L61 timing chain failures. I have two L61s apart right now with different timing chain failures. The first one is a 2007 in a Chevy Cobalt. It failed to start after driving fine in the morning. Cranked like zero compression, I purchased the car figuring that it broke a chain. Upon teardown a year later I found that the engine had a bad chain guide and that the chain had skipped about ten teeth. The head is on the bench but it appears to not have any bent valves. The car was at least 2 and a half quarts low on dirty oil at the time of failure. This car had not been maintained properly but the rings are still sealing good so I will go through the head and install new timing and cooling.

The next and most recent is a 2002 Oldsmobile Alero L61 in a 2000 LS1 Saturn. It was transplanted from the wrecked Oldsmobile into the Saturn with 150k miles and running good. No good mileage numbers due to a faulty odometer on the Saturn but probably 225k on the engine. First check engine light last week for a random misfire, P0300. Engine sounded off and my granddaughter said it was different than it has been. No noises, engine was quiet but not as smooth as usual. Thursday it quit almost home from work, towed the rest of the way. Her comment was that the power steering quit as it died coming up the hill. It broke a chain and bent most of the valves.

 

You can see the six bent intake valves and the four bent exhaust valves in the second picture. Here is the chain.

 

Well, now you no longer have to explain to those who post what happens to your valves when the chain lets loose.

Just post the picture

 

Parts are coming from a couple different sources, the Cloyes parts, the Melling valves and most of the Felpro gaskets are coming from Rock Auto. The Felpro head bolt sets are from Ebay. You have to shop but the prices with shipping are 2/3 of local parts houses even with good discounts. Just takes some time to get here. I will take the timing cover off the Saturn next weekend and get it ready to back together.