sigh.

I've got a 96 850 glt with a broken timing belt.

first question: how bad of a job is this? are there any special tools I need?

second question: what typically bends/breaks when the timing belt breaks? does it just bend valves? does it eat pistons, too?



depending on the answers I get, I may have a 96 850 for sale. :~)

Expect the worst, hope for the best. The reason valves bend/break is because they are still open when the piston reaches top dead center. It is a 5 cyl, so 2 or 3 pistons will be at top dead center at the same time? Start looking at used engines from reputable salvage yards to get prices, a rebuild will cost you between $2500-$3500.

Klaus
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(V♂LV♂s 1975 164, 1995 854T, 1998 V70R)

Often times it is cheaper and less hassle to just drop in a used engine instead of rebuilding your top end. Typically they bend just the valves but unless there is something physically obvious on your visual inspection when you tear it down for the head rebuild you will not detect anything amiss in the bottom end until you put it all back together and fire it up, it is a crap shoot on that one. OEM TRW valves have a list price of 40-50 bucks apiece and at 20 valves that could be possibly damaged it can get expensive fast. Yes, it does require some special tools to do that work. Tools to hold the head together for assembly and disassembly, to hold the cams so the gears can be set up properly, to install the cam seals, to compress the tensioner, to install the liquid gasket sealer ($2.00 paint roller). Some of these tools can be faked and some cannot. I could do it without the tools but that is something that comes with years and years of experience and I would not recommend it. I have had to replace entire cylinder heads that people attempted to repair without the tools and this was done by another shop, not just some weekend warrior DIY guy. Replacing the engine complete on the other hand is not quite so technical. Sure you will need a cherry picker and plenty of time but for the most part it is just nuts and bolts. Pull the engine and trans as a unit, seperate the two and install your new/used engine and stuff back in the car. Sure there are things you will want to do to the new/used motor like a timing belt, rear main seal, maybe a water pump and tensioner pullies but the point is this stuff can all be done on it while it is out of the car and infinitely more accesible. I have done them both ways, repair versus replace, and the money is pretty close either way but I would say it is a little bit cheaper to go with a replacement engine than rebuilding your head onto a questionable bottom end. Either way though it is alot of work and you need to budget between 2-3K if you are going to have someone do it.

Mark

First let me be clear. I'm stupid. Yes I let this happen twice...

First time was at highway speeds. Second time at idle. Bent a few valves both times. Replace a few valve guides the second time. Both times I did the work myself with help from mechanic friends. The cost was a few hundred dollars for the parts. If you have to send things out it's more. If you have to have someone do it all, you may indeed have a car for sale.

The pistons were fine both times but I have heard the can be damaged beyond use.

I hope this helps.
Bryan