It's Alive

[smeismer]

Well,
My metro had the stem of the exhaust valve of the #1 cylinder break while going down the highway. The head of the valve bounced around in the cylinder, breaking pieces off the piston and the head. We towed the car back home, and armed with the excellent threads on this site and the factory shop manual, I essayed to fix it.

The head and #1 piston were trashed, but only very little damage was done to the cylinder. I ordered a new (rebuilt) head and rebuild kit off E-bay (about $500.00 with shipping) and started the process. I had to use an automotive machine shop to change the connecting rod onto a new piston, but the rest I could do in my driveway. New bearings, piston, oil pump, head and timing belt went on over two weekends.

It started on the first crank, and with a little tweaking of the timing, it's running smoother and quieter than ever. I'm trying to keep it under 3000 rpm for the first 500 miles or so, then intend to change oil and go from there.

I've kept the piston, with the valve embedded in it as a souvenir.

[davebigs]

Good job, would nice if you could post pictures of the piston with the valve in it....

[smeismer]

Here you go. Hope this works.