SOHC Timing chain failed due to rubbing against the block/head, Why??? 56k noooo

[Aaron D]

I bought this car for $750 due to a mysterious timing chain noise though it had just been replaced along with new gears, guides, head/valves etc.

Engine started and ran perfectly, but once the engine warmed up, a very nasty loud ticking noise would develop. I tried to limp it home thinking I knew what was wrong with it, but part way home it died.

Here is the result:

Opening the lid:













Head rub mark, fortunately only 1 bent valve!



Rub mark just to the driver side/right on the block:

I tried searching the forum, but I got 0 results searching for "Timing Chain Rub" or "Grind"

If anyone has any ideas on how this could have happend I'd love to hear it. Looks like the snout on the cam is too short or something??? I haven't heard if the original cam was re-used on this rebuilt head or if maybe it cam from a FWD SOHC engine.

I dunno, Discuss....

[Aaron D]

Aaron D

Online

1 posts

Tulsa OK11-2-2006

hahaha, registered for a year, just now 1 post... Lurk much?

Love the site, but it wasn't until this past month I actually bought a 240 and had cause to post. Now I have 3 S13's, 1 S14, 1 spare 5spd, 2 spare DOHC's, and haven't spent $5k yet!

[funigui]

thats the first time ive ever seen a complete failure like that, id sell u my whole sohc if u were closer lol. Anyways i would have to say thats a first and i cant imagine how it happened...

[funigui]

and if u want on sunday my sohc is getting pulled out for a motor of the twin cam varity, so ill pull the valve cover and measure how far that gear is from the head if u wish.

[Aaron D]

thats the first time ive ever seen a complete failure like that, id sell u my whole sohc if u were closer lol. Anyways i would have to say thats a first and i cant imagine how it happened...

Ha ha, I wondered if I could stump the club. Do I get a prize for posting something new? haha!

I still haven't gotten the whole thing apart to find out what's going on down on the bottom end, but I only have about 45mins of daylight when I get home to work on this.

If you could take a measurment like that I'd appreciate it. Having a short cam snout is about the only thing I could come up with to explain it myself, but then again, It's not completely apart just yet. I've never seen so many little bolts used on an engine before!