When the timing belt goes...

[97catera18]

What all gets destroyed when the timing belt is off or breaks? For a 97 cat that is.. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

-E

[german_catera_fan]

hi there, that depends on the rpm that your engine was running at when the belt died.
if it was really slow then you might be lucky and will just have to replace a few valves and hydraulic valvelifters.
if the revs where a little higher, you can be sure, that all24 valves/hydraulic valvelifters are done. AND the pistons are in 90 % of the cases junk as well. because the edges get bent during the "headcrash" and the pistonrings are not gonna be able to move anymore.
been there, done it.
broken belt=refurbish engine! belive me

and if you REALLY have bad luck, the valve stem guides have cracks as well, which means: replace either the guides or the the heads......

[97catera18]

Thanks for the info. The RPM's where kinda high. I'm was wondering what im getting into here. What should I all replace on this motor? I have a good motor with higher miles that Im gonna use as a parts motor for it. I dont want to hange the motors I just want to swap the heads and such..What all should I use from my good motor to put on the bad motor to fix it?

Thanks!!
-E

[Marks DTM Calib]

How many teeth did the belt jump, if only 2 or 3 then the valves just get nicked and bent open slightly, this does little or no damage to the pistons and the bottom end is still good........

If you plan to re-use the heads then you need all the valves out and inspect the valve guides very closely with a bright light and magnifier....

[frank moran]

Originally Posted by Marks DTM Calib

How many teeth did the belt jump, if only 2 or 3 then the valves just get nicked and bent open slightly, this does little or no damage to the pistons and the bottom end is still good........

If you plan to re-use the heads then you need all the valves out and inspect the valve guides very closely with a bright light and magnifier....

That was the exact condition of mine when I bought it, 6 bent, 3I and 3X, nothing else damaged...the middle ider came apart, the belt jumped and thus the damage.....

[LV2FLY]

Question: When should a timming belt be replaced:
A) if you do not know the history?
B) every how many miles or years?

[Marks DTM Calib]

Answer

A) Staright away
B) 40K miles or 4 years

And you repalce the belt, idlers and tesnioer as its not actualy the belt that fails.....worth doing the water pump at the same time as well....

[LV2FLY]

Roger that!