V8 Troubles - Engine Repair

["James M. Dean" <aes@mhv.net>]

> cobram@Channel1.Com (Cobram) tells us:
>  
>      You're overreacting.  When I changed my timing belt (do
>      all the work on my car myself) I spent close to a month
>       waiting for "unexpected" replacment part. (The original
>       posts are in the archives somewhere.)  The V8Q is a
>       time consuming animal to work on, not to the extent of
>       the V-12 beamer, but close. (A word of advise, don't
>       EVER offer to help a friend change the starter in a
>       V-12 WMB, you'll lose two days of your life, and have
>       to screen future calls.)  Parts for the V8Q are not always
>       readily available, and many parts parts fit backwards, so
>       you only notice you've screwed up after it's too late.
> 
>       The shop owner is probably working on this after his
>       "regular" customers cars, they pay the bills all year
>       long and it's not realistic to think a shop will drop
>       everything to take on a PITA job.

After all the responses both on-line and off-line, I've come to my
senses. The consensus is that I should cut back on my coffee consumption
and be thankful that I have one of the best V8 mechanics in this part of
the world doing the job (Greg Hyman @ Autofirme, Pawling, NY). I just
needed recalibration... that's all.

 
>       Did you get an estimate for the work?  From what I've
>       seen, it might be cheaper to put in a boneyard engine
>       or a factory rebuilt after catastrophic timing belt failure
>       such as yours.

I did not consider a boneyard replacement. After searching the archives,
I understood my options and that a rebuild is probably more costly.
However, once it's complete, I'll have a known quantity. To me, a
boneyard replacement is asking for more trouble, introducing more
unknowns. At least now, I know that the top end is in good shape and is
done properly. 
> 
>       Out of curiosity, let us know exactly what caused the
>       valves to kiss the pistons, the way the tensioner(s),
>       sliding block and cam gears go together it would
>       be of interest to know the exact culprit, if indeed the
>       belt jumped.  All the failures of timing belts (original
>       or high mileage) that have shown up on the list so far
>       have broken, so it sounds like it was changed incorrectly
>       or something was left loose or put on backwards. There is
>       a very specific procedure and tools for changing and checking
>       the placement of the timing belt, it's not something that
>       can be done successfully without either.
> 
I'll get the details from the mechanic and pass them along to the list.

My thanks to everyone that responded to my post for keeping me in the
proper frame of mind here.
-- 
James M. Dean (JD)
Applied Energy Services
P.O. Box 60, Fishkill, NY 12524
Tel (914) 486-4134  Fax (914) 486-4701
Pager: (888) 274-7281
e-mail: aes@mhv.net
http://www1.mhv.net/~aes