at the failure rate on the 2 litre engine used in GM's compact cars. Marshall's educated opinion that the #14 heads can survive if the filter/catalytic converter was removed soon enough, makes senses to me. Further, I have in possession a #18 head, so that number exists too. It was removed from a wrecked 87 300SDL recently. I would dearly love to buy a needy car to put this in. Finally, when I was at the SEMA show a couple years ago, the import parts show was running concurrently at the Sands. I saw a Chinese importers line of cast aluminum heads and I am sure that they had a several for Mercedes, though I wasn't knowledgeable enough at the time to confirm a 6 cylinder diesel head. I will dig through my old goody bag and see if I picked up a brochure. The beat goes on! Jim Friesen Phoenix AZ 79 300SD, 261 K miles 98 ML 320, 139 K miles
