Pagoda SL Group

W113 Pagoda SL Group => General Discussion => Topic started by: sjwelna on May 07, 2024, 02:46:40

Title: First post: Time to pull the head and rebuild?
Post by: sjwelna on May 07, 2024, 02:46:40
First post here guys.  Back story, going through my dad's '65 230sl trying to get it running again.  Went through and did all the filters/fluids I could find.  Car needs some work and hasn't run for probably 20 years.  Everything has been easy peasy until I tried to turn it over....

Pulled plugs, blasted out a lot of chunky/crusty white debris out of cylinder 6.  (I think that's 6, closest one to the firewall).  Put some oil on top of the cylinders to try and turn it over a little to get some new oil pushing through.  Starter goes clunk, engine is frozen up tight.  Bought an boroscope and here is what cylinder 6 looks like after blowing out all the bulk chunks.  The other 5 cylinders are looking pretty good, but I'm thinking the head gasket went on it and leaked coolant into the rear-most cylinder.  I've tried to manually turn the motor over from the crank bolt and also tried with one rear tire off the ground.  No dice, it's locked up tight.  I actually loosened the crank bolt trying to wiggle the crank both directions if that gives you any idea of how locked it is.  I have a ton of PB blaster soaking the top of the pistons at the moment but I'm assuming at this point it needs to have the head pulled, head gasket replaced, and have a good look at that rear cylinder.  I can probably take the head to a machine shop to hot tank and clean it up. 

What would you do?  The ugly pics are the rear most cylinder, I put in a few others of the other cylinders that look much better. 
Title: Re: First post: Time to pull the head and rebuild?
Post by: sjwelna on May 07, 2024, 02:47:46
Here are a couple pictures of the gas tank that is showing a good bit of rust internally.
Title: Re: First post: Time to pull the head and rebuild?
Post by: stickandrudderman on May 07, 2024, 12:16:06
Looks like you're going to need to rebuild the engine.
You'll know for certain once you get the head off.
Title: Re: First post: Time to pull the head and rebuild?
Post by: mdsalemi on May 07, 2024, 12:51:36
This is a no-brainer, seriously. The engine will need to be rebuilt. The gas tank replaced. Though not mentioned your fuel injection pump will almost certainly need to be rebuilt…and my guess is the fuel feed pump too…
Title: Re: First post: Time to pull the head and rebuild?
Post by: Cees Klumper on May 07, 2024, 15:43:07
Your issue may be that cylinder 6 could be damaged beyond repair (boring). Sleeving may be a possibility in that case to save the engine block according to prior discussions here on this subject. Fingers crossed it's not that bad. As Michael said, check the entire fuel system and hope parts can be salvaged.
Title: Re: First post: Time to pull the head and rebuild?
Post by: sjwelna on May 07, 2024, 21:33:00
My plan is to pull the head and have a look.  I'm assuming a full rebuild at this point.  If by some miracle the pistons unstick I'll be able to get a better look at the #6 cylinder walls, but I'm assuming that cylinder is in bad shape and may need to be sleeved.  Not my first time pulling a motor apart but it's been a while....I'll post some pics once I have the head off and can get better pictures.