The bottom end should be fine, you most likely bent valves, but there may be the chance that you didn't. The metal looking things are probably the rockers. They rest on the lifters and the valves. You're best bet is to pull the head off and take it to a reputable automotive machine shop and they will be able to look it over for you. You will be able to see if any damage has been done to the pistons with the head off then. They probably just kissed but didn't do any real harm.

Sounds like classic TB system failure and more than likely you bent some valves. The only way to tell the true extent of the damage is to pull the head to see what's up.

Nothing that a good head job (not the physical kind) can't fix.

You should fill out your vehicle profile.

It doesn't matter whether you have an automatic of a manual, it is still an interference motor. The metal things you saw in the valve cover are probally the rockers, but its hard to say without seeing a picture.

Just because the engine has bent valves or a rod knocking doesnt mean its junk.

Well I bought it for $275 I had laying around and needed some parts for my Talon. But what I investigated a little bit more, I realized that the timing belt was screwed up and the "rockers" are laying around in there. So If I do go through the procedure of pulling the head, it will tell me if the valves are broken or not? And if they aren't that means I can slap a new TB/WP on and get the car running, right?

The motor isn't junk you just need to pull the head and have it looked over and while its off check the pistons.

And lets say I pull the head, and everything turns out to be just fine. Is all I need a timing belt and everything that goes with it? Or am I going to have to take it to some suspensive machine shop to look at it?

Because my budget right now is not pretty at all.

Same thing just happened to my mothers kia, she just got a whole new engine off craiges list for like $350
Thats what she gets for buing a kia

Gotta love Kias.

3aG1e_7a1oN said:

Gotta love Kias.

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great gas milage, it gets like 45mpg or more and its only like 17 dollors to fill the tank.

and everything turns out to be just fine.

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Sorry, it won't be if you got those "things" lying under the rocker cover. Anytime a belt goes for a DOHC, valves are toasted...guess, you're gonna be walking or riding with someone that has a KIA-in which we bought one..a RONDO and still getting close to 30mpg in the thing with a 2.4L

hey i have a 92 and 93 n/t if you need the parts you can have them but youll have to come get them The motors are good and pretty much intact

3aG1e_7a1oN said:

And lets say I pull the head, and everything turns out to be just fine. Is all I need a timing belt and everything that goes with it? Or am I going to have to take it to some suspensive machine shop to look at it?

Because my budget right now is not pretty at all.

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Chances are its not going to be fine. You most likely bent some valves. Usually you can just replace those bent valves and whatever else you may have broke. And i would say you don't have to take it to a machine shop, unless you overheated your block or if your worried. But their is no way to really tell unless you take the head and have somebody who knows what they are doing look at it.

3aG1e_7a1oN said:

And lets say I pull the head, and everything turns out to be just fine. Is all I need a timing belt and everything that goes with it? Or am I going to have to take it to some suspensive machine shop to look at it?

Because my budget right now is not pretty at all.

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First off take it to a machine shop to have it looked at. The will break everything down measure everything and tell you exactly what is wrong. In my experience most don't charge an outrageous amount for a simple tear-down.

As for parts you will need to get everything back in working order, you will need the following: new timing belt, new head gasket(OEM and fel-pro are good for stock applications), Balance shaft belt(or elimination kit), and new head bolts. Reusing your old head bolts is not advised, and getting ARP head studs is even better.

Some things you could replace while you're at it: Just about every gasket(i.e. intake manifold, exhaust manifold etc) as you are going to have to take all that stuff off anyways. Changing out your water and oil pump would also be a good idea if you do not know the last time they were replaced. It is also a great time to replace any old sensors that are hard to get to.

It can get very expensive, really fast, depending on how much damage was done. And trust me there will be damage. I bent all 8 intake and 6 exhaust valves when my timing belt broke, but you could have lucked out. On the brighter side, it will be a great learning experience, I know it has been for me.