I may be able to get a hold of a 1987 Civic sedan, carbed 1.5L, SOHC 12 Valve engine, auto tranny... Word was the timing belt was feathering and it needed a new crank sprocket.

I've turned the engine over with the upper part of the timing cover removed. I can hear the engine cranking, but the cam sprocket only moves a few millimeters and then stops. I can only suspect that the teeth are stripped off the timing belt near the crank sprocket or the woodruff key is broken. I do not know at what engine speed this occured at as it's an abandoned car.

Ive been told several things:

1.) There is a CHANCE that if it was at a low engine speed, the valves may not be bent, but the pistons would have small dents in them. Therefore the engine may run after figuring out why the belt slipped.

2.) The pistons could be cracked by hitting the valves. This will cause them to break apart if the engine is restarted. The only way to find some of these cracks is to use a special liquid, available at dealers or machine shops.

3.) The valves are totally destroyed, especially if the belt slipped at a high engine speed. This seems to be the most likely outcome...

I suspect, that if the timing belt slipped, it was due to a bad cam bearing... The car has 98K miles on the clock, so it isn't brand new, but it isn't too bad either.

I have a 1984 Wagon, also carbed 1.5L, SOHC 12 Valve engine, auto tranny... It has either a warped head or a blown head gasket. (I saw it overheat. I added the coolant. It started again with lots of steam out the exhaust and shortly thereafter blew all the coolant out the radiator cap. It never started again.) It also had a loud valve/lifter tapping noise. I suspect valve lash.

Anyhow. I was wondering what are the chances that I could get the 87 running again. I'd rather not waste my time milling the head and repalcing it if the pistons are shot... Then again, if I can get it running by replacing a bearing and timing belt, I'm game.

 

Will I be able to see the part of the valves that would be bent just by removing the valve cover?

I was more interested in hearing people's experiences with this sort of situation.

Also, I forgot to appologize for making such a long post... If I seem like I know some stuff, It's because I am a mechanic, although just starting out in the industry. I've learned much of what I know in the driveway with a set of wrenches. I don't claim to be an expert, so please correct anything I may have mis-stated.

 

I really doubt that the pistons are cracked/chipped. Maybe they could have a tiny dent in them, but those pistons should be just fine.

It looks like a lot of work. First take off that valve cover, and look closely at the valve stems - I doubt you'll see anything there, so maybe skip this step.

Take that crank pulley off, take off the t-belt covers, and take a peek at those gears. Hopefully the T-belt is just dead. Put a new one on and see if it runs. You'll only loose like 20 bucks and a few hours of your day.

 

take the head off.....my friend snapped his timing belt on his si motor driving 75 on the freeway....pulled the head off....looked a-ok...but he got a b16 anyways