I just wanted to run this by you guys since this is the best place for advice on these cars. I am going in for a 60k service this weekend and I have a list of things I would like done in addition to getting the timing belt changed.

Of course the timing belt, tensioner and pully, water pump are getting changed. Any reason to change the oil pump as well? What other parts in that area could be changed for longevities sake?

I also plan on having my mechanic change the head gasket and valve cover gasket as my car is a 96 and is starting to leak a little. How much more work is it to change the head gasket in the middle of doing a timing belt change? Of course I will use the better MLS gasket, unless there is a better one... copper?

Since the head will be coming off I would also like to install the valvetrain upgrade from the PT Cruiser. I believe the kit comes with everything I need to change out the parts, do I need anything else... seals, etc.?

Since the head is off, I will have access to my intake manifold... I would like to have it ported out to match the ports on the head. I can find a local machine shop here to do it, but typically how long and how much does it cost? I think I am looking to 'gasket match' the intake runners, correct? Plus possibly remove a hump behind each fuel injector bung?

And lastly while everything is being reassembled, I am going to have my mechanic install some AEM cam gears. I know that the new gears come with better bolts, but are the timing marks still off for 0 degress? Other companies that list their gears for the neon 2.0L also list the same part for the eclipse 2.0L. How come AEM are the only gears that are off a little when it comes to our cars? I do not mind remarking them, I assume it is very easy. Do I need new cam seals while changing the gears, or will these be covered in the standard 60k?

Also, when the intake and exhaust mani go back on the engine I assume they will need new gaskets as well, correct? I plan on buying almost everything OEM from Bob Kise. This is sort of my Christmas gift to my self. (and the car)

-Jared
96 GS
Melbourne, FL

>I also plan on having my mechanic change the head gasket and
>valve cover gasket as my car is a 96 and is starting to leak
>a little. How much more work is it to change the head
>gasket in the middle of doing a timing belt change? Of
>course I will use the better MLS gasket, unless there is a
>better one... copper?
>
its not that much more work to go ahead and get the HG done. maybe an extra 2 hour or so depending on how well you know what your doing.
the copper gasket is better than the MLS but you can get a kit with a MLS HG and every other gasket and seal you need to change the HG for about $90 from rockauto. you probably wanna get new head bolts or upgrade to studs.

>Since the head will be coming off I would also like to
>install the valvetrain upgrade from the PT Cruiser. I
>believe the kit comes with everything I need to change out
>the parts, do I need anything else... seals, etc.?

the above mentioned $90 kit comes with valve seals and all that kinda goodness.

> Do I need new cam
>seals while changing the gears, or will these be covered in
>the standard 60k?

cam seal are also in the kit

>Also, when the intake and exhaust mani go back on the engine
>I assume they will need new gaskets as well, correct?

these are also included in the kit but the exhaust gasket isn't a metal one like the OEM gaket. the kit doesn't have the upper to lower intake gasket.

WOW. I hope you have alot of money, cuz I just got my 60K service done and that costed me like $850 total. OUCH! :'( But it had to be done i guess... :rolleyes

Well, I may spend around $1000 or so, but I look at it as an investment. My car is a 96, I bought it in August 96 and I have only put 61,879 miles on it. In 6 years I have had no major problems.... I have only had a few emission control device problems and minor issues that come with performance additions. So spending $1000 or so to get the car to 120,000 miles or another 6 years is well worth it to me as I do not plan on getting rid of the car.

So I should also get some ARP head bolts... Should I also get some 4g6 exhaust manifold studs and bolts from RRE? I know the 8mm ones work on the 420a correct? I plan on buying a turbo very soon as well. It will probably be a custom kit with a T3 turbo boosting around 6 psi. I have no plans to rebuild anytime soon so I will be conservative when it comes to turbocharging.

-Jared
96 GS
Melbourne, FL

IMO any money spent on my car is money well spent. in the last 10 months i have spent about $15k on my car. that including stuff i payed for and never got and stuff that was stolen. now if i could only save my money i'd have a turbo.

>In The
>last 10 months i have spent about $15k on my car.

Damn dood, what do you do for a living? That's about 2/3 of what i make in a year... If i had no other obligations - food, rent, utilities, a wife, etc, i could possible see spending that much on my car. but $15k in 1 year... damn, i wish....

Current Mods:
Flowmaster Muffler
Ghettofied PVC intake w/K&N Filter
Platinum +4 Plugs
MSD Super Conductor Wires
1 Heavy Right Foot!!!!!

I spent about 1200 for my 60k tuneup that included a new headgasket.
Damn satan!


Nick
97RS
Custom IHI Stage2
Obx exhaust, Limo Tint,
Custom interior, Upper Strut Bar, Kenwood/pioneer stereo.

I will be doing my service myself or it won't get done. Fuck 850 for maintenance.

mr. 9D9 knows whats up. i payed someone to do my 100k(60k) service. For the $400 i payed him for parts and labor, i got a shredded timing belt, 4 bent valves, melted t-belt cover, missing alternator tensioner bolt, and a dented oil pan. it cost me about $850 to fix all of it, payed $140 for new valves and $160 for valve job which was the only thing i didn't do myself. so that $550 for the rest including new head gasket, udp, cai, tbelt cover and what everelse was needed. the bottom line is this: if you do your own work you don't have to pay someplace $65/hr for labor so you have more money for the good stuff.

okay ehres the deal, grab a manual and do the 60service yourself, the only trickey part will be getting the timing right follow the directions and you'll be good,


u dont need to upgrade the head studs i havent heard any of the big name race cars having problems with stock yet or the mainbolts, it could't hurt but your off on the price by far,

okay average minimum price for a 60k service alone is gonna be 600$ aem gear are 250% or so
pt cruisar lifters 100$
head bolt upgrade 100-110$
head gasket upper end gasket kit is like 83$ from forum dodge i think,
the water pump is about 64$
the tensioners i think were like 140$ for both and timing belt in there too,

the intake manifold porting is gonna be about 50-75$ to get done u want gasket matched u could get port matched but leaving the cylinder head there and all that would take to much effort and such,

the pt cruisar rockers are lik 170$ if u wer gonna upgrade those blackdogmotorsports.com has some updated pt cruisar rocker revisions(meaning they modified the new rockers for better oil flow)

the exhuast studs are fine for now, if u really want to upgrade later for turbo go ahead not that big a deal with stock manifold,

so ruffly without taxes and shipping prices for just aprts including pt rockers your looking at about 730$ or so give or take, without labor,

if your mechanic is mobile u could have him do the timing on your car and u do the rest if your really worried aobut it cause for all that work hes probably (if this is a shop that doesn't cut deals) going tow ant close to a grand in just labor...

think about that for a bit almost 2 grand in just some maintenace, get a manual and i can send u the FSM files if u want to help u out the 60kservice is cake just takes a couple hours, sometines its a pain to get that crank pulley off but some heat and a puller will do nicely...

any more questions u can catch me on aim or post back up and we can help ya out

Why was your 60k maint. so much???? I got quoted between $550-$650 from satan in Harrisburg PA. Does location matter???