I'm preparing reassembly of my B21F (from a 1980 245DL) - Does anyone have a recommendation for where to buy the full top end gasket set (head gasket, etc)? I see IPD, VLVworld, FCPGroton all have the sets, would like to stick with Elring if possible.

Had the head pressure tested - no cracks, only 0.003" warpage, no obvious gasket failure. Still not sure how the coolant was getting into the oil, but I'm putting it all back together with new gaskets and will see what happens. Hopefully there's nothing wrong inside the block...

Zack
1980 245DL M46 272k
1988 745T+ M46 191k

You might be best off having the machine shop order the gasket sets in for you. A machine shop will usually be able to source the parts much cheaper than you can, and if they're doing some rebuild work for you they'll often give them to you at cost.

I've bought two Elring gasket sets through engine shops for about 100 of our Australian dollars. For comparison, buying through Volvo is $180, plus shipping.
--
Drive it like you hate it

Groton has the Elring gasket set that you want and they're consistently lower on price than everyone else.
I wouldn't necessarily agree that IPD offers the best quality. They want more than twice what Groton is asking for a top end set and they don't even say who it's made by. On their website, anyway. Maybe it's stated in their catalogue.
I do agree with bosozoku. Avoid Scan Tech.
Seems like an easy choice. Go with Groton. If you order by phone make sure they know you want Elring.
--
'80 DL 2 dr

If you order from FCP, avoid ScanTech. I ordered suspension bushings
that ended up being too small to fit snugly from ScanTech - this is
a sign of poor quality control. An engine rebuild is something that
you want to do once and be done with it, not repeat it until you
get it right.


-b.

IPD has the best quality sets, FPC Groton has them, JC Whitney still sell the complete complete rebuild kits for the B21 motors for under $400. Not sure who makes them. Also call EEC (Volvo & Mercedes) auto parts in CA should have them 1-800-259-1125, ask for Robert Heidrich
Ben