timing belt procedure

[CharlieZ]

Nice pictures. Working on the same thing. Tell us about the tensioner spring technique.
I found the spring hook on the forward end - right in photos - was broken. I posted a Q about ign timing marks. You are sure right about the dirt. The dishwasher is taking a beatin'.

Thanks & SF to you.
1st MarDiv 7thComm Btn
Circa 1957

[FeistyFesti]

Nice pictures. Working on the same thing. Tell us about the tensioner spring technique.
I found the spring hook on the forward end - right in photos - was broken. I posted a Q about ign timing marks. You are sure right about the dirt. The dishwasher is taking a beatin'.

Thanks & SF to you.
1st MarDiv 7thComm Btn
Circa 1957

I found it easiest to hook the spring onto the pin on the engine and the other end of the spring in the hole on the back of the tensioner. With the long bolt through the middle of the tensioner, pull the whole assy (tensioner and bolt with spring attached) til you can get the bolt into the hole and start threading it in. This was easier than trying to have the bolt and tensioner already threaded in, and then trying to hook the other end of the spring onto the pin.

Are you a Marine? Ooh rah and Semper Fi!

[CharlieZ]

Are you a Marine? Ooh rah and Semper Fi!

You bet. Released from active duty 50 years ago February. It's a life changing experience you never get over.

Thanks for the spring info. I'm guessing/hoping a new spring comes with the new idler.

[FeistyFesti]

You bet. Released from active duty 50 years ago February. It's a life changing experience you never get over.

Thanks for the spring info. I'm guessing/hoping a new spring comes with the new idler.

It came with the one I bought at Advanced Auto, I think it was $40. Wow, 50 years. I got out in May 2006, and you're right, its the best thing I ever did. Its opened so many doors and totally changed my life.

[milehighbear]

Hate to seem ignorant. But Festyboy said to clock the cam correctly. Is that putting marks at like 3 and 9 to make sure holes in cam dont move or put marks whereever the holes are on outer edge around cam.

[FestYboy]

cam gear is marked for 12 & 3 o'clock when crank is at TDC

[jajaid6]

festyboy,in your 03/09 post you said you didnt have to remove the crank bolt to replace timing belt but didnt mention how you did it.i see the bolt,a big round attachment with what looks like a big spacer and on the other side of the spacer i see the teeth of the belt gear.i dont see how you took off the belt without removing this bolt.can you please let me know how you did it?thanks for your time.

[FestYboy]

under the crank pulley, there's a plate held in with 2 philips screws, remove the plate, an you can slip the belt right off.

[jajaid6]

awesome!thank you festyboy for your help!

[mattswabb]

and use a good fitting screwdriver. I've stripped out the heads on a few of these in the past.

[FeistyFesti]

under the crank pulley, there's a plate held in with 2 philips screws, remove the plate, an you can slip the belt right off.

Thats odd, mine only had four 10mm bolts and no philips head screws. I remember reading in the Haynes manual and they mentioned these screws.

[FestYboy]

sounds like you're missing your guide plate...

[FeistyFesti]

sounds like you're missing your guide plate...

I did have the two gold colored plates with the key way notches, is this the guide plates you're speaking of?

[festivabeater]

damn, looks like a rediculously easy timing belt, like my old lx escort, the celica was easy too.. one thing through if your crank pulley bolt is on there really tight and you cant even get it off with an impact, (like on my celica) you can just use the non recomended backyard mechanics method (do at your own risk) which involved me bracing a half inch breaker bar against the ground and using the starter to crack it loose... took 4 tries.. 3 times is stopped the starter cold, im now waiting for someone to respond and tell me how thats not a good idea....

[FeistyFesti]

damn, looks like a rediculously easy timing belt, like my old lx escort, the celica was easy too.. one thing through if your crank pulley bolt is on there really tight and you cant even get it off with an impact, (like on my celica) you can just use the non recomended backyard mechanics method (do at your own risk) which involved me bracing a half inch breaker bar against the ground and using the starter to crack it loose... took 4 tries.. 3 times is stopped the starter cold, im now waiting for someone to respond and tell me how thats not a good idea....

I actually did that with a Geo Metro but I had the breaker bar braced against the body/radiator support. It came off one shot, one kill. Don't forget to remove the coil wire from your distributor cap or you'll be in big trouble.