I haven't even ATTEMPTED to turn over the engine... however if you look at the markings on the cams they do appear to be off by about 10 teeth...

So even though the timing gear hasn't dropped tooo much I think it has still affected the running of the thing... It's just so weird because that bolt has so much play in the hole of the timing gear, as if something is missing inbetween the outer surface of the bolt and the inner surface of the gear....?

 

Might be a lucky catch!

 

yes, but if you check this picture it does seem that the timing appears to be off... not 100% but it looks to be a good 3-5 teeth off...

 

Oh here is the bolt as well that holds the thing together...













Is there supposed to be some form of outer casing that fits snug around this bolt? As when i place it in the timing gear it can wobble about a good 2mm....

 

oh yah your cams are wicked off

 

The bolt shearing off is likely a symptom of the problem and not the problem itself. Something seized up and the bolt was the weakest link and therefore broke first. The cam timing is off because there is now nothing keeping them synced to each other and is probably a meaningless sign. Not going into VTEC is more of a head symptom than a block symptom, unless it had to do with low oil pressure at high RPMs which could mean a block problem. Given the shearing of the bolt without knowing about your VTEC problem, I would think it was something related to the block, either the crank or something attached to it.

 

Since, the only way to be sure whats going on with the motor is by disassembling it, I say try your luck and replace that pulley bolt with a new one. Put the chain and cam gears back in the correct position (TDC) and then run a leak down on all four cylinders. If compression is okay after all that. Fire it up and see if she runs. Worse case you'll have to take the motor apart anyways, so no hurt in trying this gamble to save yourself some work.

 

[QUOTE=AlexS2200,Jun 29 2009, 11:08 PM] Since, the only way to be sure whats going on with the motor is by disassembling it, I say try your luck and replace that pulley bolt with a new one.

 

ON either side of the cog is a thick washer. I expect the front one has dropped into the timing case.

 

I found one thick washer (closest to front of car) resting jammed inbetween the head and the timing gear itself and the other one I have no idea about... It MAY still be attached on the other side but I can't really see that well without taking the engine apart...