Can a broken timing chain cause rocker arms to break?

Question

We thought timing chain was broke on 94 Saturn SL1. But when we took off the cover 3 of the rocker arms were broke. We replaced the whole rocker arm and car still won't start, making same noise (like it wants to start but doesn't). It is getting spark. Can a broken timing chain cause the arms to break? What else could it be? Thanks!

Answer 1

The best thing to do is to remove your spark plugs and turn the engine over slowly. When the piston reaches the top of it's stroke, use a light to see if there is a hole in the piston. It is totally possible to bend valves and rockers when a timing belt/chain breaks. You most likely have a few bent valves in this guy. The best of luck to you!

Answer 2

Eightball, I had the same problem on a 327 hydraulic lifter motor and a 427 425 hp. solid lifter motor. Be extremely careful in choosing quality stamped steel rocker arms. Choose genuine Chevrolet or Seal Power parts. I had trouble splitting the arms around the trunnion ball beneath the rocker arm stud. I was lucky to have access to a metallurgical lab at work and we did a hardness test and an SCM test to find the different types of metal that were used to manufacture the broken arms. Sure enough there was no chrome or nickel in the crappy arms. The hardness was substantially softer than the genuine GM arms. If you changed valve springs you may need to toss in a set of Crane, Comp Cams, Chevrolet Crower, Sharpe or other roller rocker arms with a stud girdle.

Answer 3

Yes it can. The timing chain keeps the cam shaft turning in sync with the crank shaft. If the timing chain breaks the crank will force the pistons up into open valves that will jamb up into the rocker arms. Causing severe damage to valves and rocker arms alike.

Answer 4

Unfortunately for you Saturn 1.9 engines are interference type. Which means when the chain broke the pistons collided with some of the valves and quite possibly break a lifter arm. Sorry but your engine is done for.

Answer 5

Dude, you trashed the whole engine. When the belt broke, the valves hit the pistons. So you probably have bent valves, dented or holed pistons, maybe scratched cylinder bores. Bummer.