alright, so i bought my car about 2 month ago(1997 talon) with 160000km on the engine. the timing belt has been changed once, but im not sure when. Im going to do the belt, or pay someone to do the belt but i dont have any money right now. Ive been reading alot about changing them and ill probably be able to do it with a bit of help because im still confused with a few things. Im compleatly new to the world of overhead cams and DOHC seems to be a pita to change around here from what ive heard from friends. Ive a change on a OHV v8, but it was out of the truck and was strait from the factory with 0km on it.

So my question is, is there a way i can check the condition of the timing belt without ripping my engine appart because it is my dd and need it for work everyday. My second question is,about How long should it take me, never done one on a DOHC to change it in the car with the proper tools and proper instructions? Im afraid to mess up the timing but I could get help from my dad who has done one on an old turbo daytona that he said was a bitch to do and that i should just pay someone else to do it, because its my dd. Or should i just pay someone else, i could get him to do it for like 300$ and ive already got the parts.

Thanks alot for any help.

Honestly when I was done, I was surprised at how straightforward it was. I was really nervous prior to trying about screwing up the timing, but it was fairly simple. Yeah there were snags and things that will piss you off (ie motor mount bracket bolts) but after doing it this summer, I regretted letting someone else do it last time (especially since they fucked it up and and it wasn't timed right) It's not hard it just takes patience. Anyways, it's not bad if you can get it done for a few hundred, but you can also take a weekend and have plenty of time to get it done yourself.

Not to mention there's a very nice write-up about it that far exceeds the detail from the haynes manual. The only problem is no pics. If you haven't found it yet and decide to do it yourself, or what to read it to decide lemme know and I'll try and dig up the link for you, I think it's saved in my email somewhere.

Alright cool, i found this link when doing a search, it is alright, but i want as much information before i attempt something this big. I can also print up the chrysler shop how to or whatever it is for free from school, but i dont know how detailed it would be. if you could find the link, that would be great.

http://www.vfaq.com/mods/timingbelt-2G-NT.html

Originally posted by Hedge
Alright cool, i found this link when doing a search, it is alright, but i want as much information before i attempt something this big. I can also print up the chrysler shop how to or whatever it is for free from school, but i dont know how detailed it would be. if you could find the link, that would be great. http://www.vfaq.com/mods/timingbelt-2G-NT.html

Got it!

http://www.geocities.com/eclipsed4evr98/Timingbeltprocedure.html

http://www.2gnt.com/index.php?d=Cam_Gear_Install

I'm a loser and like to plug myself here. Enjoy.

Thanks alot, very good and well written article. im wondering now if i should replace the water pump, tensioner pully and timing belt idler pully? again im not sure if they have been replaced before. if so, about how much would i epect to pay for them?

Also, thanks to freelancefool for the other page. the pics will come in very handy aswell.

You can inspect the belt, but even if that appears okay, you don't know the condition of the bearings. If those go bad, you've destroyed your motor too. So an inspection alone is not a way out of doing the timing belt change.

I just want to see if i might be able to hold out until after the winter, because i litterly have like 35$ in my bank right now. but im starting to get confident that i might be able to do this.

replace the water pump you dont know how old it is. Plus how would you feel if it went out 3 weeks after you did the t-belt install.

alright, so today i tookoff the small cover where the cam gears are. it was pretty dirty. the belt is sitting pretty far back on the gear, i took a pic and its fuzzy but it shows. the belt its self doesnt have any major signs of damage but there are some wrinkles along the out side, which looks normal to me. im thinking i should be able to do this myself, with help from the sites that there are here and probably extre help when i get stuck on unexpected problems.

i dont think it should sit back this far...
http://imageshack.us>


here is another picture from the side
http://imageshack.us>

You will have to wait until at least you get the parts in unless you have a loaner vehicle from family/friends. It took me about an hr or so to do the actual timing to make sure everything lined up. I did this with the engine already out of the car and rebuilding the entire engine so it was a lot easier. Expect a much longer time to get it all done.

If you go to www.partsdinosaur.com there is a timing kit that includes the belt and both bearings for $79.95. The water pump there is $34.00. These were the best prices I found and partsdinosaur has great service with excellent reviews including myself.

i can have another car when ever i need it. ive already got the belt but need the water pump and bearings.