Neon Engine issues

[Zubicon]

Ok, background - heavily into rockcrawling so I know all about articulation, suspensions, etc. I am capable of handling all with an engine until you get to the valve train (valves, lifters, block, heads). Along with my 2 crawlers I as well have a 1996 Dodge neon, Auto, 4 banger, bone stock. About a month ago the Neon was making noise, I was easily capable of identifying that it was a timing belt issue. My boy did not head the warnings and went out and drove it anyway. It went out while he was driving. It could be the belt, tensioner or both. the timing cover is cracked in a few places and two chips missing out of it so I'm certain that is the root cause. i have yet to tear it apart for various reasons to follow. Question: Is this an interference engine or a non-interference? If it is an interference engine and the belt, tensioner or both went out while he was driving it, can just those components be replaced or we talking at a minimum valve work here or even head work/ The reason that I ask is that it already has over 140k on it with numerous dents, dings, yada, yada, yada. It isn't worth putting more money into it above and beyond a belt and tensioner. If it's more I'd just assume melt it down and make fishing sinkers or something out of it (just kidding). Anyway, any help would be appreciated.

[das2123]

Yes, it is an interference engine. The neon has a 100,000 mile timing belt, so if you are around that milage then it's very possible it skipped a tooth or more and bent some valves. If the belt or tensioner pulley went bad, then you are looking at a new head, valves, timing belt, water pump, and tensioner pulley.

[Zubicon]

I forgot, single overhead cam. I'm not sure wether or not that matters.

[Zubicon]

Originally Posted by das2123

Yes, it is an interference engine. The neon has a 100,000 mile timing belt, so if you are around that milage then it's very possible it skipped a tooth or more and bent some valves. If the belt or tensioner pulley went bad, then you are looking at a new head, valves, timing belt, water pump, and tensioner pulley.

I'm assuming that being said we are talking some big dollar amount, a grand or better.

[das2123]

Originally Posted by Zubicon

I forgot, single overhead cam. I'm not sure wether or not that matters.

Nope doesn't matter. They both have 16 valves.

Originally Posted by Zubicon

I'm assuming that being said we are talking some big dollar amount, a grand or better.

Depends on if you are doing the work yoursef or not. I would personally get a used head from a junkyard, buy some new valves, water pump, tensioner pulley, timing belt, and headgasket set and do the work myself. Here is a link to a timing belt how-to...
http://jball.neons.org/howto/timing_belt/howto.html

[Zubicon]

I've done plenty of timing belts and tensioners in my time and it looks (based on the manual) nearly idetical to an Iusuz. However I never messed with the heads, nor valves and don't want to so for the sake of arguement lets just suppose I had a shop do it all, roughly what are we talking? I'm just thinking that it's way to much for a fourth car in a soon to be two family member home.

[das2123]

I don't know...I have never priced that kind of work.