Thread: bent valves, need advice on rebuild/swap in sac =)

I can't say without seeing it, but I'd say 99.9% sure that the block is okay. The problem with these motors is they are interference motors. That simply means that the valves and the pistons occupy the same space at different times. Unfortunately, if your timing belt hasn't been changed recently enough, it gets old and brittle, and timing belts break. Unfortunately, when this happens, the valves that were stuck wide open when the belt broke, get slammed into by the pistons. Those are the 2 things that are going to be fubar'ed. Head's going to have to come off... pistons might be okay, it's hit or miss. Most times I've heard of them being fine, but they can get mutilated also. Even in this scenario, the block should be fine. If the pistons are okay, find a new head or replace all the bent valves. If the pistons aren't okay, you'll have to replace them as well.

You won't find a low milage 6 bolt (89-92), and you would be a fool to put a 7 bolt (92-99) in it.
You can look for a 4g64. It's a 2.4 liter, but will bolt right in, or you could build your own motor. This option has way too many variables, the 4g63 and 4g64 motors have so many interchangable parts, it's like a chevy 327 and 350. You can build a stroker 2.3 with the 6bolt and a 4g64 crank, a destroked 2.3 with the 4g64 and a 4g63 crank. There's more choices, but with an $800 budget, I'd say check the pistons. If they're okay, just pick up a new head, and you should be set.

~Jon

If he was driving it at the time of the belt failure, there is a 99.9% chance the lower end is hammered,

Good, Low milage, and 4g63 should never be used in the same sentence...

If you know what you are doing $800 will get you going down the road.

First things first find out if your lower end is good,

if its not I would look for another engine, you can find a "desent" 4g63 for between $650 and $800