Re: 90q Timing Belt Job q

[Tony Lum <tlum@flash.net>]

At 11:48 AM 10/14/98 -0400, you wrote:
>Tony,
>
>since you have just been there, I would like to ask you a couple of things. 
>1. I am unsure about the cam pulley alignment: the book says "the top edge
>of the gasket", however
>when I look at the way the old belt is positioned, it looks more like the
>mark is ligned up with the
>top edge of the bracket that holds the valve cover in place. Is this wrong,
>or is this difference insignificant?

With the 2084 tool locked against the engine stop (I don't engage the fork
on the end), I find that the punch mark on the back of the cam gear is
lined up with the joint between cylinder head and valve cover.  I usually
cross check this with the "0" mark on the flywheel.  This was impossible to
verify on the CGT as the flywheel was too rusted to see the mark.  I had to
be doubly careful not to move anything after the TB was removed.

>2. How difficult is it to remove/ install the Idler pulley? Also, the local
>parts people want $70  for it, and since the old one feels normal (no
>grinding) I am reluctant to spend $$. Is that a fair price? The car has
>160,000 on it, maybe it can wait till the next TB job?

I use a modified steering wheel lock plate puller available from Harbor
Freight Tools for $7.00  I just cut 1" (2.5 cm) off each leg and its ready
to use with a 10x50 mm bolt and washer.  The price on the IP is almost
triple what I paid ($28 from Rod at TPC).  A new pulley has a heavy
opposition to turning-feels like very heavy grease is inside the bearing.
Conversely, the pulley I removed from my 4kq at 160k miles spins like a
roller skate wheel and was slightly wobbly-I threw it out.  The pulley I
just took out of the CGT was OK, but since I already had a new one, it got
installed.  The p/n is 069 109 243B made by febi/bilstein.

>3. I am amazed by how lose the old belt feels. Strangely, it seems to pass
>the twisting test (90 degree twist is about what I get) yet when I let it
>go, it can easily flex at least an inch or may be more if I press on it
>between the pump and  the cam pulley. Also, if I slowly turn the
>cranckshaft, I can clearly see a delay in the cam pulley, until the slack
>is picked up. Does that sound right, or is it too lose? The fit on my 4k
>was much tighter.
>

IMHO, that belt is bad and should be replaced-they're cheap enough.  There
should be no stretch in a timing belt.  I tightened the WP so the timing
belt rotates ever so slightly past 90 degrees.  Works nicely and runs quiet
(no gobbling noises from the WP).

>Andrei
>

BTW, most of my time spent to do this job is spent detailing the
engine-getting 10 years of oil encrusted crap off the front side.  The CGT
was exceptionally dirty-the valve cover gasket seem to be the factory
original cork and was leaking oil all over right side of the engine.


Tony