On alot of engines if your timing belt breaks you smash valves into the tops of pistons and make a nasty mess but most Toyota engines have a non interference heads which means that the valve can be at its lowest point and the piston at its highest point and they won't hit each other so you can break a timing belt on most Toyota engines and all you have to do is replace the belt instead of basically rebuilding your engine.
I figured out the problem. I didn't set the ignition timing to 10 BTDC. She runs and purrs like a dream now. No more white smoke from the exhaust either. YES! Not bad for a first time I guess. I did notice a ticking noise coming from behind the intake manifold though. Wonder what that is?
I'm pretty sure the FE is non-interference while the GE/GTE is? Check the exhaust, engine mounts and your power steering pump Are the manifold stays bolted up tight? 1st time for everything, it gets easier nb - always turn the motor a few times by hand and re-check the cams before putting covers back on It's basic, but even us pro's make mistakes sometimes Learn to mark positions of stuff, ie distributor with paint or markers. I chisel marks on everthything so I know where to begin and where the part came from
at least I guessed one thing wright which was the timing that was wrong and the other one I was wrong and learned from it that valves don't bend cool stuff. Happy for you that you sorted your ride out mate.
3sge is Non interferance... thank god. i would have been well screwed if it was! even with my pistons it doesnt catch the valves
-ive found mixed reports on almost all yota motors, but it seems to me that the valve indents on the pistons are the only thing making them non-interference.