Does anyone know whether a 1998 1.8 Vectra engine with timing belt failure will suffer pistons hitting the valves?

Yep it sure will im doing one at work at the mo its taken 8 valves out

yep, cheaper to swap the engine out.

yep, cheaper to sell the cambelt

Cheers guys - it's a mates car and i din't want to start finding a replacement engine if there were any chance it wouldn't be wrecked!

Perfect timing for Christmas (no pun intended!).

Cheaper to buy another Vectra?

they usually crack the valve guides aswell where they protrude into the ports

Water pump and tensioner fails as well

yes i have rebuilt one last summer got the valves on ebay had to buy the lot as a set so i have 6 spare ones i can sell you cheep,it only took me 2-3 hrs to do the job and i had no manual.