Broken Timing Belt - What Next?

[jeffnhiscars]

I called my local dealer and asked who they send their heads to and they said they've been using him for 20 years. Good enough for me. I wouldnt trust any old shop.

[EatsHondas]

Alright the head is off. Haven't looked at the valves yet, but every piston looks like it kissed its fellow exhaust valve to some extent. An intake rocker decided to divide and conquer as well. Here are some bottom-end shots. Still useable though right?













I'm probably going to start tearing down the head this week and consult with a few local machine shops about rebuild costs.

I've never torn down an automobile engine of any kind, so every step of this whole process is new to me. Any advice or stories of your previous experiences would be great. Thanks guys.

[EatsHondas]

6 bent exhaust valves, 1 broken intake rocker, and 1 bent intake valve. Fantastic. Don't have enough green for all the necessary machine work, so this head is going to sit the bench. It's gonna have to be a junkyard head for the next few years at least.

[chance]

that sucks.

I cant remember if I saw an m20 with the head at pull a part last weekend..?

[EatsHondas]

that sucks.

I cant remember if I saw an m20 with the head at pull a part last weekend..?

Very much.

You mean there might've been one or you know for sure there aren't any? Pretty sure the 525i's run an m20 also, that'll increase my odds of finding one. Nate was talking about a yard behind his house that has a few e30's. I'm gonna try to czech that out this week.

[chance]

Very much.

You mean there might've been one or you know for sure there aren't any? Pretty sure the 525i's run an m20 also, that'll increase my odds of finding one. Nate was talking about a yard behind his house that has a few e30's. I'm gonna try to czech that out this week.

I havent been to Myers in a while, let me know when you go there, I wouldnt mine going.

Just make sure you dont get an 'e" head, as in one from a 325e. they are different than yours

[EatsHondas]

I havent been to Myers in a while, let me know when you go there, I wouldnt mine going.

Just make sure you dont get an 'e" head, as in one from a 325e. they are different than yours

I'd really like to go this week sometime. I'll let you know when.

Yeah an "i" head has '885' on the casting. I'll watch out for that though. "Why won't it rev past 4 grand?"

[EatsHondas]

Picked up a head today from a vert 325i. The cluster looked beautiful and was clocked at 107k miles. That's fewer miles than most clusters stop at, and the head looks beautiful. Golden brown, but no soot or buildup. My old one is disgusting.

[chance]

wooooooooooooooooooo

its always fun smashing apart cars at Myers

[EatsHondas]

For all this trouble, I'm probably going to do a timing belt every oil change so I never have to go through swapping the head again.

I've tried three different styles of valve spring compressors from various auto parts stores and they all wrangle dick. Since the valves are recessed so far below the top of the head, I have to use a deep socket on the top of the valve spring while making sure the other end of the tool doesn't slip off the valve and gouge the combustion chamber. I spent ~2 hours on it last night and only got two valves out.

"Fun, fun, fun..."

[chance]

For all this trouble, I'm probably going to do a timing belt every oil change so I never have to go through swapping the head again.

I've tried three different styles of valve spring compressors from various auto parts stores and they all wrangle dick. Since the valves are recessed so far below the top of the head, I have to use a deep socket on the top of the valve spring while making sure the other end of the tool doesn't slip off the valve and gouge the combustion chamber. I spent ~2 hours on it last night and only got two valves out.

"Fun, fun, fun..."

surely theres a better way.

I had a big valve compressor, but gave it to chris a. You might be able to borrow it from him and see if it works

[Cronopoulos]

For all this trouble, I'm probably going to do a timing belt every oil change so I never have to go through swapping the head again.

I've tried three different styles of valve spring compressors from various auto parts stores and they all wrangle dick. Since the valves are recessed so far below the top of the head, I have to use a deep socket on the top of the valve spring while making sure the other end of the tool doesn't slip off the valve and gouge the combustion chamber. I spent ~2 hours on it last night and only got two valves out.

"Fun, fun, fun..."

You don't need to remove the head to swap belts. A machine shop would have it done faster and im sure the bill wouldn't be that terrible either.

[EatsHondas]

You don't need to remove the head to swap belts. A machine shop would have it done faster and im sure the bill wouldn't be that terrible either.

My belt broke, ruining the head. Found another to put on instead of rebuilding it.

[jlevie]

For all this trouble, I'm probably going to do a timing belt every oil change so I never have to go through swapping the head again.

I've tried three different styles of valve spring compressors from various auto parts stores and they all wrangle dick. Since the valves are recessed so far below the top of the head, I have to use a deep socket on the top of the valve spring while making sure the other end of the tool doesn't slip off the valve and gouge the combustion chamber. I spent ~2 hours on it last night and only got two valves out.

You need a C-arm type valve compressor. Sears has one that works fine.

[EatsHondas]

You need a C-arm type valve compressor. Sears has one that works fine.

I'm currently renting one from Advance Auto Parts and it looks exactly the same as the one at Sears. Is there a trick to getting the angle right? I spent a good bit of time trying to figure it out and it's still not easy.