As the subject line states, I have a pitted camshaft, on a '66 230SL.
The PO claimed he "rebuilt" the engine but he had not installed it into the car when I purchased (never again for me). The car had had a water/head failure with original owner, then sat dead for unknown time until the PO purchased it. There are the bills for new main bearings, rod bearings, rings, and install for all those items, from the PO, plus a "new" used head and crank polish. The PO claimed a rebuild on the head, and the paper is there, and a new timing chain - no paper on that.
Before started to install this engine, I decided to check valve timing, and it was off, first one tooth on cam, then 5 degrees stretch. So I rolled in a new chain and timing is now perfect. While the valve cover was off, I checked the valve clearance and it was off. 'Got that done, but then I noticed 4 lobes on the camshaft have pits. Two lobes have some pits at the high spot. There are no areas where the pits connect, I'd say at worst the pits cover 20% of the area of small sections of the running surface of a lobe.
I've seen other forum sites on the M-B diesels (I have a 220D) with rusted cams cleaned up and run. This cam is clean, with shiny surfaces around the pits. What would be the problem(s) with running a cam with some pitting? It seems the cam is just as easy to take out with the engine in the car, so I'm tempted to install the engine and try it. Or should I stop, pull the cam, and have a grind done?
How much should a grind cost and does it hurt the cam?
Any opinions?
Thanks, Ron
PS I will pull the injection pump and check its timing, I don't trust the PO now.
