Wolf190

Are the m103 3.0l and 2.6l heads interchangable? Am I rigth in thinking that the 3.0l is a bored 2.6l? By the way it would be a 2.6 going onto a 3.0. Thanks

crr1612

would you be able to put on an m104 head? thatd be cool

shdoug

If I'm not mistaken, the difference is in the length of the stroke. Don't take my word for it, though. Either way I'm fairly certain the heads are not interchangeable, at least not easily. I don't know how you would get the valve timing advance to work properly.

myfirstbenz

No, this has been mentioned many times before.

Wolf190

valve timing is something that I know nothing about, in fact I hadn't even thought about it until now (I am planning on modifiying my cylinder head) How does it work? Isn't the timing just getting the sprocket on the camshaft in the right spot on the timing chain? or is there something electronic about the whole deal? I know that the rotor/distributor control when then engine is supposed to fire, but the valves have to be open at the right time :therefore the name "valve timing" right? And if this is true then all you would have to do is mark a spot on the chain and sprocket to get the same timing as what you had originally. something like that, please correct me if I am wrong. Thanks for the info btw.

myfirstbenz

you should really try to find a book to read up on this mechanism called your engine. Secondly, you should rethink any modifications to the engine unless you own a speedshop with skilled technicians and lots of money to throw at it.

Mercedes motors are very highly engineered and are unlike a smallblock chev where you are starting with an undertuned mass of iron that any grease-monkey can add power to. Enjoy your car for what it is right now since that manual tranny is a rarity and performance piece that not many have in this country.

shdoug

^ Yes, good advice- about the car AND presidential election!

To add to what was said, the M104 has variable valve timing. There is a hydraulic actuator integral to the cam sprocket that is electronically controlled. The entire engine control system is different on these 2 engines. It would most likely be less expensive to swap cars.

Wolf190

Whoa hold on there guys... I wasn't asking about changing the timing or anything. A port/polish isn't all that risky of an operation and and I am shaving a scrap 2.6 head in my machining class as we speak, so perhaps "grease monkeys" are getting smarter nowadays huh? As for "this mechanism called my engine" it would really be helpful if you told me where it's located because I can't find it. Aside from that I'm not so stupid with cars. In fact I probably know more than most kids my age so lay off.

Next time I'll make sure not to bother anyone with my stupid questions about how an engine works.

Saijin_Naib

Relax wolf, they may have gone off, but expect flak until you've been around a while. Try not to take it personal and post whatever you would like to discuss.

shdoug

I think there has been a misunderstanding. I think I got the 2 questions mixed up due to my laziness and not going back to read the whole thing.

As for your question about M103 2.6 vs. 3.0, timing is not an issue. The M103 has static valve timing. Those heads may be interchangeable, I'm not sure. I apologize if you were insulted. You have a valid question. No one thinks you're

crr1612 brought up the idea of putting an M104 head on an M103 engine. That would be a big problem.

Two separate things we're talking about.

Wolf190

Thanks shdoug that is pretty much exactly what I was asking. I may not know about valve timing, but I'm pretty sure there are no "grease monkey's" involved in what I want to do. In fact the only reason I want to put a 2.6 head on my engine is because my 3.0 head is going to be having work done to it. Perhaps myfirstbenz misunderstood me when I said that I was going to modify my cylinder head - I meant I am going to have someone do it for me who knows what they are doing. When I said I'm shaving that head in my machining class - it has lots of little pits in it so I'm trueing it up (no grease, just cutting oil I promise). Anyway... I'm just having fun working on my car and seeing what I can get away with.

myfirstbenz

wolf, I think you took that the wrong way... what I was implying is that these cars require someone with a lot of knowledge to "tune" them, and that a grease monkey(ala someone like will ferrel taking the restricter plate off of the "red dragon") can't be very effective for the ideas it sounds like you have. These engines are very well built with "performance parts" as they come stock compared to most american motors.

fear not, we were not picking on you, and I did misunderstand you in that I thought you were going to try this on your own.

friends forever?

Wolf190

I don't know maybe I'm trying to make my car into something it's not... need more money for a Corvette. or an engine swap some day. Or maybe the best thing would be a engine swap from a corvette! woo man talk about 500hp... makes me drool on the keyboard.

BTW myfirstbenz yeah I guess we can be friends... but only because of our ties to the mercedes guru ya know, since I have no idea who you are