So today was productive. I was able to get a good nap after coming from work this morning (night shift). When I woke about 1PM, it was warm enough to inspire mechanical work, and I tore into the '84 242 with the intent of removing the head, and determining it's condition.

Everything came apart as designed. The single exception was a fitting I had not paid any attention to: the car had an oil pressure gauge added, and it's a mechanical type, with a sending unit tube tapped into the rear of the head oil galley. I had the head off in my hands when I realized where that was coming from... fortunately came apart easily. Small gauge plastic tubing and a brass compression fitting, easy enough to remove.

With the valve cover off, I got a hint of how bad it was. The cam was covered in a coffee-color emulsion of antifreeze and oil. The head did not drain fully anymore, as the sump drains seem sludged up. Ugly. No rust anywhere at least.

A few head bolts were gorilla-tight. 3 were barely finger tight. This motor got a real bad thermal cycle. Fortunately, the cylinder bores look BEAUTIFUL. The piston tops appear clean too, and there's virtually no carbon anywhere in the engine.

Sadly, even though it came apart well, I found a killer problem. The aluminum between the valves on cylinder #1 is completely eroded. THe exhaust valve seat is sticking out above the level of the remaining combustion chamber material. There's a groove almost a quarter inch deep in the middle of the chamber, running up almost to the spark plug hole and through the center.

SO I need a head. I've been discussing it with my resident expert. He says I can't just use a B230 head. I know parts are different, but it seems to me I could swap the entire thing if I had a complete one. Is there a difference at the block/head interface between B23 and B230? My friend believes there is a passage or somethign that will not line up. I have a B230 handy- I have to go looking for a B23. It probably won't be expensive but may be kind of hard to find. If anyone has a good B23 head, lets make a deal! If you know for sure that a B230 will work, let me know!

Thanks as always guys!
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Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: '87 244DL/M47- 234K, '82 245T/M46-182K, '84 242DL/AW70-100K, '89 244DL/AW70- 212K and I miss my: 86 244DL 215K, 87 244DL 239K, 88 744GLE 233K, 88 244GL 147K, 91 244 183K