Any help from someone experience in 300 diesels or a mechanics insight is greatly appriciated:</P>


I own a 78 300D that just shut down while driving. Before I decided whether to have the engine repared or replaced (it has about 300k), I wanted to take it apart a little. Under the cam cover I found the cam had broken into three pieces, severed the front cam bearing tower, snaped the timing chain and tensioner rail, and chewed some gear teeth off. I replaced the cam about 50k ago. I suspect it probably broke under extreme heat rather than age or lack of lubrication but I supose the later is probably possible. My question would beif the engine would have enough power or momentum to continue through another revolution or two where the bottom half may have been damaged? I remember the engine stoping quite abruptly. I suppose anything is possible under the circumstances but any ideas about what to do now?</P>