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[peteelite]

But is she dead ?..The cam belt went (at 70mph) so  fear my 2.5V6 (2000) Elite estate is probably beyond economical repair,I have only had her 4 months and had planned to keep the car for some time I had to buy two new tyres immediatly (£220 Goodyear F1...ouch) and the next thing was going to be a cambelt kit...the rest is history.The thing I want to ask you guys out there
is this worth repairing ?This is a gold elite estate in good nick for age with all the whistles and bells good leather with a months tax and MOT untill Jan 2011.Seems like a daft question that only I can answer but I am self employed and am constantly on the move and dont really have the time or space for an engine swap.
Basically I am asking for opinions before I decide her fate.
Sympathetic posts only please I have already beaten myself up as I know the cambelt was the FIRST thing I should have done..what a muppet. :-/

[Kevin Wood]

It doesn't normally need an engine swap. Get hold of a pair of good heads and swap them over. Chances are the bottom end will be OK. A good couple of days work but not that difficult or expensive. If the rest of the car is sound it's worth saving, surely?

Kevin

[Lazydocker]

I feel for you... Happens all too often

Anyway, as Kevin says, if the rest of the car is good then just get a couple of new heads. Seems like a good opportunity to stick 3.0 Cams in for an increase in power too

[Dishevelled Den]

At the very least Pete you would have to establish just what damage the engine suffered before making your mind up - as the others have said, you may only have to replace the cylinder heads.

It would seem a shame to junk the car for this reason alone.

[Teebee]

As i've said on a previous post, start the head swap and see how it looks, your only cost is your time (assuming you have tools). If you get the heads off and it's a basket case you scrap it the same way you would have done.

[peteelite]

I am no expert on engines,but surely if the valves stop dead and the pistons keep driving (via rear wheels @ 70mph) for (in my case )5 seconds or more the pistons are going to take a hammering from the valves that are left open? I can understand getting away with it on a side valve engine or some old Skool diesels ,but a multivale V6 ?

I appreciate the help but won't be able to get under the bonnet till next week,so the more info the better

Cheers.

[Lazydocker]

I am no expert on engines,but surely if the valves stop dead and the pistons keep driving (via rear wheels @ 70mph) for (in my case )5 seconds or more the pistons are going to take a hammering from the valves that are left open? I can understand getting away with it on a side valve engine or some old Skool diesels ,but a multivale V6 ?

I appreciate the help but won't be able to get under the bonnet till next week,so the more info the better

Cheers.

The pistons are very hard. They may be marked but you'll probably get away with it as the valves are much softer No way to tell without lifting the heads off though. The heads will almost certainly need valves and guides as an absolute minimum though

[Psychoca]

Always worth the look...  The valves will be knackered, but, the pistons will almost defintely be pitted, but otherwise fine....

[peteelite]

OK..will take heads off (time permitting).

[TheBoy]

As others suggest, it will be the valves and stems that take the beating.

Probably cheaper to get a replacement set of heads from on of the many breakers here such as Darth Loo-knee than it is to buy 24 new valves and stem seals.  Worth replacing stem seals on a replacement head whilst its off though.

Marks DTM has a good 'shopping list' for which gaskets etc to buy, based on extensive experience. He may not reply for a few days as he's train spotting today, and plane spotting all weekend


Good luck

[Bent valve]

I am no expert on engines,but surely if the valves stop dead and the pistons keep driving (via rear wheels @ 70mph) for (in my case )5 seconds or more the pistons are going to take a hammering from the valves that are left open? I can understand getting away with it on a side valve engine or some old Skool diesels ,but a multivale V6 ?

I appreciate the help but won't be able to get under the bonnet till next week,so the more info the better

Cheers.

The pistons are very hard. They may be marked but you'll probably get away with it as the valves are much softer No way to tell without lifting the heads off though. The heads will almost certainly need valves and guides as an absolute minimum though

Actually the pistons are very soft, as they are made of aluminium, and the valves are very hard because they are made of steel.
What happens is the valves get bent out of shape immediately the pistons smack them and after that apart from the pistons having a war wound or 2 there should be no further damage no matter how fast you are going

PS if you need a pair of heads, I have a decent set here c/w valves and cams.

[377]

and I will have a 2.5 V6 available as soon as I get hold of a TD autobox and can get on with my daft project.

[Chris_H]

I am no expert on engines,but surely if the valves stop dead and the pistons keep driving (via rear wheels @ 70mph) for (in my case )5 seconds or more the pistons are going to take a hammering from the valves that are left open? I can understand getting away with it on a side valve engine or some old Skool diesels ,but a multivale V6 ?

I appreciate the help but won't be able to get under the bonnet till next week,so the more info the better

Cheers.

The pistons are very hard. They may be marked but you'll probably get away with it as the valves are much softer No way to tell without lifting the heads off though. The heads will almost certainly need valves and guides as an absolute minimum though

Actually the pistons are very soft, as they are made of aluminium, and the valves are very hard because they are made of steel.
What happens is the valves get bent out of shape immediately the pistons smack them and after that apart from the pistons having a war wound or 2 there should be no further damage no matter how fast you are going

PS if you need a pair of heads, I have a decent set here c/w valves and cams.

I agree except that in special circumstances the valve heads can break off and if they happen to bounce vertical when the piston next comes up.......

I have pictures to prove it and one valve head ended up in the sump!  Not a vx engine I might add,

[Brikhead]

Seems like a good opportunity to stick 3.0 Cams in for an increase in power too

Complete, running, 102,000 mile 3.0 engine, available here for just £250...
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1278960807

[Brikhead]

...as soon as I get hold of a TD autobox and can get on with my daft project.

Ar35 any good? I understand they fit the diesel engines??