THis is my first post and have owned Civic for about 10 years. I am getting ready to buy a 91 1.6 hatchback, but the timing belt broke when the previous owner was driving the car. Will the head on this car be all broke up or are the heads non impact type heads. Thanks for any advice. JDouti

 

Chances are the valves are all SHOT. However its not as big of a deal as ppl think. You can go on ebay and get a completly assembled used head for like dirt cheap. 1-200 bucks. Then simply get a new head gasket and take the old head off, scrape the old gasket off, put the new gasket and head on. This will be far cheaper than paying someone to install new valves. Installing a new head is a do it yourself job. This is a great oppertunity to get this car for a STEAL as the motor is deemed "Worthless" to an average person. Just tell him "Well being that the engine is non interface, all of the valves are bent, and the top half of the motor is shot. I will give you $XXXX For this car as is. By the way, where ya from? And welcome aboard.

 

Actually, chance are only 2 valves are actually shot, maybe 4. Once the belt breaks, the cam stops moving, so the pistons really only have one set to smack into, even if you keep cranking it. I'd do a compression test and then pull the head to actually get a visual before you throw the head away alltogether.

 

i just bought a 1988 crx si and the timing belt was broke iput a new one on and i had no problems i think that they are non interference motors, i also havea 89crx si same thing timing belt broke and no problems i would just try putting one on it isn't that hard and the belt is about 30 bucks nothing to lose but about a couple of hours

 

^holy crap..mabey the CRX is or you just been dam luckly because everyone who i heard a timing belt brake they always got to do pretty costly repairs

 

All honda engines have "interference" motors