I have a 1997 rs, that my daughter drives. Last weekend the timing belt slipped and I believe bent some valves. The reason the belt slipped was low oil. The car burned about 2.5 qts ina 3 week period without smoking. The car has 193,000 miles on it. Have not taken the head off yet, so I don't know about the pistons. My question is would it be better to change the whole engine or can I get by with just rebuilding the head if it is only the valves. If I rebuild the head will it blow the bottom of the engine out. I have limited mech. knowledge but have people to help me do either. Thanks!

 

send your head to a machine shop they will clean it up and fix what needs to be fixed and pressure test it and what not, theyll send it back to you like new. i had a bent valve and some bad seals and they can get it back to you in a few days, that and while you have the head off obviously a new head gasket. i wouldnt think you would have a problem with your bottom end because your just fixin your top end not building it up for morepower.

 

It depends what has happend.

The problem with that is, you don't exactly know how much damage has been done. If the car just randomly stalls out on the highway, and youdon't try to start it back up, then you can probably get away with just a head rebuild.

However, if you are trying to crank the car over constantly, you are slamming valves into pistons constantly... and that damages the rest of the engine, and makes the head useless (in most cases).

The only way to tell is by taking the head off, inspecting the pistons for dents, and the head for chunks. If the pistons have little dents, its okay, but if you have tried to start it over and over, sometimes it can punch a hole through it, or damage it really badly. The same with the head.

Moral of the story...... DO YOUR MAINTANANCE!!!

 

Also timing belts dont slip b/c your low on oil and if your burning that much oil you may have an issue w/ piston rings too.

 

WITHOUT smoking. Thats a leak.

 

Oh didnt see that part.