I just bought this as a project car. It has 85k miles. I loosened the timing belt cover and the timing belt is just shredded. Actually broken. the two rear camshaft belts look good. When I loosened the timing belt cover, a couple of ball bearings rolled out. . .

So, the question is - what do I have to do to determine the extent of the damage? I know that this is an interference engine, am I fooling myself hoping that there is no head or cylinder damage?

I removed both intake manifolds. I can't visually see any bent valves.

The crankshaft is in the safe position. Is it safe to rotate the cam shafts on each head?

How far should I tear it down? I have the front head off. No real visible damage to head or pistons. I can see "kiss marks" where the valves contacted the piston but nothing more. Please advise. Does that mean new valves are required? What is the most likely way to proceed?

I think you will find that the valves are bent in spite of what they may look like. Try pouring some liquid into the combustion chambers and seeing if it runs out.

I would remove both heads and check the valves, replace the bent ones and rebuild with new belt, water pump and tensioner pulleys. However, first check that the bent valves have not also cracked the valve guides, pistons or liners. This should be visible by simple inspection.

With the crank pegged in the timing position, you can safely turn the cams, but you will need the cam timing tools in order to rebuild. There is a video showing this on YouTube.

From your description, it sounds like one of the tensioner bearings may have failed. It is a shame because this drive system used to be pretty well bomb proof, but I have my suspicions that the bearings were cost reduced in the later days.

Yes, the timing belt tensioner roller is definitely the weak park. Major scoring on the smooth surface. As I mentioned, this caused the timing belt to literaly shred. I will have to vacuum up the debris.

When I look at the head from a different angle and upon further inspection - I see that there is a nice little bend under the valve head in the stems.

I don't see any cracks in the piston head or sleeves or damage to the valve guides. Hopefully I can get both rebuilt.

The car is worth saving, I think. Body and interior in great shape. Just this one little problem. . .

Chatting about this has helped, requiring me to look further.

Thanks for this forum and your response.

Both heads are off. Bent valves on both. No other visible damage. Piston tops and cylinder sleeves look ok.

What other kind of damage can I expect? Are these rebuildable? Can I get away with just replacing the valves or is it common for the timing belt failure to case damage to camshafts as well?

Just trying to find out prior to spending any additional monies on this.

thanks

Both heads are off. Bent valves on both. No other visible damage. Piston tops and cylinder sleeves look ok.

What other kind of damage can I expect? Are these rebuildable? Can I get away with just replacing the valves or is it common for the timing belt failure to case damage to camshafts as well?

Just trying to find out prior to spending any additional monies on this.

thanks

talk to dr evo he has some good heads that i pulled off an engine for him, ive checked them for starightness and they were spot on, they came off a good engine as i fitted the bottom end in my freelander.

where do you live?

I have completed the head rebuild on the KV6. I purchased the Laser 4577 Timing Tool Kit off ebay/uk and used that to time it.

When I did the timing, I had the engine locked using the locking pin. The Laser set that I have has two sets of camshaft positioning tools (one for the 2.0 engine and one for the 2.5 KV6). The 2.5 set is offset slightly.

The engine starts and runs great. Only problem is top end noise coming from the front head area. If I overfill with oil it is reduced some. The noise is most noticeable when cold and parked and at idle rpm.

No DTC (diagnostic trouble codes) showing on my scanner. Spark advance showing between 7 and 9 degrees on scanner while at idle.

Could this be a timing issue?

Thanks, in advance.

Kim Lombard

I can't think how the timing could produce any noise. What sort of noise is it? Tappet noise can be caused by sticking tappets or there is the possibility that something is catching the belt or tensioners.

it may not be relevent but the laser locking kit is not accurate http://forums.mg-rover.org/showthread.php?p=4103270#post4103270

when i helped the OP out and sorted the cam timing it rattled from one maybe 2 tappets on the front head, the only plausable explanation i could think that might apply is that a lifter was damaged when the piston and valve have contacted on the front head (the OP had been cranking the engine on the key with the timing way way out) though it ran and drove fine so i dont think a valve or 2 was bent.

this might be your fault as well.