Son of a... *Brutal Damage Inside*

[ISB E30]

So last night on my way home my car made a horrible noise and died on me, I let it coast down a hill and into a parking lot. Well today I hitched up the truck and trailer and got her home, I took the valve cover off to inspect the thing and found this:



This is a video, click to watch...

[Farbin Kaiber]

TOHC is better than DOHC?

[ISB E30]

I guess so. I have never seen anything like this before, does anyone have any idea what could have caused this?

[3bvert]

ouch
rare for this to happen,
with one exception, that the head was done and the cams in their towers were not torqued down in sequence and carfully. the cams will crack if not done correct. then high revs, low oil pressure plays thier toll and snap

usually this happens pretty early after a head , if done wrong
but I guess could happen anytime if a crack is there

hopefully, when it snapped the revs were down, and the engine shut down right away, cause if a valve was left open on a compression stroke, your looking at an overhaul, possible pistons, but at lesat a few bent valves

good luck

[KenC]

It's an interference motor, so my guess is bent valves.

[frankenbeemer]

Parting out yet?

[///digitalme]

ummm looks like you may have some bent valves like some members pointed...that sucks...fix it dont part it or get a replacement engine they are pretty cheap

[Van Westervelt]

Funny thing, this actually happened to one of my m42s, and one other that I know of as well. Guess its not so rare after all. Good luck boss. Hope the head is okay for you at least.

[ISB E30]

I spent the night last night pulling the car apart, I have everything off except for the head bolts. I have to go buy the right size bit for it before I get it all the way off. No part out just yet, but I am looking for another motor if there is one around.

[///digitalme]

there are a lot of engines out there...maybe you can consider doing an e36 engine since they are easier to come by and low mileage...

[ISB E30]

I finished pulling the head tonight and found that the valves are bent in the head. The local Pull-A-Part has and E36 M42, is it possible for me to use the head off that motor?

[twistednut]

Yes

[3bvert]

is the latter head just a pull and play ? I thought there was some other changes that had to happen, maybe thats whole motor.
If you old head is not cracked, dont trash it, keep it, sell it, whatever. Ive seen early m42 heads sell for several hun

whats a e36 m42 head go for these days.....just curious

and of course great time to get rid of throttle body heater crap if you havent already

[StereoInstaller1]

add 8 more valves.

God gave you a hint.

[ISB E30]

I am doing the hose clean up under the intake manifold like was suggested and am swapping over the E30 intake manifold in place of the E36 one.

I paid $145 at a local LKQ Pull-A-Part for head, cams, and rocker assembly.