Finally.

[dubcac]

After 2 months of my car not running, she is alive again. Here's the story.



Many of you know that I broke my hand earlier this year while riding my dirtbike. Being in a cast for 2 months prevented me from doing my 90k service. I finally got my cast off, so I ordered my timing belt kit. It arrived 2 days before I was leaving for my parents' house, so I didn't have time to do it. I drove to Norcal, stayed for a week, and then drove back to SD so I could do my timing belt.



About an hour into my trip, I started to lose power from the engine, and the RPMs started dropping...almost like I ran out of gas, but I didn't. So I pulled over and the car died...had it towed to my parents house. I assumed it wouldn't start because of fuel or spark problems, and I wasn't getting spark. Figuring my distributor was shot, I bought one at a junkyard and installed it...still no spark. Will was nice enough to come over and let me try his ECU on my car, because that was my next idea of the culprit. Nope, still no spark. So, I took the valve cover off and tried to crank it over. Crank spunk, cams didnt....uh oh. That means it was the timing belt.



I stayed for an extra few days, rented a Uhaul tow dolly, and towed my car to SD with my brother's 4runner.

Upon pulling the head, I saw the damage...one fuxored timing belt, and a bunch of bent valves.


I decided I was going to get a B20, so I pulled the motor and tranny out. I waited for a long time for the motor, so I decided I would just pick up a cheap LS head so I could get my car running again...put the block and tranny back in. I bought an LS motor from a friend, and put the head on my old block. While doing the timing belt, I heard a loud POP coming from the head...uh oh again. An intake valvespring was stuck down...which means the valve is stuck wide open..not good. Either has a bent valve or a bad valve guide. Waited again looking for parts in the area for a few weeks.



Finally picked up an LS head on sunday for pretty cheap, got to work on it Monday afternoon. After a few small hiccups with timing belt tension and shift linkage, it was ready to start last night...except the battery was near toast. Charged it overnight, got back at it this morning. Started up after a few cranks and a cyl 1 misfire...reset the ecu, purred like a kitten. Put the bumper back on, and now she's good to go.



Cliff notes: Spun timing belt, bent valves, pulled motor, installed motor, new head was bad, got another head, car runs again.


Oh ya, I got new brakes too


Front: Brembo slotted rotors, PBR ultimate pads

Rear: Brembo blank rotors, PBR ultimate pads

[imported_Lacuna]

Wow! Sounds like a nightmare. At least you have spare parts to build on now.... Gotta look on the bright side.

[jtw156]

Wow, that really sucked.

[Calesta]

I'm glad you got it running again. What are the plans on the B20/VTEC build?

[dubcac]

Plan 1....get a job.
Plan 2....smog it before the motor.

I'm thinking a sleeved GSR with LS crank and rods...but I do have a spare LS block that I could use as well. I was going to just throw together a "stock" b20vtec, but I'm slowly running out of funds, and it wouldn't be a good idea right now in case I need more $ to live on. Probably go with a low-moderate compression so I can leave it all motor for a while, and then go boosted eventually.

[sloEJcivic]

dude why didnt you tell any of us this before? thats cool you got it back tho

[imported_Kyle_G]

told you it was the timing belt :P

[Chino Kapone]

thats kick ass brett. glad to see ya got it runnin again.....

[dubcac]

It feels so fast compared to the Scion I've been driving lately....

[imported_Kyle_G]

Originally posted by dubcac@Aug 26 2004, 12:07 AM
It feels so fast compared to the Scion I've been driving lately....

Scion? :ugh: you can ONLY retain your manhood and honor if it was ATLEAST the Tc.. not an Xa or Xb.