92 SL with blown engine - huge CLATTER!
Just bought 92 SL (135k) with blown engine - I actually wanted one with blown engine for father-son project. Just finished a rebuild on a 4L Jeep, and recognize this is more complex - Jeep sort of a warm-up :-)
I have seen, heard, and worked on several blown engines - but nothing sounded as awful as this thing - other than spinning a bearing (could happen anytime - but somehow this just doesn't sounds like that), or bending valves (usually only when jumping a couple teeth on the belt - this does sound more like that), is there anything else that could cause this horrific "clatter?"
I pulled the two cam covers to see if there was anything to indicate belt damage, etc, but looks clean, belt is tight, nothing out of the ordinary ... I also used contact scope to listen and the back bank of cylinders does sound worse - but is so darn loud, can't really tell.
PO just had the oil changed, and said this started - is there ANY chance this could be one or more valve lash adjusters with air in them - the shop manual seems to spend some significant time on this? How many with air in the adjuster would it take to make a significant amount of clatter?
Will drain oil next and maybe pull the pan to look.
Appreciate any comments or thoughts.
George
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