Ok, driving my 90 GSX today, the car kinda sounded like it had an exhaust leak, and at higher (normal cruising) rpms the sound would go away. Well pulling into my gfs driveway this afternoon the sound just got louder so i revved it up with the clutch depressed and let off it, and when i did, the car died. So i go to restart it, but to no avail. i can hear the starter spinning, and when i do so, sounds like its not getting compression and i can hear a clanking noise. i pulled of the top timing cover and the belt is attached and will spin the cam gears, so the belt didnt break. I wonder if it maybe slipped time. im gonna start looking tomorrow night, just wondering if anyone had any ideas of things i should also check. Thanks

If you don't have compression you will not get the car started. I would do a compression test, and a leek-down test. If you don't have the tools I do let me know if you need help.

Well compression test reads zero compression in cylinder 1, and i do have spark, and after turning it over the timing belt is basically just flopping around. So basically im looking for an engine rebuild i guess. Can anyone tell me what all im gonna have to replace and a guess about how much im looking to spend. All i can do is build it back to stock, minus maybe a balance shaft eliminator kit. I know i have to replace valves (or whole head), pistons?, front seal (leaks), timing belt and tensioner.

You may want to consider a junk yard engine for now, to save $$. Otherwise, Precision Engines (Mitsu77) can rebuild it for a good price. Also try KOU Motorsports for a replacement.

Also, if the compression is truly "0", you probably really broke something in the #1 cylinder. I cracked the ring land all the way around my #2, and it still held 78 psi. Just a thought.

exactly what i was going to say.

well for now i do have a car i can drive, so downtime really isnt a problem. I unfortunatly still owe money on this car. I figured i may as well just rebuild it, 180,000 miles on it. I dont really wanna temp fix just to have something happen again. Would it be best to find a used head and have it cleaned and such or just replace the valves (most likely bent) and have it cleaned and machined? Im living in quincy IL, so unless i can get a super good deal, i will probably have to have someone local work on it, i would probably put it together myself, but machining will be done by someone. This car is (was) a daily driver and it will be when i do get it fixed. Well the compression guage doesnt move when i crank it over and the timing belt is just flopping around and the cam gears are no longer timed together according to the marks, so it is my guess the tensioner went out of it.

I know where there are no less than 5 good cylinder heads available.

If you can't find a shop to get it done, I may be able to help. Find out for sure if the pistons are OK, and go from there.

If it's just the timing belt that went, you may be able to just replace the head and run with it for quite a while. I've seen stock bottom ends with over 200k on them that would still turn some amazing times (11 sec!).

I kind of tend to agree with the "just rebuild it" philosophy though. While it's down, do it right. I might be able to help you out with a rebuild if you want... I did the motor in mine/spys/xians car that seems to be holding up good to spy's abuse and 12.8 1/4. It was a stock rebuild for the most part. PM me if you think you might be interested. I'm near Peoria BTW.

The timing belt itself didnt break, its still all one piece, but no tension on it and its just slipping timing when i try to start it. Right now, i dont have the money to rebuild it, but most likely within 3 months i will have it saved up, unfortunatly im sure the bank wont loan me anymore seeing that i still owe 1200 on it. Should i pull the head with the engine still in there, or just go ahead and pull the motor? ive pulled one by myself once, non turbo, im not sure how much more difficult it would be. Im afraid the pistons are probably dented from the valves, and like i said the front seal leaks oil pretty good (about 3qts every 1000 miles) so i dont think i can just do a quick fix, cause im sure something else will go wrong if i do. Im pretty much just looking to rebuild this one over the next few months, just keep it stock and simple since i dont have much money and its going to be a daily driver for me (very handy in the winter with AWD), im just curious of an approx guess on the price, im guessing 1000-1500 by the time its all said and done, new water pump, timing belt, tensioner, machining, head, pistons?, balance shaft removal kit, hoses, drive belts, gaskets and more stuff im probably forgetting

I would be more than happy to help you with you problem, I have many parts in stock, and do not have a problem with dilivery! Anyone else?

Sounds like the timing belt tensioner broke. When mine was going out it made a funny noise at low RPM's and the noise went away at higher RPM's. It sounded like an exhaust leak coming from under the hood but it was really the belt flapping around. You probably skipped the timing and bent some valves. Check the pistons and see if they are ok. If they are just try and throw a new head on there. If that doesnt work or you are yielding low compression even after that then I would worry about a rebuild.

Mitsu 77, If i may ask, could you give me an estimated idea of what it would cost to have you do a rebuild, you can PM me the price if you prefer. Im just wanting a ball park figure, i understand its going to depend on what all needs replaced, machining and such, but could you give me a rough estimate to rebuild it to stock (minus removal of balance shafts), im gonna need a new head (or valves) whichever is cheaper. I would prefer to have someone that knows what they are doing fix mine, rather have a local thats never seen one before put it together and it throws a rod 10 miles down the road.

Although it is tempting just to throw on a head and go, since im gonna be keeping this car and the fact the thing leaks oil like crazy, i may as well just get it rebuilt and not worry about it.

I might even get some parts from KOU, i wouldnt mind seeing the shop again