Is a 1988 Chevy Sprint or Metro 3 cylinder engine a clearance engine and would the valves be damaged in the event of a timing belt failure?

Answer 1

of course the valves get messed up in a timing belt failure.

a simple way to fix it though would be to replace the timing belt and have one of your friends start the car. then proceed to try and keep the belt in place with your hand, in attempt to straighten the valves.

This previous answer just shows the lack of knowledge allowed to answer questions on the internet.

FYI,

There are interference engines and clearance or non-interference engine. The former have longer valves that can hit the pistons when the timing belt or chain breaks or gets out of timing. In a Toyota, only the intake valves are usually damaged. In a BMW, the pistons are usually damaged requiring a near total engine rebuild.

In clearance or non-interference engines, the valves are shorter and do not hit the pistons when the timing belt or chain breaks or gets out of time. In this case, the car stalls and needs to be towed to a mechanic for a new timing belt.

As an unofficial rule of thumb, I look at the factory's recommended maintenance schedule. If it recommends changing the timing belt at 50 or 60,0000 miles, it is likely an interference engine. If the change interval is 100,000 miles or more, it is likely a clearance or non-interference engine. Also, if the timing belt is not well protected, like with a flimsy plastic cover, it is usually a non-interference/clearance engine.

Timing chains can break or jump sprocket teeth and damage the timing chain cover. This can be due to a chain guide or tensioner failure. In an attempt to reduce vehicle weights or some such weak reason, many engines that had lifetime double link chains now have single link chains subject to failure. Yea, Toyota...