TimingBelt

[suprajustin88]

Hi, I was just wondering that if my timing belt broke, would my whole engine be in trouble and have some serious damage? Or will i be able to get a new belt, put it back in time, and everything will be fine again. It hasn't broken for me, but I'm just curious about it. By The way its a 1988 7mgte auto. Thanks!

[projectsupramk3]

Non-interference engine so you will be fine. If you don't know how to line everything back up to TDC it is explained many times in the TSRM. When you torque the crank pulley bolt back down make sure it is exactly to specs, many owners have had those bolts come loose because they didn't install them properly.

[youngsuprakid]

couldnt you bend the valves though j/w? had my timing belt break and the guy said i was lucky i didnt bend the valves

[projectsupramk3]

Like I said the 7M is a non-interference engine. You can't bend the valves unless you have shaved ALOT of material from the head/block and have larger cams or something else to bring the valves much closer to the pistons.

[Brian R.]

Some aftermarket pistons would do it also.

(You weren't lucky, you were smart in buying a Toyota. They have mostly non-interference engines.)

Here's a link for listing engines as interference or not:
http://www.gates.com/brochure.cfm?br...ocation_id=524
and
http://www.gates.com/downloads/downl...older=brochure

Notice how few Toyota engine are interference engines

[youngsuprakid]

Originally Posted by projectsupramk3

Like I said the 7M is a non-interference engine. You can't bend the valves unless you have shaved ALOT of material from the head/block and have larger cams or something else to bring the valves much closer to the pistons.

Thanks for the info i will remember that now.... i think anyway i did have my block shaved 20 over and different pistons put in do you think that i could bend them now

[Brian R.]

No way of knowing. Assume you can and be conservative with your timing belt changes.

If you really want to know that you have interference, the next time you change your timing belt, put #1 piston at TDC and with the timing belt off, gently rotate the cams clockwise, one at a time. Any interference to rotation at the top of either of the lobes for the #1 cylinder is bad. Even then, when the engine is hot, you will have less clearance so this is only going to prove you will touch, not that you can't touch.