Cam belt de-laminated!

[Tagaki]

Surfenstein and NiftyNev, many thanks to both of you - big relief. I'm on the last lap now & the question of whether or not the snapped timing belt caused engine damage should be answered soon - it probably did, although there were no scary noises when the belt gave up, the engine just stalled.

I've taken photos of the job at various stages & will post them when I'm finished in case they're useful to other Surf novices like me in future.

[Tagaki]

As I feared...

Just finished putting everything back together & checking it, hooked up the batteries and she started 1st try - BUT from the engine's bangs and clatters there obviously was damage from when the original timing belt broke.

I'm not too surprised, a faint hope that the worst hadn't happened kept me going but it wasn't to be. This problem began with the harmonic balancer/bottom pulley breaking up and debris from that got past the timing cover & damaged the timing belt.

The message to other Surf drivers is: don't try to get home if the pulley starts to go, I only went 25 miles and that was enough to damage the timing belt - which was a fairly new one.

I'm going to take a few days to decide what to do next, but for now I'd like to thank everyone who offered practical advice and those who wished me luck - cheers!