Lower metal timing belt cover?

[MikeHynes]

It's time to replace the timing belt on my '80 FI Spider 2000. I would like to do this with the engine in the car. The service manual is very clear that I have to remove the crankshaft pulley to get the lower metal timing belt cover. Once the crankshaft pulley is off you just remove the 4 bolts and 2 nuts holding the metal cover in place to get the cover off. Piece of cake - right?

Have any of you tried to remove the lower metal timing belt cover without removing the crankshaft pulley? If so, can you give me some tips on how it's done? (It won't be re-installed!) I would really like to avoid taking the engine out of the car just to change the timing belt.

[Jon124]

You have to take the crank pulley off even if you don't have the rear gaurds because the timing pointer is in the way of getting the belt off. It is best to take the radiator out first, then you have lots of room to work. To get the crank nut off you can use an impact with an extension through the lower grille.

[76was124]

My '81 car was previously owned, so maybe something was already removed, but I've changed the timing belt without removing the crank pulley. I know the metal back cover exposing the cam pulley is no longer there, so maybe they removed a lower cover too. Also, I am able to loosen the screws on the timing pointer bracket and swivel it out of the way.

Updated: I guess I am missing another cover looking at this http://forums.rennlist.com/upload/timin ... change.jpg

[klweimer]

Lots of threads on the forum on how to remove the crank pulley, which you will have to do to remove the lower guard. Also a number of discussions on the pros/cons of leaving these guards off after replacing the timing belt. I bought a 1/2" drive, 38 mm impact socket (tekton brand) on Amazon for $15 and cut about the first inch off the front, so it didn't stick out of the pulley as far. Removed the radiator and used an electric impact wrench with extensions through the grill area to break the nut loose. You will have to let the impact driver hammer away for a few minutes to get it to go.
Kirk

[MikeHynes]

I really didn't think I was going to be able to get that crank nut loose, hence the desire to learn how to destructively remove the lower metal shield. But I hadn't tried to remove the nut until I saw a tech tip on Auto Ricambi's web site. Thanks Auto Ricambi!

They suggested that I use the starter to turn the engine to get the nut loose. I used a 1 1/2" socket and it worked like a charm. And...the pulley popped off easily too. No problems! I should have tried to get the nut off before I thought about tearing stuff up.

Lots of threads on the forum on how to remove the crank pulley, which you will have to do to remove the lower guard. Also a number of discussions on the pros/cons of leaving these guards off after replacing the timing belt. I bought a 1/2" drive, 38 mm impact socket (tekton brand) on Amazon for $15 and cut about the first inch off the front, so it didn't stick out of the pulley as far. Removed the radiator and used an electric impact wrench with extensions through the grill area to break the nut loose. You will have to let the impact driver hammer away for a few minutes to get it to go.
Kirk

[MikeHynes]

Jon,
My car has a timing pointer that will pivot out of the way. And, it has a big cross member that supports the radiator right in front of the crank nut. It would be very difficult to get an impact wrench in there without cutting a hole in that cross member. Maybe I have to raise or lower the engine?

You have to take the crank pulley off even if you don't have the rear gaurds because the timing pointer is in the way of getting the belt off. It is best to take the radiator out first, then you have lots of room to work. To get the crank nut off you can use an impact with an extension through the lower grille.