Hi Everyone, I am new to the forum and I am looking for information on whether to repair a V6 in my daughter's Verada. I have looked through 20 pages on the forum but thought it may be easier to ask a few questions. It has broken the timing belt and I assume from this that it will have valve and possible piston damage. I have found one second hand motor from wreckers but don't know the condition of it. 1. Can the timing belt be changed in the vehicle
2. Does the whole drive train and suspension come out from underneath
3. If it only has valve and timing belt damage would it be worth fixing

Any help appreciated

Are you doing the repairs yourself?
If so, I would dismantle the engine with the broken belt to see what the damage is. With 12 valves in the two heads, its not too expensive to replace them. Pistons will most likely not be damaged, the overlap is only a couple of mm and the heads of the valves will be bent so they no longer seat. Look under the timing cover for damage, if the belt has let go at speed there may be damage to the water pump, idlers and covers.
Whether its worth fixing depends on the km on the vehicle and your inclination - and how much damage you find once you open it up.

Timing belt and heads can be done with the engine in the car.

If you are swapping engines it comes out the top. The factory installs the front end from underneath, but its easier to lift it out the top.
If you go the second hand engine way, get a warranty on it. Better if you know the km and service history of the car it came from, but that isn't always possible. You would still want to do the belt change if uncertain of its history.

Cheapest source of parts is rockauto.com

Thanks MADMAX, I've lent her a car and there's no money to go to mechanic. So yes I'll look at it myself. As you suggested I'll pull it down then to see the extent of damage first. The wreckers said the motor they had, had a 3 month waranty but who wants to do all that work if it's no good Thanks for your help

i coudl probably supply you some good heads of a ts v6. same same. even a timing belt but from memory its about 80ooo old which is a waste of time. where abouts in qld are you?

scratch that i can probably supply an entire engine that needs the headgaskets done. up to you. woudl suggest new headgaskets, and timing belt, probably even water pump.

Hi Lynel, Thanks --Sunshine Coast, and I'll keep that in mind about the heads. A mechanic up the road gave me a timing belt of 3.0 litre pajero. Apparently same belt as 3.o verada. Looks near new. It will probably take a few weeks in spare time to see what has been damaged Keep you posted

Hi Lynel, Thanks --Sunshine Coast, and I'll keep that in mind about the heads. A mechanic up the road gave me a timing belt of 3.0 litre pajero. Apparently same belt as 3.o verada. Looks near new. It will probably take a few weeks in spare time to see what has been damaged Keep you posted

Some pics would be nice. Then those of us who have been inside a 3.0L engine can maybe give you some pointers? Let me see if the Pajero belt is the same as the Magna one . . . . .

EDIT: Nope, can't work it out. 3.0L Pajero had both single and double cam engines (at least in the States) with different belts.

The DOHC engine has 257 teeth, the SOHC engine in the Magna has 149 teeth, a big difference. Check the writing on the belt given to you, if its nice and clear its fairly new, if its mostly gone its a very old belt.

Finally got heads off. Cam belt mangled. All valves except one are bent. Pistons look alright. Water pump jammed. Might have to check valve guides. Does entire water pump pull off pipe or do you split the pump. I'll try to post pics. Dont seem to be able at this stage to post pics

Changing to a reco'd engine with a warranty should not really be more time consuming than changing the timing belt. It's just the outlay for the engine itself.

Post pics to photobucket.com (make an account) then share here.

Not sure if i'm reading you clearly but waterpump should remove as an assembly.