Just wanting to do a quick sanity check. I was fairly certain that the 3.0L V6 was an interference engine, can anybody confirm? I am about to pull the trigger on an '01 that apparently skipped a link or two. I can always scope the cylinders to see if anything is damaged internally, but depending on mileage on the car and if it's an interference engine or not, that would make the difference if I repair and flip it or simply part it out. Seems to be worth a decent amount in parts and should be pretty easy to part out within a week window and scrap the chassis, should I have to go that route.

 

I don't know if it is an interference engine. I would suspect so, because the overlap cam timing will give a small edge performance wise, compared to a non-interference unit. I would also suspect it was one of the main reasons why it has a chain drive, which is more costly and more noisy than a belt drive. Lastly I seem to remember some S-type V8 engines that would have valve problems if the chain let go. So I would guess it is an interference engine.
Skipping a link or maybe even two, would not necessarily damage the valves. I know of several engines where a jump of one or maybe two teeth on the belt will still be OK, except the engine runs lumpy.
The damage might have been done, but you can rotate the engine by hand and check if all valves close OK. Taking the head covers off, it might not be visible directly, but you can feel, if nothing else, if the valve closes on the seat.

 

I pulled one head off yesterday and didn't see any indication of interference, though the other head that I'm going to pull tonight was about 180 degrees off, so this thing must have run extremely rough. It'll confirm at least whether it's an interference engine or not.

Also the car is being parted out - list of parts pulled is in the marketplace.

 

did you figure it out did you confirm if it is an enterferance engine or not

 

Domako: This thread is two years old and the OP has not posted since that time. Your chances of getting a response are slim...

 

I don't know of any modern engines that are NOT an interference engine.(some old 70's and 80's engines had recessed valves in the cylinder head and did NOT bend valves when the cam stopped for a broken belt)

Find and look through my copy of ENGINE COURSE 168.pdf that is ALL over the internet. I had it converted to .pdf from my paper 3 ring binder from Jaguar Training.

Gus will have it on his site. (jagrepair.com)