N reg 1.4 Escort, CamBelt Failure

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
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Mon 16 Jan 2006 22:06
N reg 1.4 Escort, CamBelt Failure - dollygolfmids
i know a guy whos cambelt has snapped bringin his N reg 1.4 escort to a hault.. he is ready to scrap this car.. i have a haynes manual and could easily replace the belt and make a few quid but my manual does not tell me...

is the engine fail safe agaisnt cambelt failure (such is the cavalier amongst other cars).. i could do with knowing within a few days before he scraps it.
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Tue 17 Jan 2006 00:26
N reg 1.4 Escort, CamBelt Failure - Screwloose
DGM

The CVH is an interference engine; but there are a couple of spots in the cam's revolution where everything will miss. At a rough guess 1 in 5 chance of getting away with it.

It's quick and easy to pop a belt on it [even an old one for testing] and give it a go. As it's going to be a ruin anyway; if it starts and runs at all, thrash it down a long fast road and if you can get any slightly bent exhaust valves to glow hot enough, they sometimes bend straight and reseat. [After a fashion. Happy days...]

A second-hand head from the breakers must be worth a thought. Can't be a great demand for these now.
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