I thought it might be good to put together a list of parts (and maybe prices) one will need if they experience the notorious timing belt failure on an interference engine. I think it would be good to have a "relatively" narrow idea of what to expect. (Yes - I am considering buying an 86 that has suffered TBF). I think the most concise answer is something like "$5000", but what is the range? How many hours? Price range for parts new and used? I know Big Dave has been working on a TBF project. Maybe he'll have something to say about the costs.

 

So far my costs have been minimal. I have a fellow Rennlister who is refreshing a set of heads for me, including new valve guides and seals. I'll need to replace any valves he can't use from my heads when I send them to him. Suffice to say I got a very fair price, one that is less than the price of one used head from the Big Three. I can't thank 86.5_Tiburon enough for his help.

A major part of the expense is the cost of items that I'm working on just because the engine is coming out and being taken apart. So far this is my list:

Head gaskets - donated!
Engine hoist - borrowed
Engine stand - ~$60 if I can't find one to borrow
Oil pan gasket ~$20
Motor mounts (Ford) ~$60
Powder coat the intake - price unknown so far
Replace valve guides - included with refreshed heads
Replace valve seals - included with refreshed heads
Oil filter and oil ~$40
Air filter ~$20
Tensioner arm bolt ~$13
Timing belt ~$45
Alternator belt ~$15
Power steering belt ~$15
A/C belt ~$10
All under-hood vacuum lines - no price yet
A/C o-rings ~$50
A/C drier ~$50
ATF ~$50
Coolant ~$25
Hood insulation pad ~$85
2 Cam gears ~$100 used, $200 new
Oil pump gear - unknown
Spark plug wires ~$145 using old plug ends
Mineral spirits (for cleaning) ~$20 for 4 gallons
Compression tester ~$35
Torque wrench ~$75
Other various wrenches ~$100

This list omits the $100s worth of tools I already have, including jackstands, infinite metric wrenches and sockets (I seem to buy more every time I'm at Sears), 2 jacks, mechanic's tool boxes, lights, creeper, kerosene heater & fuel (it's cold in Michigan), TV, stereo, wife's patience ($infinity).

This list also omits the cost of the workshop manuals which can be obtained in a variety of media formats for widely varying prices. They are an absolute MUST for this project.

I wouldn't even CONSIDER paying someone else to do this. It would cost a fortune (think about the mechanic's mark-up in prices), and I'd miss all the fun I'm having.

 

The big problem with buying a car which does not run is how do you know if the transmission is any good ? air conditioning works ? fuel injection computer is good or even in the car? The most recent timing belt incident I know about 93 GTS 140,000 miles .... the repair totals about $10,000 but they opted to install new piston rings and bearings which was about $1,500 of that and did include a lot of rubber bits as well. The guesstimate is $4,000 to $7,000 when a belt lets go about half is labor. The 85-86 the heads are captive on the block which has studs not head bolts so the engine must come out of the car. Once it is out you are staring at a bunch of 20 year old hoses,motor mounts,plastic bits as you start pulling the intake apart boots, hoses ,wire harnesses disintegrate before your eyes. The gears and rollers for the timing belt often are badly worn. A bolt or two shears off because it was corroded or overly tight. When you finally get the heads off nearly every valve is bent,the guides are worn , when you look down into the cylinders there are scratches ,hopefully not too deep. When you took of the intake you found a lot of oil and oil residue from blowby being vented from the crankcase into the intake. Maybe you should put in new piston rings ? maybe over bore it and new pistons ,maybe stroke it since you are buying pistons anyway, but then you need custom rods ................... For now just figure $4,000-7,000 to fix what was damaged and reseal the engine all new seals and gaskets.

 

Geez, Jim. Do you consider my efforts in vain? My engine ran perfectly before this happened. I have maybe a tablespoon of oil in the intake, and it's been that way since I bought the car. I clocked a 14.5 1/4 with 99.6 mph last summer, too. Unless the timing belt failure somehow ruined the pistons and rings, they're staying put. The car has 115K miles.

 

No Dave not at all you KNOW that your engine ran well ,many parts had been recently changed and for about $2,000 in parts etc plus your labor you will be back on the road with a fresh valve job. But think about what Kuwona is talking about a completely UNKNOWN car which JUST "needs a timing belt". If you have never heard the engine run it is a crap shoot at best.

 

It'll certainly be less than $2,000 for me....likely about $1,500 including all my optional stuff. Selling some spare stuff I had laying around has helped, too. Since my shark is turning into a garage queen, I no longer had need for my dish wheels or the phone dials mounted with snow tires.

The dishes are gone...anyone need 16" phone dials? I'd take the rubber off free!

 

Hmm - If the engine has to come out, maybe it makes more sense to look for a decent used engine and swap. Then I could sell the old engine or part it out? Crazy?

 

You'd need to find a US '85 or '86 engine. Even then you'd be nuts not to take care of some restoration while you're at it, which adds to the price. Used engines aren't cheap if they still run.

 

Mine ended up being about $11,500!! But that included lots of extra things that were preventitive maintence since the engine was out! Anyway you look at a TB break is bad, but like Jim says it gives you an excuse to go for a stroker!

 

Porsche says that the cam timing chains must be replaced if the pistons hit the valves.

 

Aww hell. Add them to my list. ~$32 each I think.