Timing/cam Belt Snapped At Speed

[Guest Andrew Birch]

So, cruising at 60mph and my 1.6i MFI CVH Escort mk4 cab cut out. Thought it was fuel issue, but checked timing belt to find it completely snapped.

 

I realise this could spell death for the engine, but I was wondering if anyone had had a similar issue and it had not been so catastrophic to fix? I know this engine has hydraulic cam followers to control the valve clearance, but could this in any way have saved a collision? or is this wishful thinking?

 

Any info about your experiences with this would be useful, just trying to limber up and get as much info as possible before deciding what to do.

 

Cheers

Andy

[welshlad]

You might have gotten away with a bent valve or two thats usually the case, obv your gonna have to take the head off and take a look wont take you long to do

[Guest Lee81]

If it broke at 60mph that engines going to be scrap. Bare minumum full head and gasket rebuild. Get a second hand one.

[RScab]

As above easier & cheaper just to replace the engine

 

but replace the cam belt on it ASAP, you wouldn't want it to happen again

[Himanshu]

Had this happen to me, admittedly not at this speed. I required two pistons, and 4 valves. Stripping the head is not hard, whilst you have it off, its a great ideal to fully decoke the head. I gas flowed mine, and placed hardened valve seats as at the time leaded fuel was becoming obsolete. I think it cost me in 1993 about £500 for two pistons, have the seats and guides replaced and new valves. I did another strip and build in 2005 and at that time it cost me £300 with gaskets and getting the head skimmed, and cleaned. If you do the job well worth inspecting the bores, and taking the bottom of the sump off, removing the end caps and replacing the bearings, and thrust washers. You can push the pistons out once the end caps are off (remember and make a note of what goes where in relation to the engine).However it is a pig of a job as the sumo gasket will have to be fitted bob on, (technical term that), Make sure its an original Ford Gasket, as I had three attempts at it and finally a ford Gasket not cheap as it was £24+VAT (then), compared to FIA, at about £8. however from the time and motion study get it right first time, as you will need to remove the exhaust down pipe, and its a bugger cleaning off the mating faces of the gasket. Whilst I had the sump off, I decided to give it a through clean and had it shot blast and powder coated. I also found a pair of old collets someone who must have dropped whilst replacing the valve stem oil seals dropped I the engine. Parts are getting rare and far and few between for this engine. But as stated by others the first port of call is take the head off, and inspect the damage. Even if you get a second hand engine your going to have to check it, and change all the gaskets.

[Guest Andrew Birch]

Thanks a lot for the advice guys, its going to a garage today to have the head removed to inspect the damage, so I will know the extent of the shit storm a-coming early next week.

[welshlad]

Me and a few people i know have had the same problem and we have only had a few bent valves, suppose its just one of those things and is different - engine and speed wise when the cam belt snaps etc

[Vincygav]

Happened to my bro's XR3i some years ago, I think IIRC we got away with just replacing the head, the pistons were still ok. It had just bend the valves.