Should I attempt timing belt replacement myself?

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84pininfarinablack

Should I attempt timing belt replacement myself?

Post by 84pininfarinablack »

My question was Should I attempt timing belt replacement myself?
I am mechanically inclined. I can handle the alternator belt. I am no real mechanic but if its a no brainer I would like to do it myself. Is it just a matter of loosening the tension bolt... taking off the belt.. putting on the new belt and tightening the tension bolt? if so I can handle it.. If theres a dozen other steps ill get a mechanic. Ive searched and searched and have not found the step by step on this one. Do I need special tools ?
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maytag
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Your car is a: 1976 124 spider
Location: Rocky Mountains....UTAH! (Not Colorado)

Re: Should I attempt timing belt replacement myself?

Post by maytag »

No special tools required. You'll do fine.
see these imges I scanned for someone else a couple weeks ago:
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I'm no Boy-Racer..... but if I can't take every on-ramp at TWICE the posted limit.... I'm a total failure!
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courtenay
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Your car is a: 1980 Spider 2000
Location: Courtenay, BC, Canada

Re: Should I attempt timing belt replacement myself?

Post by courtenay »

I have a few questions - what is tool A60309 and if it is really needed, where can I get one? When it says to turn the engine to line up the timing marks, is this done by removing the plugs and turning it by hand, or do you do it with the ignition?
Finally, what book are the scanned pages from? It looks pretty good.
I'm pretty good at building things with lumber and stuff and hope to become more proficient at wrenching - but am going to need a lot of help!!
Bruce Shearer
'80 Spider Fi
'10 Volvo XC70
'06 GMC 1 Ton PU
'72 Spider a long, long time ago
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launieg
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Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 4:17 pm
Your car is a: 1981 spider 2000
Location: Duncan, BC, Canada

Re: Should I attempt timing belt replacement myself?

Post by launieg »

Bruce, you do not need that tool. Just turn the engine so the cam wheels are at their marks, and to be doubly sure, I used a fine felt marker to precisely identify the positions of the cam wheels and DO NOT turn over the engine when the belt is off. And although the book is thorough, you can save some of those steps. Take the rad out and take the opportunity to flush it, and the big question is "do you have the second (lower) cam cover still on the car"? That means taking the crank pulley off. (I had it.)

I changed my belt two summers ago, and I'm also just a wood guy. Call me if you need advice when you are ready to get into it. Or let me know and I'll call you. You can certainly do it, and feel good about it! I don't have a lot of experience with these engines, but I read all the threads I could find and it was not difficult. Started to build my confidence :roll:
Launie
'81 Spider Rolling Restoration
84pininfarinablack

Re: Should I attempt timing belt replacement myself?

Post by 84pininfarinablack »

from reading the directions i think it stops the crankshaft , camshaft, from spinning while your putting the belt off and on.
Apparantly nothing can spin or change its position on the clock. Do they spin that freely? this sounds scary.
Do I really need to pull out the radiator ? It needs a bath anyways. thanks alot for the help .. Ill give it a try i just hope it still runs when i put it back together.
84pininfarinablack

Re: Should I attempt timing belt replacement myself?

Post by 84pininfarinablack »

you are the man thank you so much.
majicwrench

Re: Should I attempt timing belt replacement myself?

Post by majicwrench »

In those printed directions Step 8 is not entirely correct. It says "slackening the two Idler wheel nuts will slacken the belt" that is IMHO not correct, the assemble is spring loaded and will not slacken just by loosening the nuts ( bolts acutally in the pic)

And since you asked, do not use the started to turn over the motor. Remove plugs, use something on front of crank. Don't think radiator removal is absoluty required, but sure makes things easier, and is easy to pull.
Keith
pooldoctorstl

Re: Should I attempt timing belt replacement myself?

Post by pooldoctorstl »

Hi Bruce,

I just did mine in my 1982 over the weekend. Here is the guide I used that should also be helpful. The main difference in the ours with the 2000 engine is that there is an additional metal cover that still has to be removed after you remove the gray plastic cover. That second cover is the reason the crank pully has to be removed. I pulled the radiator but only because I had to use a 1-1/2" socket with an air impact on it to get the crank pully nut off. If you lock the brakes and put it in gear you can probably do it with a breaker bar without removing the radiator. One last thing....search the threads here for information on burping the cooling system when you are done. You don't want to overheat it. Also, when you order the belt, order a "tee gasket" because you will need when you put it back together. Here are the directions I used that were pretty good. Good luck and you can also call me if you need help. Just send a PM.

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kmead
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Your car is a: 1969 850 SC 1970 124 SC 85 X19
Location: Grand Rapids, MI

Re: Should I attempt timing belt replacement myself?

Post by kmead »

A great way to get the engine timing marks to line up is to put the car in 4th or 5th and push the car slowly to get the engine to the marks. Then pull the e brake and chock the wheels to ensure the crank won't/can't move. You may also choose to put it in 1st gear after you get it to the correct marks.
Karl

1969 Fiat 850 Sports Coupe
1970 Fiat 124 Sports Coupe
1985 Bertone X1/9
84pininfarinablack

Re: Should I attempt timing belt replacement myself?

Post by 84pininfarinablack »

do the timing marks need to be lined up ? or do i need to make sure there is no movement from removal to installation of new belt... im sorry if dumb question but im imagining how the cars timing / settings / position would know there is a new belt on it.
If I take the belt off and on if the marks are not lined up with car in that position in my driveway.. with new belt on the car what changes ? Its just better rubber right ? Im probably missing something..
carl55

Re: Should I attempt timing belt replacement myself?

Post by carl55 »

Hi
Just the act of removing the belt will move the cam gears. Plus trying to replace it moves them. Line up the marks so you have a referance.

Carl
84pininfarinablack

Re: Should I attempt timing belt replacement myself?

Post by 84pininfarinablack »

thank you that makes sense. Hopefully i can spin it to the marks if i have to roll the car down the driveway i wont be able to see when im there or not
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courtenay
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Your car is a: 1980 Spider 2000
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Re: Should I attempt timing belt replacement myself?

Post by courtenay »

Is it not possible to remove the plugs and crank the engine by hand to line up the timing marks? Seems there's a few of us rookies looking for advice on this thing these days...
Bruce Shearer
'80 Spider Fi
'10 Volvo XC70
'06 GMC 1 Ton PU
'72 Spider a long, long time ago
narfire
Posts: 3959
Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 2:14 am
Your car is a: 1980 124 spider
Location: Naramata B.C.

Re: Should I attempt timing belt replacement myself?

Post by narfire »

Hi Bruce.
Yeup you can. I'll take the plugs out, but I read here of course, pull up on the alt. belt and pull to turn the engine as well. I use this to get the engine to the final marks for TDC. Before that I'll turn the engine,with old belt still installed, with the starter to get close to tdc. Look for the holes on the inside of the cam wheels getting close to the raised marks on the cam tower and then finish with the alternator belt pull.
Good luck, wish I could beam myself over to assist.
Chris
80 FI spider
72 work in progress
2017 Golf R ( APR Stg. 1)
2018 F350 crew long box
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stefhahn
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Your car is a: 1979 Spider 2000
Location: Stuttgart / Germany

Re: Should I attempt timing belt replacement myself?

Post by stefhahn »

sure, you can adjust the marks by cranking before removing the old belt - I prefer to but the car in 5th gear and push it (back or forth depends on the direction you want to adjust the crank mark) as I then do not need to remove the radiator and flush it afterwards. It's handy to have a chap around who can hold the car so that it doesn't move before you have pulled the brake - but this works out on your own, too. Don't forget to check the timing after having pulled the brake.

Don't forget to put it in 1st or reverse gear after you have the correct timing, so at least your crank will stay in the right position - even after having removed the timing belt. After you removed the timing belt typically the aux shaft and the cams will move slightly, the aux shaft can be easlily adjusted by hand (mark to the spring holding socket), the cams by using a 19mm socket (or was it 17mm? don't remember). Don't underestimate the power you need to pull on the new timing belt, this may result in a wrong cam or aux shaft timing, so check the marks well after having put it on.

ciao,
Stefan
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