Broken Timing Belt

Post by **capecodbuilder** » 18 Nov 2009, 07:04

I am in a unique position to comment on this topic. I have a relatively new love affair going with the 850 turbo fam. After spinning a bearing in my girlfriends wagon a couple of months ago I started looking for a donor car on craigslist. I ended up finding three other black 850's with motor probs. A bad head gasket here, a bent rod there, an oil line gushing everywhere...and my spun out wagon. Because, hey, I'm Irish. We solve problems with bigger problems!

Well I've done the head removal valve lapping. I've replaced an engine and been all through these cars. Being a home builder I have nothing but time on my hands. I am mechanically inclined and perhaps more importantly, in this case, had little to lose as these cars cost me jack.
I found a 2.4 for the wagon with 150k on it for $300 at a boneyard. The swap was a greasy long weekend. The wagon is cruising nicely. Overall pretty rewarding. Could do it again in a long day...I think.
I rebuilt the head off the 2.3 and while I truly *enjoyed* the process I don't know many people who would have. The keepers on the valves and the tool I fabbed out of angle iron were enough to drive a "normal" human batty. It goes like a raped ape and this project was far more rewarding. This thing was apart for over a week with sending the head for a shave and all. It was probably more work than the engine swap but it was more cerebral and less gorilla.
Everyone has diff stories and realities to factor in. If you have the time and patience, bent valves are fixable. If your like the rest of the world and just want your car to run again an engine swap is probably for you. If your not doing the work yourself light it on fire and find another car. Or sell it to me.

1998volvos70 · Post by **1998volvos70** » 05 Feb 2010, 14:52

well, thank god i found this forum! because Im in the same situation! first off let me tell you my problem! I have a 1998 volvo s70, every time I would start it there was this clanking sound coming from the timing belt, and once i would start moving it would dissapeared. one day when i start the car that sound was louder than ever and the car sounded like it was gonna die, so I didnt move it or anything. I had it towed to a shop and was told that I need a timing belt, both pulleys, and a water pump and he threw in a surplenting belt for me, after he worked on it he informed me that the car DID NOT START! HE SAID THE THE KEY DID NOT WANT TO TURN AND IT WAS TOO HEAVY! so he told me that the valves were bent and he wasnt so knowledgeable about doing that kind of work, so I had to look for another mechanic, once i found one i had my car towed once again....they seemed very knowledgeable and he knew what we were talking about and he knew what the problem was. after i had the car towed there and they looked at it I got a call that there is 2 cracked pistons and most of the valves were broken!!!!! so I dont know what to do! is it worth fixing, or finding a new engine to replace the old one? or just look for another car????or take this guys word for( cuz idk if hes trying to F**k me with $$$) but after reading this forum i doubt he could be screwing me.....but still.....what should I do????I love the car, but would it be better to to find another engine and swap it?( if so swap it can i use other sizes? from other years? models? any info will help!!!!) or look for another car....? please get back at me ASAP! on my email at [email protected] or give me a call on my cell (915) 727-0188 for the volvo s70.....any tips and suggestions? thanks!

Post by **polskamafia mjl** » 05 Feb 2010, 16:43

Either replace the head yourself or get a used motor. Don't sell the car. Once you get this all worked out KEEP UP WITH THE TIMING BELT CHANGES!!!!

Post by **jblackburn** » 05 Feb 2010, 16:50

Especially with an N/A model you can find tons of good used engines out there in cars that have been killed by lesser things. Any engine from a 96-98 850/S/V70 should work (the older ones are the same, but have a different ECU, and I'm not sure about the wiring harness). You can find an engine for <$500 in most cases.

Your other option is rebuilding the head, or buying a re-machined one. If your pistons themselves are torn up though...

If your car is in good shape otherwise, I'd say it's worth transplanting. With a blown engine, you won't get anything out of selling it. And next time you'll know how essential that timing belt is

Post by **charlyW** » 05 Feb 2010, 16:51

I agree with the first poster. As far as I see it most garages/people will say "you would be better off buying a replacement" is because they dont want or know how to rebuild the head, as you say Valves are fairly cheap over here in the uk they're £7-£9 each guides if bent are around £2.50 to have installed and the odds on needing a full set of 20 is almost zero at most it would be 4 inlet and 4 exhaust.

If the belt snaps get it fixed take it off yourself, take it to the engine shop get them to replace the guides then refit the valves yourself and its a great learning curve also satisfaction gained from knowing you've kept your beloved 850/V alive.

Post by **cattledog** » 05 Feb 2010, 18:05

I got the impression from c@lvin that he wants to gain some mechanical knowledge with some hands on learning, in which case taking the engine apart is going to accomplish the goal and will be cheaper than an engine swap, however doing an engine swap requires mechanical knowledge, perhaps with not as much finesse needed. jmho

Post by **cattledog** » 05 Feb 2010, 18:15

1998volvos70 wrote:well, thank god i found this forum! because Im in the same situation! first off let me tell you my problem! I have a 1998 volvo s70, every time I would start it there was this clanking sound coming from the timing belt, and once i would start moving it would dissapeared. one day when i start the car that sound was louder than ever and the car sounded like it was gonna die, so I didnt move it or anything. I had it towed to a shop and was told that I need a timing belt, both pulleys, and a water pump and he threw in a surplenting belt for me, after he worked on it he informed me that the car DID NOT START! HE SAID THE THE KEY DID NOT WANT TO TURN AND IT WAS TOO HEAVY! so he told me that the valves were bent and he wasnt so knowledgeable about doing that kind of work, so I had to look for another mechanic, once i found one i had my car towed once again....they seemed very knowledgeable and he knew what we were talking about and he knew what the problem was. after i had the car towed there and they looked at it I got a call that there is 2 cracked pistons and most of the valves were broken!!!!! so I dont know what to do! is it worth fixing, or finding a new engine to replace the old one? or just look for another car????or take this guys word for( cuz idk if hes trying to F**k me with $$$) but after reading this forum i doubt he could be screwing me.....but still.....what should I do????I love the car, but would it be better to to find another engine and swap it?( if so swap it can i use other sizes? from other years? models? any info will help!!!!) or look for another car....? please get back at me ASAP! on my email at [email protected] or give me a call on my cell (915) 727-0188 for the volvo s70.....any tips and suggestions? thanks!

Go with a used engine, too much damage

Next time you hear a terrible noise...stop whatever you're doing and get it checked out.

rjaywhit · Post by **rjaywhit** » 22 Feb 2010, 15:23

I am trying to make a decision on how best to repair a 850na that I bought last November for $400 US with 115K miles on working OD.

I bought the car knowing that it had a blown head gasket but everything else looked good.

Within a week I had the head off the engine and found the reason for the blown head gasket. It had a broken thermostat. The metal bracket on the top of the thermo broke loose and there was nothing for the spring to push against.

I am looking at approx $350 for parts and found a machine shop that can rebuild the head for $370. So for an additional cost of $720 I can get it running again.

My problem is that every month since I bought the car I have had unexpected expenses come up. So my repair money dissapears each month.

I am thinking that maybe my approach should be to only replace the essential parts (ie head gasket set and bolts) and get the machine shop to only test and shave the head.

I imagine that I would have to disassemble the valves before I took the head to the shop. I have never done a valve job before, is this something for a novice?

My hesitation on spending the full $720 is that I have never driven this car on the road. My fear is that I get the engine running again and then find out that the transmission is toast.

I did move the car under power about 30 feet both in D and R so I know that there is some kind of transmission and the brakes do work.

Any advise?

Thanks.

Post by **JDS60R** » 22 Feb 2010, 16:04

Hi Rjaywhit ,

With the head off you can test the block and head for level . Make sure neither is warped or it will be cheaper to buy a used engine ($800)

When you have the head off you can flip it upside down and see if the valves leak by pouring gas (keep spark plug in ) in the combustion chamber/valve area and see if it leaks at all. If you have a vacuum pump you can rig it up to the head and see if you can pull the gas past the valves. If the valves leak pull them out and check for any damage like a burnt or torched seat.

If the seats are damaged and the head is straight/level then get it rebuilt or replace it with salvage head. (Keep in mind www.cylinder-heads.com only charges $450 for a complete rebuilt head for your car)
If they are just dirty and the seat needs some fine tuning then you can lap the valves and see how well it works.

You may want to check with local salvage yards as well. I have had a working engine and trans delivered for under $500 when the salvage yard is slow and up to $1500 when they are busy.

You can also buy a car that got rear ended at Copart etc for about $300 - $500 and make a deal with the salvage yard.

I understand trying to keep costs controlled.

let us know how you are doing and if your block and head are ok. You may get away with lapping the valves and some gaskets. But if things are warped its best to do it right.

Did any of your cylinders crack?

Post by **cattledog** » 22 Feb 2010, 16:09

How did you know the head gasket was bad?
A thermostat broken in the way you described is not going to over heat, on the contrary you probably wouldn't have decent heat.
No reason to mill a head unless it's warped. Valves I'd assume are fine.
Throw a head gasket in it, thermostat and coolant temp. sensor and call it good.

Broken Timing Belt

Re: Broken Timing Belt