hey dose anyone know if the 3.5L v6 2001 magna is a free spinning motor?
so basically if the timing belt goes would the motor free spin or not?
thanks

Kaylene,
Both 3.0 and 3.5 litre engines are, I believe, an "interference" design. If a belt breaks, then its almost certain that pistons meet valves. Or so I'm told.

All magnas have an interference engine, eg if the timing belt breaks the pistons will most likely contact the valves and cause damage.

all of the above are correct responses.

belt breaks, valves bend. Not good. $$$ and @#$#@%$

it spins freely so long as the belt dont break... lol

Kaylene, I speak from experience. It's an interference engine. I know cause my timing belt broke last year and all the inlet valves were interfered with... 12 replaced valves and head reco later, she was running sweet again.

Unfortunately, my bank account wasn't so sweet :(

Regards, Tony

hm... my timing belt has 120,000 km on it... hmmmmm

Kaylene, I speak from experience. It's an interference engine. I know cause my timing belt broke last year and all the inlet valves were interfered with... 12 replaced valves and head reco later, she was running sweet again.

Unfortunately, my bank account wasn't so sweet :(

Regards, Tony

Yup, broken belt = tears and lotsa $$

With tony, he will agree his engine was never the same again, ended up purchasing an engine from mee and has never looked back

I hope you are not asking this because you have dropped a belt?

hm... my timing belt has 120,000 km on it... hmmmmm
... why?

hm... my timing belt has 120,000 km on it... hmmmmm

Mines getting pretty close too, its going in monday for a new one though.

I can stop worrying then

Dads TE did ~240,000 on original belt. Hence why I dont stress about mine.

mines due next service 105,000km... in way im luck that i get to do it myself
are adjustable cam gears, safe to use with stock cams, or not worth the trouble? (wife needs to hear a cam snap before i can get upgrades)

Dads TE did ~240,000 on original belt. Hence why I dont stress about mine.

your dad got lucky IMO
ive lost count of the number of snapped belts due to old age ive seen in my career
Lexus recommends 150,000km changes but they utilise a wider belt
and what of the mitsubishi 1.8 DOHC motor... damn things eat belts... ive done so man of those hings that i can do a head on one of those blindfolded... (recommendation is 80,000km on said engine FYI)

I have them go over 200ks on a rare occasion, have seen them go at 70 Is luck of the draw really.

One I recently did we suspected had just a tad over 200ks on it, was about to fall off rather than snap, as you approach the 100k mark the belt is starting to stretch.

If you are at 120ks then you should be ok but I would be serious about getting it done pretty soon

I have them go over 200ks on a rare occasion, have seen them go at 70 Is luck of the draw really.

One I recently did we suspected had just a tad over 200ks on it, was about to fall off rather than snap, as you approach the 100k mark the belt is starting to stretch.

If you are at 120ks then you should be ok but I would be serious about getting it done pretty soon

Hmmm - I suspect my "repo auction" TJ Sports has been 'mentioned-in-dispatches' here. Was about 215K, looked OK-ish (no cracks etc) but a bit floppy and even stretching it in your hands compared with a new belt it seems to have stretched longer.
Lucky for me, the ole beast made it from NSW to Caine's, then across to Mal's in Melb - with clapped-out belt giving no trouble. Feel heaps more at-ease knowing that this job has been done now, and done right! Thanks Mal - two more TJ/KJ lining-up for your "touch".

Hmmm - I suspect my "repo auction" TJ Sports has been 'mentioned-in-dispatches' here. Was about 215K, looked OK-ish (no cracks etc) but a bit floppy and even stretching it in your hands compared with a new belt it seems to have stretched longer.
Lucky for me, the ole beast made it from NSW to Caine's, then across to Mal's in Melb - with clapped-out belt giving no trouble. Feel heaps more at-ease knowing that this job has been done now, and done right! Thanks Mal - two more TJ/KJ lining-up for your "touch".

You drove to melbourne to get Mal to do your timing belt?

Hey - you travel to the expert.

And agree with Mal, my engine just wasn't the same after that. Didn't seem have have the same oomph as before. And the engine Mal put in is going brilliantly.

Don't leave them too long...

Regards, Tony

Depends on how you drive your car i suppose. If you drive it hard on streets, change it soon. If you are 100% granny mode, then it should see 200k no problems, within 5 years off course. everything starts to get brittle/stretch with heat and cooling off 5years and onwards, just like radiator hoses..

@SupraT.... short answer yes - drove to Mal's for Timing Belt change, from Tamworth NSW, except travelled via Adelaide too.

Long answer - basically the same, wanted to get stuff from the Mitsi Clearance place in Adelaide - and I also wanted to visit friends in Melb - worked there from '93 thru '02 and last visited in '04. Knew belt needed doing - was always a bit insecure about the condition of my Sports and the level of servicing it had received. From reading here in Forums it was obvious Mal knew his beans, and had the gear (esp for tensioning the new belt) to do the job.

Thought I'd put the courier costs towards fuel/accomodation and have a holiday trip all in one go!! EDIT: And glad I did, too!!