My brothers got a 98 fiesta 1.8 diesel and the timing belt snapped. I know there is 99% chance of valve damage but is it easy to fix or would you get a 2nd hand engine and just change it? Does anyone know of anywhere in the northwest to get cheap 2nd hand engines or valves etc if thats the way to go?
Thanks.

Tony

Have a look under the valve cover first, I have seen these engines snap the camshaft and brake the cam caps before. If it has then the head is cabbage. If not then its not a major job to do.
Let me know if you need any tappet shims, Imay be able to help.
Steve.

Get another engine !!

One of my vans did this, took it to garage for examination and repair if easy.

Rang back no problem, just valves, rest seems OK but jammed.

Took top end apart and it fell apart ! Cam broken, retainers cracked, valves trashed.
Half way there with costs,so went the rest and had it repaired.

Result, bill for 750 +VAT !!

Wish I'd just bought another engine now!

Will do....Is it easy to tell if the valve guides are bent or is it a head removal job?

see link.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FORD-FIESTA-1995-1-8-DIESEL-COMPLETE-ENGINE-WARRANTY_W0QQitemZ4608803086QQcategoryZ21654QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Funny enough just been looking at that.....I take it they are all universal fitting and so a 95 will fit a 98 fiesta etc ?

Any slight different bits you could probably swap over, but the basic engine is the same.
One thing though they wiegh as much as the Bismark so you will need a decent bit of lifting gear,

Well i will getting my hands dirty tomorrow. Trying to do it as cheap as poss as it's his mrs car and they have just had a baby, so not really got a pot to wee in.

Think i will right a book and call it fixing a snapped cambelt for £250

Tony,

As the guys have mentioned go for the replacement engine.

You can then look at your Bro's engine as and when - if the damage isn't too bad you can fix up and re-sell.

He might even end up getting £120 back for it - which means the total expense is only £70.00

Which is what a cambelt change would have cost (roughly) if they'd changed the tensioners etc...


Plenty of ways to skin a cat - Locosting turns everybody into a Dell Boy

M

Ford had a lot of issues with this and used to do a rebuilt head for these engines, cam followers etc. I had two go inside the cambelt service interval !

Regards Mark

tony,
im in stoke and can sort you either a complete head or whoile engine if you need it

Froggy.
I am in Newton le Willows so quite local. How much are we talking?

Just changed a 1.8 diesel engine in a 98 Fiesta , the engine that went in came out of a 95 Escort. NOT an easy job If your Fiesta has the three piece timing cover and the auto adjusting vee belt fitting the alternator is a major problem , the sump is different , it has a sensor for the flywheel fitted , The O/S engine mounting ,the timing belt , tensioners , crankshaft sprockets , pulley and injector pump have to be changed . If you go for a secondhand engine make sure you get one the same . Head Techniques in Telford do reconditioned heads for reasonable money. As already suggested check for broken cam, cam bearing caps and also broken bores for the cam followers on you present engine. You need a few special tools but they are not expensive. BOL.

Theres a cheap escort diesel about to finish on e-bay would it be easier to just change the head?

the heads crack at the slightest hint of getting a bit warm as well,overall a crap engine

Ok took 2 days of work this week so what would you do, change the full engine or just the cylinder head ?