DIY: Head bolt swap on M156.
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 703
Likes: 81
From: Destin FL
2018 E63 AMG S
I just read through this thread and saw guys talking about replacing one bolt at a time. Isn't there a specific torque sequence on the bolts ? That's how it is on SBC's and most engines I have dealt with in the past. Also if your going to remove the entire valve train and replace the head bolts it would be a perfect time to pull the heads and send them out for a port and polish. For those of you interested I did some Google searching and found this company that offers work to Mercedes engines with out the usual AMG tax. http://www.dprracing.com/smercedes.html The company also makes custom cam shafts. My gut tells me that the M156 would respond really well to a more aggressive cam profile. Its basic hotrod stuff Heads, Cam, Intake, Exhaust if you combine that with EFI and a custom tune it should reward you greatly. If you use the LS platform for comparison even modest cam upgrades yield 50-70hp improvements and that is on an old pushrod style V-8. The M165 uses OHV, quad cam design and therefore should be much more efficient.
Last edited by C63fora2w1; Jan 17, 2017 at 12:38 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 8,074
Likes: 2,867
From: Los Angeles
2012 P31 C63 Coupe Trackrat, 2019 GLE63S Coupe Beast
I just read through this thread and saw guys talking about replacing one bolt at a time. Isn't there a specific torque sequence on the bolts ? That's how it is on SBC's and most engines I have dealt with in the past. Also if your going to remove the entire valve train and replace the head bolts it would be a perfect time to pull the heads and send them out for a port and polish. For those of you interested I did some Google searching and found this company that offers work to Mercedes engines with out the usual AMG tax. http://www.dprracing.com/smercedes.html The company also makes custom cam shafts. My gut tells me that the M156 would respond really well to a more aggressive cam profile. Its basic hotrod stuff Heads, Cam, Intake, Exhaust if you combine that with EFI and a custom tune it should reward you greatly. If you use the LS platform for comparison even modest cam upgrades yield 50-70hp improvements and that is on an old pushrod style V-8. The M165 uses OHV, quad cam design and therefore should be much more efficient.
You have all of these "gut" suggestions that have already been tried many times, and most have failed.
Camshafts = not a good idea, do a search
Head porting = heads are super efficient from the factory, do a search
One bolt at a time = has been done countless times with no problem as long as the HG is ok, do a search
Blah blah blah custom tune and EFI...... blah blah blah LS this and LS that..... seriously, do you just like to pollute threads? Did Eurocharged stop answering your calls?
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 703
Likes: 81
From: Destin FL
2018 E63 AMG S
You have all of these "gut" suggestions that have already been tried many times, and most have failed.
Camshafts = not a good idea, do a search
Head porting = heads are super efficient from the factory, do a search
One bolt at a time = has been done countless times with no problem as long as the HG is ok, do a search
Blah blah blah custom tune and EFI...... blah blah blah LS this and LS that..... seriously, do you just like to pollute threads? Did Eurocharged stop answering your calls?
Last edited by C63fora2w1; Jan 17, 2017 at 01:15 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,351
Likes: 1,677
From: Kitchener, ON
2010 C63 AMG
It's quite a bit more effort to pull the heads. Probably close to double.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 825
Likes: 114
From: Eufaula, Al/Georgetown, GA
W213 E63S Wagon, W204 C63 P30(RIP), WK1 Grand Cherokee SRT8(RIP)
i would agree with that statement...swapping the head bolts or changing to studs with the heads in place is big job but not a bad job.....but when you talk about pulling the heads you bring SEVERAL more factors in....such as having to remove the lower cam gears which lets the chains fall limp, which allows the tensioners to fully extend(as in past there wear pattern) and then youve got to get all that lined back up as well....and as has been stated earlier these heads are pretty much optimal from the get go.....and dont get me wrong, im not hating, i LOVE the LS motors as well but there is one helluva difference between a mass produced, assembly line LS and a hand built/assembled engine with bespoke parts fit to it for premium performance. If you wanted the LS statement to have any validity here then you should have specified LS-X or LSA as THOSE engines i would feel comfortable saying are much more in line with the M156 as far as optimized out of the box goes....
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 10
Likes: 1
2009 mercedes c63 AMG
that last picture shoes the timing chain on the cover off of the engine. Would i not be able to just leave the chain on the engine when i remove just the cover?
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
