Likely hood of bent valves with broken timing belt

[95Kevin]

This is my Daughter's `95 850GLT (AKA Kevin). The timing belt broke as she was backing into a parking space on campus. Before we start to order a new timing belt kit for it, what is the likely hood of the valves being damaged, and yes she did tried to restart the car before checking to see if the belt broke.
Thanks, Mom

[matthew1]

Unfortunately it's high. Ask her if she heard an awful mechanical sound from the engine.

[MoVolvos]

This is my Daughter's `95 850GLT (AKA Kevin). The timing belt broke as she was backing into a parking space on campus. Before we start to order a new timing belt kit for it, what is the likely hood of the valves being damaged, and yes she did tried to restart the car before checking to see if the belt broke.
Thanks, Mom

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Pull the spark plugs and purchase any generic Endoscope Camera to check for valve to piston marks.

Endoscope Camera
https://www.amazon.com/Anykit-Endoscope ... 107&sr=8-8

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[foggydogg]

These motors are called interference engines because of the lack of clearance between the valves and pistons if the timing belt is off even a few teeth on the sprocket. There will be multiple valves bent, and the repair is quite time consuming; depending on the model the valves themselves are expensive. We all like these cars, so this is a sad story to hear.
Best wishes.

[Clemens]

I bought a 93 Civic VTec with a broken timing belt (it broke while it eas idling) anf after slapping a new belt on it drove just fine. vtecs are intereference, as well, btw.
you and your daughter might be lucky, but as others said, it's not very likely. I'd give it a go after using an endoscope camera

[abscate]

There’s a great Volvo garage in Burlington if that’s nearby. A compression test will tell the tale of the top end, definitively

[foggydogg]

This is my Daughter's `95 850GLT (AKA Kevin). The timing belt broke as she was backing into a parking space on campus. Before we start to order a new timing belt kit for it, what is the likely hood of the valves being damaged, and yes she did tried to restart the car before checking to see if the belt broke.
Thanks, Mom

The only way that this event would not have resulted in the valves contacting the piston tops would be the (very) unlikely alignment of the cam sprockets on their respective timing marks when the timing belt broke. That is the only scenario that would allow the crankshaft to rotate without touching the valves. Spinning the engine with the starter motor produces enough force to cause damage if the cams are not on their marks.
Some posters here have had a touch of luck putting new belts on engines that have suffered a timing component failure - I am among that
group - but that is only after recognizing the problem as it happened, and the belt remaining intact with no more than a tooth or 2 out of time.
As Dr. Abscate suggested, finding a local independent garage familiar with Volvo's to look at the car might be best to weigh your options.
Removing and replacing the cylinder head is very labor intensive.

[5underpressure]

There’s a great Volvo garage in Burlington if that’s nearby. A compression test will tell the tale of the top end, definitively

If he’s closer to the southern end of the state, I could even lend a hand with Compression testing and endoscope looking.

[abscate]

There’s a great Volvo garage in Burlington if that’s nearby. A compression test will tell the tale of the top end, definitively

If he’s closer to the southern end of the state, I could even lend a hand with Compression testing and endoscope looking.

That’s real nice of you, 5UP!

[BEJinFbk]

Is Clearwater still a good source for rebuilding these heads?