[V8] Timing Belt Change...wish me luck.

[Mike Arman]

> Lanier Pratt <lanierpratt at mac.com>
> Cc: v8 at audifans.com

Ron sez:

>  &
>  BELIEVE me when I say, take the time to remove the
> front end of the car. Very easy to do. 


I second this. This is a complex job with lots of moving and non-moving 
parts, much of which is not intuitive. You NEED a clear space to work. 
If any hardware breaks off, splits, strips or becomes otherwise 
uncooperative, you'll have to pull the front end anyway, and that will 
add to your frustration.

I had three water pump screws break off - two came out easily, one took 
a LOT of cussing, and promptly fell into the water passage leading to 
the pump. I fished it out with a wire hook and a magnet (got lucky) 
because if it were left in there it would have destroyed the pump sooner 
or later. The whole sequence would have been totally impossible with the 
front end of the car still in place.

Are you doing the rollers, seals, oil pump bearing, tensioner shock and 
plastic slider block as well? Don't "cheap out" and try to do just the 
belt - it is a false economy!

I can do an I-5 belt and pump in under two hours, with the radiator in 
place. The first V8 belt job I did took me a total of 14 hours, working 
slowly and carefully, and no more than an hour of that was to remove and 
replace the bumper and crossmember/radiator. Take the time to save 
yourself some time and serious skinned knuckles.

If you don't have the time now to do this right, I'd say wait until you 
do, then do it. A half-***ed rushed job will always come back to bite 
you, and then you'll spend twice the time and money doing it right.

Best Regards,

Mike Arman
90 V8Q