So I got stuck in a snow drift last week and eventually got out under my own power and drove it back to my house 10 miles away with no problems whatsoever. Then I go to start it in the morning at it won't start. It just turns over and never fires. I had it towed to a shop and they said the snow/ice caused the timing chain to "jump" when I tried to start it in the morning thus causing bent valves. OK....so they said the bill would be around $900-1000 and I sure as hell can't afford that right now.

Could I just buy a cheap used b18a head and install it or is there more damage that a new head won't fix? Your help would be appreciated because right now I have no car to drive....

Also, some guy is selling a b18b head locally and I was wondering if that would bolt right up with no problems. Thanks for the help...

 

IMO if you drove it home and it was running right i dont think it skipped a few t-belt teeth. you would notice if your pistons were hitting your valves when you were driving it.

#1 compression test it, usually if you bent some valves 1 or 2 cylinders will be dead and the others are fine

to check if your belt skipped, set your cam gears so "TOP" is up on both, if one isnt then it skipped. if they are both up, then check to see if cyl 1 is at TDC, if it isnt it probly skipped.

to check for internal damage you are gonna have to pull the head unless you have a boroscope to look through the spark plug openings


edit: any LS head will work, i'd go for the B18b because it will prob have less miles and teh head and intake mani flow a little better than an OBD0 b18a head/mani

 

Will I have to convert to obd1 if I get the b18b head? So I will have to get a new intake mani as well?

 

no on both accounts, just use your obd0 dizzy and manifold.

if it comes with the mani/T-body then your MAP sensor will be on the T-body instead of the firewall, no biggie, i actually prefer it that way.

 

how much snow were you in? maybe some got in the distributor

 

I was thinking the same thing. If this is the case though I'll just get another one and call it good, no big deal.

EDIT: I was in enough snow to get high centered...


Modified by ef n00b at 7:42 PM 3/9/2007