1990 Buick Regal timing chain broke

JOHNNYPICK

MEMBER
1990 BUICK REGAL
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
175,000 MILES

I need to know if I am getting ripped off. The mechanic says that my engine is a noninterference motor and I have had 2 people tell me that it is an interference motor. This is what happened. I was driving the car when it died. I had it towed to the garage and they said that my timing chain snapped. They repaired that but could not get the car to start. Upon further inspection they found a bent valve. He is telling me that the timing chain snapping bent the valve and my friends are telling me that its the other way around and that he is ripping me off. Please help me. Its a v6 3.1l

1 Reply

BUDDYCRAIGG

MECHANIC
2,262 POSTS

What happens when breaking a timing chain.

The camshaft stops turning.
So the valves stop going up and down.

But the crankshaft keeps spinning from momentum.
The pistons come up and hit the valves that are still hanging open.

Not only do the valves get bent, but in some cases, the piston is rocked when it hits the valve and compresses the side of the piston skirt.

This has a nice knocking sound.

Hopefully you can just get the bent valves replaced.
You may also need a few pushrods too.