Cheap ( 1.5K or less ) daily drivers with cam chain engines

[Mr_B]

Suggestions please for a cheap car with a cam chain engine, rather than a belt. I know most BMW's are cam chains, anything else worth considering ?
Cheers

[AndyFoo]

Nissan Micra I believe are chain driven.

All the Mondeos with V6's

[Spedz]

Skoda Fabia 1.4 8v is chain driven, not sure about other models.

[Yodafone]

VW's 2.3 v5 and 2.8 v6 are chain.

[Mr_B]

Mondeo V6's huh ? Some of the ST models could be interesting for cheap money.

[GreigM]

Nissan Primera - bulletproof

[redgriff500]

MX5 - it is belt BUT its a safe engine - ie no damage

[MGB Boy]

redgriff500 said:

MX5 - it is belt BUT its a safe engine - ie no damage

Even if the belt snaps?
Please... Tell me more

[VxDuncan]

any of the 2.2ltr petrol vauxhalls - vectra b / c, vx220, signum etc. 1k will easily get you a 2.2 vetra b... BUT the earlier versions (even the later ones upto present to be honest) have issues with the chains snapping. There was supposed to be a fix around 2002 (larger lubrication ports to the chain to stop them blocking), but the do still go. I know two people who've had chains snap.

[mat13]

might be more non interference engines available in this price range.

[XG332]

MGB Boy said:

redgriff500 said:

MX5 - it is belt BUT its a safe engine - ie no damage

Even if the belt snaps?
Please... Tell me more

Im asuming there is a clearance between the valves and the piston at TDC.

[Mr.Jimbo]

E30 318iS is a Cam chain, and probably available at this budget, mine was a few hundred quid more.

thats the only one I know of really

[Great Pretender]

Mr.Jimbo said:

E30 318iS is a Cam chain, and probably available at this budget, mine was a few hundred quid more.

thats the only one I know of really

How strange it is that the M20 engines were belt driven, but the M10s were not - albeit I appreciate the 318is was powered by the M42.

[anonymous-user]

Mr.Jimbo said:

E30 318iS is a Cam chain, and probably available at this budget, mine was a few hundred quid more.

thats the only one I know of really

But an E30 318iS is a key example of why a "Chain only" requirement is utterly pointless. It is highly recommended that you change the chain and tensioner because they are prone to failure with 6 digits on the odometer.

Edited by Simps on Wednesday 28th April 23:48

[hornetrider]

XG332 said:

MGB Boy said:

redgriff500 said:

MX5 - it is belt BUT its a safe engine - ie no damage

Even if the belt snaps?
Please... Tell me more

Im asuming there is a clearance between the valves and the piston at TDC.

Non interference engine.

[Kinky]

MGB Boy said:

redgriff500 said:

MX5 - it is belt BUT its a safe engine - ie no damage

Even if the belt snaps?
Please... Tell me more

As has been said ... it's non-interference

[lordlee]

W/C124 Mercs with the M103 3 litre engines.

[DaveL86]

Spedz said:

Skoda Fabia 1.4 8v is chain driven, not sure about other models.

I know the 16v's are not chain.


1.2 VW Polo 3cyl are too.

[Mr.Jimbo]

Great Pretender said:

Mr.Jimbo said:

E30 318iS is a Cam chain, and probably available at this budget, mine was a few hundred quid more.

thats the only one I know of really

How strange it is that the M20 engines were belt driven, but the M10s were not - albeit I appreciate the 318is was powered by the M42.

Didn't know that!

[109 Bob]

VxDuncan said:

any of the 2.2ltr petrol vauxhalls - vectra b / c, vx220, signum etc. 1k will easily get you a 2.2 vetra b... BUT the earlier versions (even the later ones upto present to be honest) have issues with the chains snapping. There was supposed to be a fix around 2002 (larger lubrication ports to the chain to stop them blocking), but the do still go. I know two people who've had chains snap.

Also the 2 ltr engines have chains. I have 2 ltr Astra van