If a timing belt breaks what happens?

[heiman5]

I found a nice e30 and the seller says that the tbelt snapped on the sunset highway.... he claims it just needs a new one.... but what really goes wrong with the engine if this happens. DOes it need a whole new engine? I have done a t belt b 4 on my own and if it can be fixed witha simple t belt ill buy it... but lemme know how sever this issue is...

[E30stz]

Major engine damage is probable.

[heiman5]

any way to check without taking it to a shop?

[drmattyg]

If a timing belt breaks...you lose.

Long story short, you'll have to do more than just a t-belt, and it won't be cheap.

[E30stz]

your going to need a new engine if your not prepared to fix. The engine damage is often severe.

[heiman5]

alright ... i just found a nice looking vert for 1k even if the engine is gone it may be nice for a 5 speed swap and parts car...

[adept]

pistons and valves run into each other... heads crack open... etc... ive seen it myself.

[heiman5]

haha well ill take a look at it for parts then

[Grant01]

a good engine can be had for around 500-1k so if its in good shape it could be a simple engine swap

[vespo88]

my mechanic just recently did a timing belt job on a 325is e30, and one of the pistons actually bent. A bunch of other shit happened too, and its gonna cost the customer around 1800$ to fix everything.

[Jetter2]

bad bad things.


Pistons jam up into the Valves, bent valves, bent rods etc. Some motors have pistons with special groves in the top of it, so if you ever throw a T-belt, you don't screw up the valves.

M20 is a full intrusion engine?

[heiman5]

wow I just found a nice m20 for 250 bux here in town.... I might just do this and turn it for a huge chunk of change. :) anyone in portland want to split it with me and split the profeits and work for the swap????

it will be 1200 for everything

[deathray187]

I've got a head suffering from snapped t-belt syndrome, I'll get a pic of the valves in a minute

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v171/deathray187/IMG_0433.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v171/deathray187/IMG_0432.jpg

[heiman5]

looks like you wouldnt want to put that back together... new engine seems to be the best bet :)

[deathray187]

sure you can, just drop a good used head on and it should be good to go. this one cracked the rocker shaft journal/support/whatever thingie when the valves hit the pistons. but if that didnt crack I could probably use it again with some new valves and valve guides.

[Nbx33]

I say if can afford it it can be running for less then 300 and maybe about 12hours of ADHD(sparetime) type of mechanic work on it..MAX i had to redo all my valves when i got my e30..its a learning expierience and fun plus you can send you head out to get tanked ... and give you time to port polish whatever you want.. I'd do it!!

[Jetter2]

Take the head to the valve shop and get a valve job. If the head itself isnt cracked, the valveshop will put in a new camshaft, new rockers and valves, and make it all look good.

I think a valve job is like $150?

[mn855t]

Two questions:
1) With a broken belt on a 325e, how likely is bottom end damage, or is it more likely just to be the head that needs work?

2) What are some good sources for a rebuilt head and apx cost?

Thx

[mcross]

If a timing belt breaks what happens?

if my timing belt breaks, a loan and an S50 swap happens!