Cam belt

[CROOKY1811]

How tricky is it to do the cam belt on a 94 rev 3 turbo,Not much room to see what your doing,Anyone had a go?

[MartinF]

Anyone had a go?

No, we all just leave them and they carry on for millions of miles

[outrun]

Anyone had a go?

No, we all just leave them and they carry on for millions of miles

Non-interference innit.

[Al-sw20]

It's not a difficult job if you have access to the right tools and a hoist. Just time consuming.

If you are going to keep the car for a while I'd take a weekend and pull the engine out and refresh as many seals, gaskets and coolant hoses like the HFH and HFHOE while the engine is on the deck.

I wouldn't bother doing it in my garage or driveway.

[Milo_101]

Trust me, it's easier and faster to Drop the engine. It may sound like a hell of a job, but it's easier than you think. Especially if you are considering doing the cambelt with the engine in the car.

Drop the engine along with crossmember and suspension and everything. That's the way to do it.
Like this:


Much much easier to access everything. You'll be thankful once you do it.
It'll be a breeze to work on the engine while sitting on a chair.
I don't even want to think about the weird positions and angles you would have to work in to do a cambelt in the car. saves you months of back pain.

[Driftlimits Performance]

A hoist for a cambelt?

Drop the entire engine/running gear/subframe?

Doing the cambelt is way over hyped!

[Hez]

I've had the cambelt done on my last 2 mr2 3sgte and both times it took about 2 hours not rushing, it was done while I waited. Just involved dropping the engine off it's mount on the cambelt side supported by a jack. I know this doesn't help much but it's definitely possible to do it quickly. Seen a few guides in the past using search

[gnzyza]

Removing the mount and dropping the engine slightly is standard on most timing belt jobs. Not sure why it puts people off.

[SonicSW20]

Trust me, it's easier and faster to Drop the engine. It may sound like a hell of a job, but it's easier than you think. Especially if you are considering doing the cambelt with the engine in the car.

Drop the engine along with crossmember and suspension and everything. That's the way to do it.
Like this:
Image Replaced With URL For Quote http://midshiprunabout.org/wp-content/u ... ed32b3.jpg

Much much easier to access everything. You'll be thankful once you do it.
It'll be a breeze to work on the engine while sitting on a chair.
I don't even want to think about the weird positions and angles you would have to work in to do a cambelt in the car. saves you months of back pain.

Complete overkill for just the cambelt + waterpump. Once you've done it a couple times it's OK to do in situ. Only worth dropping the lot if you're doing clutch, crank seals etc as well.

[aussieGT]

Trust me, it's easier and faster to Drop the engine.

Sorry Milo, I don't trust you on this one.

[auzzam]

What's the average price for getting this done?

Although I do fancy giving it a go myself... A year ago I knew pretty much nothing but have since changed the exhaust, alternator, radiator valve cover gasket.

Is this harder on a turbo? Might just get it done if the price isn't too steep.

[ashley]

I think it's all a matter of experience, and tools to hand...if you've never done a timing belt before, then I totally see the benefit of dropping the engine to do it- you have easy access to everything, and can see exactly what you are doing.

But- if you've done it before and are clued up as to what you are trying to do, then it's pretty easy to do in situ- as long as you know what you're trying to do at each stage.

Add to that a fully equipped workshop with lifts etc, then dropping the engine can be very quick- and changing the belt, idlers, water pump with the engine out is quicker...so depending on how quick you can drop it all, you may find it quicker overall to drop the lot.

Horses for courses, etc

[SonicSW20]

I think it's all a matter of experience, and tools to hand...if you've never done a timing belt before, then I totally see the benefit of dropping the engine to do it- you have easy access to everything, and can see exactly what you are doing.

Yeah, that's a fair point actually. First one I did was with the engine out as we did clutch, and crank seals at the same time. I found in situ was OK, it's just getting the order of removal right otherwise you end up jacking the damn engine up and down all afternoon to get clearance

[Milo_101]

Each to their own, But as the OP asked how difficult it was, I assumed that he had never done it before and doesn't have much experience or tricks necessary.

I mean we all know these cars have alot of tricks to get a job done that might seem simple. I personally already had all the tools like engine hoist/engine stand etc etc. to do it, and it was very easy.
It is very satisfying to work on my engine on an engine stand sitting in front of it, instead of having to get under the car and over the engine bay 100 times a day to get things aligned. saved myself alot of backpain.

Besides, if it's the first time you're giving the engine a refresh(especially if it's a jdm import), it's a good opportunity to tackle some more jobs at the same time like replacing coolant hoses under the exhaust manifold(HFH, HFHOE) cam seals, checking camshaft shim clearances, misc gaskets and seals.

I agree with the ones that disagreed with me, that it CAN be done, and I have no doubt that some have perfected it over the years making it a fairly easy job with the engine in. My system may be overkill, but as said, in my experience it is easier for me the way I do it and overall saves me time on jacking the engine up/down 100 times and sliding in and out from under the car 100 times day.. Ultimately you choose what you do on your own car. Just sharing my experiences and advice.

[Nails]

Me and outrun did mine in 2 summer afternoons, outside, with more tea and fag breaks than you can imagine. Was the first cambelt for me and I don't think outrun had done many before and none on a mr2. It wasn't that bad really, we've done 2 on outruns since and both have been much quicker simply coz you know the angles needed to get the hanger from hell in/out and which bits you need off etc. From some reason a rev 3 seemed easier to get the belt back on, like theres a bit more slack on the belt to get the tensioner on.

[CROOKY1811]

Thanks guy's,might just trust it to the pro's.I dont want to stuff it up so a trip to the specialists in Coventry i think.Pricey but at least it should be done right.

[abovetherim]

Might be worth giving luke a bell at pacific works Hemel Hempsted. He may be able to do it while you wait and its only a quick blast down the M1. You could even get some drifting in while you are there.

[CROOKY1811]

Might be worth giving luke a bell at pacific works Hemel Hempsted. He may be able to do it while you wait and its only a quick blast down the M1. You could even get some drifting in while you are there.

Could not get an answer from them,They were my first port of call.

[Driftlimits Performance]

Sorry to hear that! All the enquiries and bookings go through the landline. Phone Lily on 01442 601301 and I'm sure she can help!

[CROOKY1811]

Sorry to hear that! All the enquiries and bookings go through the landline. Phone Lily on 01442 601301 and I'm sure she can help!

Thanks for that,will get it booked in in the new year.Cheers Alan.