Sssooo, I recently bought a '95 VTEC Prelude with the encouragement of a few friends (sold my crappy '98 Sentra prior). So after a few months of driving it, the auto tensioner decided to stop working, thus screwing the timing up and bending a few valves in the process. I just wanted to see where I go from here. Would it be better to just buy a used head? Or should I get the machine work done to repair mine? Anything helps, thanks guys.

 

The 4th gen H22A1 came with manual tensioners, not automatic ones. Regardless of what happened, the safest bet is to get a used but known to be in good shape head.

 

dont listen to the noob. your car did have an auto tensioner. if you decide to keep it that should be the first thing that you replace. If you bent a valve you will need to at the very least puchase new piston(s), a hone (good luck finding somone who knows what they are doing, and some new valves.

you may have got lucky and the valves didnt break off and tear up the pistons or the cylinder walls. there are places that will rework the head so that it is usable.

but if too much work is involved you can pick up a long block for under a grand.

 

why would bending a valve require new pistons?

H22A1=Auto tensioner
H23A1=Manual tensioner

I think just buying a used head, swapping it, and then selling the old head may be the easiest way to do this.
If you search around, you will find a thread on the Auto to Manual tensioner swap that includes a parts list.

 

Seriously?? Look up the term interference engine...

 

I know the term.
I can't say every H22A thats broken a TB has destroyed the whole engine...

 

I've never checked out pistons on an H22 after they hit the valves, but I've seen many other interference motors after a timing slip, and never had to consider changing pistons to get those engines running again. Usually the valve (or other head componentry) takes the only real damage.

OP - I'm sure that one look at the pistons with the head off will tell you what you need to know.

 

well generally when you have a bent valve it is because it hit something....like a piston. if it hit the piston hard enough it could have damaged it....notice i said he may have got lucky and the pistons etc were not damaged. I know that you know this.

depending on the condition of the head you can have it repaired for as little as 100 bucks.

good luck

 

Manual Tensioner Conversion saves lives....

 

For sure.
Have people had complete engine damage from the TB breaking? Of course, but its not a definite thing every time.
It would be like saying every time you bent a valve from a mishift that you needed pistons.

Pull the head, start from there....

 

Well you asked why bending valves would require new pistons so I assumed you did not know what an interference engine was. While its true he likely will not need new pistons it is a very real posssibilty that he may.