JoroCorona Posted October 23, 2004 Report Share Posted October 23, 2004 Alright. Blew the timing belt, less then 27,000 on it, but yeah. Doing an even 60 mph, and all of a sudden, no power. I heard no grinding or damaging sounding noises, but I'm preparing for the worst. The trans almost instantly neutraled out so I'm hoping it didn't kill any pistons or valves. I need a possible way to check for bent valves before taking the head off. Also, Am I better off just replacing the motor if the heads are fed up, or rebuilding it myself. Any quirks of the 3.4 that I should be aware of before pulling the valvetrain apart. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveFromColorado Posted October 23, 2004 Report Share Posted October 23, 2004 what year is it? --Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoroCorona Posted October 23, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2004 93 Lumina Z34 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White93z34 Posted October 23, 2004 Report Share Posted October 23, 2004 should be ok, 91-95 were non interference engines Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canada Posted October 23, 2004 Report Share Posted October 23, 2004 That should be a non-interference engine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoroCorona Posted October 23, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2004 Wow... That really made my day. I thought for sure that it was an interference engine. Whew... Thank god... So... yeah... Timing belt is all I'll need. Wow... thats quite the load off of my mind. Suggestion of a good hi quality belt or just go for a gatorback? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Fury Z Posted October 23, 2004 Report Share Posted October 23, 2004 just hit the gator back, considered changing the timing belt pullies, tensioner, and or the actuator? since you'll be replacing the belt..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoroCorona Posted October 23, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2004 I'm thinking about doing all that and the intake gaskets cause I have a nasty vacuum leak thats f'ing up my idle bad. I makes it kinda hard to get in drive when it's cold too... Trannys dont like getting dropped into drive at 1.5-2.5k rpms every morning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteOut Posted October 23, 2004 Report Share Posted October 23, 2004 I hope its not the case, and I know everyone says its not an interference engine, but its still possible that the valves are bent, its a matter of how much lash they have and how many miles are on the motor more than anything else. If you do end up having damage to the valves its going to be cheaper to get an engine from a yard than it is to repair it garunteed. In fact its also cheaper to plop in a used engine yourself in most cases than it is to pay to have the timing belt replaced. I don't mean to be a downer, but hopefully you didn't do any major damage and you can get away with just changing the belt, I would however attempt to do a compression test on each cylinder to make sure though. I know its gonna be an absolute bitch to do since you'll have to turn the flywheel and cams by hand more or less, but it would be a hell of a lot better than going through the trouble of timing the engine correctly and replacing the belt only to find that your screwed anyways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoroCorona Posted October 23, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2004 If its a matter of how many miles are on the motor, then its a non issue. Its got about 77k. Everything in that motor should be barely worn. Its had proper oil changes and such and all maint done on time every time. I've even got the slips for it. Once I have the belt on, I'll do the compression test, but I'm pritty sure I'm good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteOut Posted October 23, 2004 Report Share Posted October 23, 2004 Good luck with the belt man, let us know how it turns out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan94Z34 Posted October 27, 2004 Report Share Posted October 27, 2004 With the valve covers off, you can spin the cams independly. Spin them around a couple of times. you will be able to tell if the valves are bent by watching the valvetrain movment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmer Posted October 27, 2004 Report Share Posted October 27, 2004 Its got about 77k. Everything in that motor should be barely worn. You'd think so, but engines were built to die, driving it or not. Remember your car IS soon to be over 11 years old :oops: You should be fine though...mine went too and I was cool JUST MAKE SURE THEY CHANGE EVERYTHING Belt, idlers, tensioner...you will be sorry if you dont Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveFromColorado Posted October 28, 2004 Report Share Posted October 28, 2004 I lost my T-belt at about 6k RPM's in my 91 Z-34 when it had 63k miles and everything was fine - so you should be alright. (but there's always that slight chance) --Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThunderBat Posted October 29, 2004 Report Share Posted October 29, 2004 this thread is one of the main reasons I'm scared sh*tless to buy a car with one of these engines...most of the Cutty verts I've looked at have this engine and I have yet to hear anyone ranting and raving about how great they are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteOut Posted October 29, 2004 Report Share Posted October 29, 2004 I'd rant and rave about how nice it is...if that is I didn't have to remove the intake every time I wanted to do anything. Other than that, I love the engine. Stuff is going to need replacing on any ten year old engine, thats just part of the territory. So far I don't think I've done anything that isn't par for the coarse on any engine with 120k miles on it. On the plus side this thing is WAY more fun to drive than a 3800. Sucks to a 5500 RPM redline, I like mine at 6500. It not only sounds badass, but its just more fun period. Now if I only had a five speed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DOHCRagtopguy Posted October 29, 2004 Report Share Posted October 29, 2004 Now if I only had a five speed. I'll drink to that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThunderBat Posted October 30, 2004 Report Share Posted October 30, 2004 I've heard the alternators go south pretty often because they are on the bottom of the engine and take all the road gunk...I realize the accessories have to be down there due to the wide heads but it cant be healthy for them...granted I've never worked on one of these engines but getting to a lot of these things sounds like a major pain...or the kind of thing where you just decide "screw the headaches, I'll pay someone else to do it"...I can remember the days when I had access to a lift and pneumatic tools...nothing seemed too difficult...but this crap of on your back in the driveway gets old real fast...I guess it helps tons tho when you know where the problem areas are and you can do a lot of preventative maintnence ahead of time...and I do have to go along with you on the engine music, I've heard a couple of these engines with CAI's and flowmasters and they sound downright nasty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuminaRacer05 Posted October 30, 2004 Report Share Posted October 30, 2004 nasty as in good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoroCorona Posted October 30, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2004 Nasty as in good, yes. They have the nice grunt sound of a chevy, but once they revv up they sound like their screaming. Its hot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThunderBat Posted October 30, 2004 Report Share Posted October 30, 2004 definitely nasty as in "oh yeah baby!"...the kind of nasty that turns your head around in a parking lot so you can see what is making that sound thats tingling your insides...then he pulls into the street and romps on it and the hair on the back of your neck stands up as you say to yourself "Dammit, come back here and do that again!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoroCorona Posted November 2, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2004 Fuck Fuck Fuckity Fuck Fuck! Alright, Got the belt on and all, timed it using the tools and shit... Runs like ASS CRAP. Its got good compression, but the whole car vibrates at idle, and it hiccups at speed. I dunno what I could have possibly done wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loominaz34 Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 It's possible that one of the cams slipped a tooth on the belt. It happened on my car and made the car do some very annoying things. :x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vegeta Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 You did time each cam bank 180 degrees from each other correct? If compression is good, this is a good sign that its the cam timing and not the valves being bent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoroCorona Posted November 4, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2004 I used the factory timing marks. Front bank timing marks are supposed to be inline pointing away from eachother and the the rear inline point twards eachother. The intermediate shafts mark should be pointing straight down which is where I think i might have made the mistake. It was kinda dark and I couldn't see the mark on the harmonic balancer that well, so I just eyeballed straight down on the intermediate shaft. Thats prolly where its off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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