3rd Gen Prelude Help

ZENER

Well it happened ! I never thought I'd experience it but on Friday the timing belt on my 1990 4WS-Si Prelude snapped while doing about 100 Km/H on the M50.

Net searches say that the B20A Engine is an interference type engine and that there's a strong chance that it's bent valves and possibly worse. On the other hand a local engine rebuilder reckons that the engine will be fine. He says I should try a new timing belt and that it'll run ok !! I took off the rocker cover and 4 of the tappets appear looser than I recall them being. A lot more play than normal.

I've tried to find a new engine but so far no joy - anyone know of one in or out of a car ?

Has anyone any experience with these engines that might be able to advise me further ? In particular does anyone know of anyone selling one of these cars or has seen one in a breakers yard ?

All help appreciated, I'm really keen to get my Lude back on the road ASAP !!

Thanks guys

Ken

Henry Ford III

Throw a new belt in and see if that engine buider is right.

JHMEG

Try a new belt - it's possible, but not likely, that no valves were damaged.

Getting a new engine for that car is going to be next to impossible, but getting parts for it (new) should be, but will be pricey.

ZENER

I'm tempted to try the new belt but wouldn't that cause more damage if the valves are bent or even if a piston got cracked ?

If the engine is salvageable then I don't want to make it any worse.

Am I worried unduly ?

Ken

DublinDilbert

ZENER wrote: »

I'm tempted to try the new belt but wouldn't that cause more damage if the valves are bent or even if a piston got cracked ?

If the engine is salvageable then I don't want to make it any worse.

Am I worried unduly ?

Ken

Your not likely to do any more damage as your going to turn the engine over by hand a few times anyway before trying it on the starter (take out the plugs it will make it much easier to turn over by hand).

You could pop off the inlet / outlet manifolds when your turning it over by hand, you should be able to see if the valves are seating correctly as you rotate it. If you have to pull the head the manifolds will have to be removed anyway.

Did you figure out why the belt snapped? Did the Idler or water pump fail? or was the belt just old?

Pkiernan

DublinDilbert wrote: »

Your not likely to do any more damage as your going to turn the engine over by hand a few times anyway before trying it on the starter (take out the plugs it will make it much easier to turn over by hand).

You could pop off the inlet / outlet manifolds when your turning it over by hand, you should be able to see if the valves are seating correctly as you rotate it. If you have to pull the head the manifolds will have to be removed anyway.

Did you figure out why the belt snapped? Did the Idler or water pump fail? or was the belt just old?

Good advice.

Definitely turn the engine over by hand.

I had a timing belt fail on a Japanese car in the US. Bloody nightmare, and ended up donating the car to charity as it wasn't worth the fix.

ShadowHearth

well its a pandora box now m8. It could be fine, it could be dead.

moust of the time if timing belt snaps, then engine is gone...

Try honda-heaven, its an irish honda club, i can bet, that you will get better advice there. they will have for sale section aswell, so you might even get b20 engine. If not luck with engine, then they can advice, which engine should fit in instead. as moust older hondas are briliant for engine swaps etc.

JHMEG

ZENER wrote: »

I'm tempted to try the new belt but wouldn't that cause more damage if the valves are bent or even if a piston got cracked ?

No. A new belt restores timing and nothing will collide.

ZENER

Update :

All valve clearances except No. 2 Exhaust valves were well within tolerance. On No. 2 cylinder the clearance should be 0.007" +/- 0.001". A gauge of 0.008" cleared the gap but a gauge of 0.00815" didn't. Considering it's been about 8 years since this was checked and that I did all the clearances myself with little or no experience originally, is it possible that this is just maladjustment or a bent pair of valves ? All other valves are within tolerance. 0.004" +/- 0.001" for inlet and 0.007" +/- 0.001" for exhaust.

What do you think ? I've ordered a new belt and the special tool to remove the crank pulley - 60 quid !! - so will try it in the morning.

Fingers crossed

Ken

Esel

I'm no expert, but no. 2 would seem to be inside the tolerance if the gauge of 0.00815" didn't clear it?

E39MSport

experts here: - http://forum.hondaevolutions.com/

ZENER

Tonight's winning Lottery Numbers are as follows : 3,7, . . .

Lol . . Well lads she survived !! New Timing belt on and it turned over and ran perfectly !! My mechanic - who said I was wasting time and money - is still looking at me like I'm the jammiest git in town.

Thanks all for the info and advice.

Ken

ShadowHearth

ZENER wrote: »

Tonight's winning Lottery Numbers are as follows : 3,7, . . .

Lol . . Well lads she survived !! New Timing belt on and it turned over and ran perfectly !! My mechanic - who said I was wasting time and money - is still looking at me like I'm the jammiest git in town.

Thanks all for the info and advice.

Ken

fair play m8, gratz! i guess thats your ec mechanic now