Timing Belt Time

Without knowing what vehicle and engine you are talking about - who knows.

Give that information and I am sure you will get relevant views on how hard it is to do your specific vehicle.

Don't dilly dally. Mine let go and it cost over $3500 to fix. That was in an older Triton turbo diesel.

I once rebuilt, bearings, rings etc etc a beautiful Cooper Climax engine in a Hillman Imp that was passed to me when my older brother died. I am not nor ever was a mechanic but like you, Gordon, I knew about tools. Would I do it on a vehicle on which my life depended - NO WAY. Our car is maintained by a very well respected set of mechanics at Monaro Offroad in Queanbeyan and the main aim of all the work they do for us is to "get us home". Sure the car can get us there but if the bolts weren't tightened properly or the tension just right, it may not get us home. Just imagine taking a "whats that" side trip on the Canning to look at something and she breaks down.

My recommendation is not to do it yourself.

As Terry said - get it done by a recommended workshop. And one that can look at the car with an experienced eye and let you know what may break down soon or should also be done now. Get one that people recommend that you can trust their judgement. Ask the forum members for a place also.

Phil

Hi Gordonk,
Like you I am moderately good on the tools but, learning through hard experience, I now leave anything (other than superficial engine work) to the experts. They have the know-how, the tools and can get the job done efficiently. And you have some ability to take them to task if the work isn't to your satisfaction. My son had similar work done on his vehicle just a few days ago and paid roughly the same, maybe a bit more.
Cheers, Mark

Yeh a lot of this depends on how good you are on the spanners .... realy ..... some people just shouldn't be working on their own cars.

ANYway ..... Yes changing a timing belt is mostly labour intensive ..... while on some cars it may be possible with out .. the whole radiator needs to come out then pretty much you dismantle the whole front of the engine.

You need to pay close attention to gaskets and seals & such, because on these modern motors ya just don't whip a water pump off and replace it in an hour like ya could on a lot of the older motors.

The other things are to make sure you replace ALL the tensioners and idlers, and make sure you have all your timing marks aligned properly.

Yes I have done it on a Toyota, I'd do it again tomorrow if I had to no problem.
Took me all day ..... but I flushed the cooling system and replaced all the hoses and belts as well.

Serioulsy it's not hard but the consequences of getting it wrong can be inconvenient and expensive.

SO ..... Are you feeling lucky?

cheers

Hi
Its not hard to replace
timing belt u may need a cam lock tool [just makes it easier on some motors ]
T/B tensioner
seals of camshaft [s]
crank seal
seal running surface condition and rectification
water pump
cooling system reverse flush
new thermostat [u removed this to reverse flush ]
Install the... correct..... coolant for the motor with demineralized motor
pressure test cooling system and radiator cap
check all the accesory spinning pulleys for play and noise
new fan belts

done

Many motors are not free spinning if the cam is rotated valves will hit pistons . Even if you install it 1 notch out .
You will then feel the pain 3-6 thousand later .

swamp

Hi Gordon, I have the same problem with a 6cyl Troopy it looks fairly simple on youtube, to replace mine at toyota is app: 650 and I will pay a mechanic for the warranty side of things.Watch the landcruiser youtube and if it,s similiar and you have a mate who is also handy have a go 2 heads are better than 1.

hi
Gordonk
Its still possible for u to do it but it would a great idea if u had some one with knowledge there ,just to be safe .
swamp

Had a $750 quote on a Ford Courier (with turbo) for timing belt and tensioner. Belt and tensioner were under $60 from Bursons. Tappet cover gasket was under $20. 10 x 10mm bolts to get to the timing belt. Started at top dead centre and counted belt teeth between marks before stripping everything down. All done in under half an hour so did the valve clearances while things were all undone. That was my experience with that vehicle. Second time the job was done in 15 minutes.

Cannot see that a water pump would add much difficulty to the job.

Got a maintenance manual detailing procedure? Many of these jobs are mostly just some spanner wanking so if the procedure is a lot of undoing and doing up bolts, most backyard mechanics can do the task. If you can get the maintenance procedure, you can assess your skills against the work required.

Iza

Did mine on 2003-78 TD straight 6 while replacing fuel pump (that is a two day job!). No problem and radiator doesn't need to be removed. Just check the timing marks are spot on..