What head can I use?

[rockingchairmotors]

I have a 250 SL with a 280 m130 injected motor in it.  I have a miss and compression in cylinder 5 is 90 psi.  It might be a head gasket but might also be the head problems. 

The head on my car has casting number 130 016 07 01 which I believe is an "early square combustion chamber engine"

I just want to confirm that I can not put a "late" oval combustion chamber head on my "early" square combustion chamber block.


of course I have a later "oval" head already rebuilt on the shelf. 


Thanks in advance for the help.

[ja17]

You are correct, a late "oval" style cannot be used on the early "square" style and vice versa. If you saved your old head gasket, you can set it on the oval head and see the obvious problems with match-up of water passages.

[rockingchairmotors]

Got it.  Just wanted to confirm.  Thanks Joe.