Broken Timing Belt (Prelude)

I have a 1988 Honda Prelude SI that broke a timing belt. I know other cars
the have such a incidents can do major damage and then some have designed
in where valve don't hit the pistons. I am hoping for condition 2. What are
my chances?

 

According to this looks like #1

http://www.angelfire.com/ar/dw42/freewhee.htm

 

If you have never before changed a timing belt, I suggest that you have it
towed to your favorite mechanic or a Honda service center and have them do
the work for you. They can also tell you about any damage that may have
happened.

 

I guess I am to expect bent valves and hopefully it didn't go through the
top of the piston.

 

Hate to say this, but expect the bent valves. You can either have the head
worked on and bent valves replaced, replace the engine with a used engine
(many places on the net sells them), or get a new car. If getting another
car is not in the budget, I'd recommending dropping in one of those used
engines from Japan. Just type "Used Honda engines" in yahoo or google...

Small chance it did not bend the valves, but have a mechanic check it out.

Good luck,
-Dave
btw - I speak from experience from an '89 Prelude Si!

 

Yep, thats what I expect. remove head and replace valves. I just hope I
don't see one impaled in the top of a piston.

 

You have "condition 1", but sometimes you still can get lucky.
If the engine happened to be idling when the belt broke, you may have
gotten lucky.
If the engine made a sudden stop when it broke, probably not.

 

When the valves hit the pistons they bend. They leave slight indentations
in the tops of the pistons. The pistons are otherwise not damaged in most
circumstances.

Eric