Rabbit holes. opinions wanted

[Dragonlich1961]

I haven't done the radiator yet, off at college. last week of march i will be returning home for a week and the repairs shall comence. so plenty of time to work. last thing i want is for the truck to leave her standed. (my sisters 89 w/2.3 was rearended and it acually dislodged the engine, sheared both motor mounts and twisted the trans crossmember. still started and drove on to the trailer.) (take that chevy!) If the recomeded intervall is 100k then i will defenly be done if the money will allow.

Can anyone confirm the recomended intervall for the belt.

Thanks chris

 

[Andy D]

My timing belt experience is with old BMWs. The belt goes on them and its a wallet breaker. The interval for a TB is 10 seconds before they break. Whatever it is, it is way less than what the truck has for miles now. If the TB uses a tensioner pulley ,replace it too. Flush the system, Set the engine on TDC, so the marks line up. Yank the radiator, change belt and tensioner. Check the serpentine belt and its stuff. I do TBs with the plugs out on my 528e. The final test for a TB is to put it on its timing marks and to turn the crank shaft 2 full revolutions, It should come back to its marks.

 

[Dragonlich1961]

I do believe the timing belt uses a tensioner pulley.

My only experience is with shitty 4cyl Hyundai's with timingbelt driven w/pumps when I was at the dealer as an assistance. Absuolely hated them. So if i can spare the funds ill add it.

Yay, for spending my week off of automotive school to do automotive work, oh the irony.



Thanks
Chris

 

[Mark_88]

The timing belt interval (recommended) is 100K for square tooth and 60K for round tooth...or is that vise-versa ??

Here is a link to a similar thread on that topic...

http://therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49852

I can't remember when mine broke (1988 2.0) but the clock had over 200,000 kilometers on it...the above mentioned interval is miles...so mine was overdue if it was never changed...but the guy who sold it to me was a friend (was...lol) and his father was a mechanic that did all the work on his truck...

If it's never been done then do it when you have the chance...almost guaranteed to break if you don't change it...from my experience...

There is a tension pulley on the timing belt...but I would warn you now not to use the alternator bracket as a pry point...if you have access tot he proper tool then use that...but the alternator on your year is probably on the passenger side anyway so moot point...lol

 

[Dragonlich1961]

If I recall the alt is on the passenger side always has been.
Thanks for the link to the timing belt life post.
If I can spare the $ I will do so.
Murphy doesn't like me at all so if I can keep him away I'm all game.
I have no idea if it's a square tooth or round tooth belt, but it sounds like I'm over due by either twice or three times the recommended interval. Yikes.
Last thing I want is to have her truck leave her stranded while she's out at college or while I'm at college since Im 300 miles away. Last thing I need is a call to pick her up. Pretty sure a tow truck will be faster.

 

[Dragonlich1961]

well the timing belt sugery has begun. Glad i did. belt was cracking and the tensioner pully has no more grease. yikes. 185k

water pump was noisey as well.

Question on the timing belt marks? before i pulled the belt i tried to align the marks and they would not. is this a concern? when i pulled the cover none of the marks lined up, even after rotating.

acording to my hanes align the camshaft diamonds, align the oil pump diamonds, and the crank keyway is at 12'00. this is where i have put them. not where i found them.

never have incountered timing marks being off and the engine run.

 

[Dragonlich1961]

crisis adverted.

timed on the wrong marks. the camshaft uses the triangle.

Yay. no leaks and no more worry, i hate 4 cyl's....

 

[Mark_88]

What's not to like about a 4 banger? 4 less pissed ons...er, pistons...to worry about going bad...way less HP so you won't be breaking any land speed records...or laws if you're careful...

So much win in a 4 banger...just need a bit of wind for the big win... as long as the wind is behind you...

 

[Dragonlich1961]

i'm a fan of good old american v8's. i know the inside of a sb chevy like the back of my hand. i also like inline 6's. i drive a jeep with a 4.0L i have a 61 ford ranchero with a 200 I6 and if i dought a deisel it would be a cummins.

4 cylinders is to few in my book exceially in a truck. if it's in a car you rarely have any room to work. next one my girl gets is going to be 4x4 and at least a 6 cylinder

4 cylinders is half an engine.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Nothing wrong with a 4 at all.

My last one was 200hp stock and pushed 30mpg... and today would be 26 years old.

Never done a 4cyl but I think it would be easier to change the timing cover gasket in one of those in a Ranger than a V8... I have done one of those.

Heck, 3/4 of my tractor fleet is rocking a 4cyl... and #4 has 2.

 

[Dragonlich1961]

i was raised on helping my father with his 56 chevy's which one had a 260 sbc and the other a 327. i just prefer an 8. some four cyl cars are fun. mother drives a 91 miata and ive driven a 63 mgb. blast to drive. just don't put one in my truck. my 61 has more cylinders than her truck.