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  • Timing Belt Change

    Ok so I dont have my manual with me.
    I am a friend's and his neighbor lent us some Chilton manuals.
    It says that to replace the timing belt I need to remove the valve covers and loosen the rocker arm bolts in order to be able to retention the tensioner properly.
    It seems like a huge step that I dont remember hearing others talk about.
    Do you guys bypass this step at all?
    I looked on Z31.com and it just kind of washes over this step
    "10. Adjust the belt tension according to the shop manual. This may take a few tries, but take your time. The tension has a large impact on belt life. "
    http://z31.com/repairs/tbelt.shtml
    ?
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  • #2
    You don't have to do that but it makes it a little easier.
    Shiro #443

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    • #3
      Just get the cams & crank into position before you remove the belt and you won't need to loosen the rocker arms. A common method for cehcking belt tension is to be able to turn it 90 degrees and no more or less. Just don't crank it down until it is tight like an alt. belt, that is a good way to f@#$ it up.

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      • #4
        Unloading the valve spring pressure on the cam does make it "easier" to set the timing belt properly but the work to get there isnt exactly easy or quick.

        Ive done it a couple times both ways. If you have 2 sets of hands I would suggest leaving the heads, intake and everything in place and just do it.

        Alignment marks and all that need to be adhered to just like it says in the book, but your difficulty will come with the passenger side cam gear wanting to move on you as you try to get the belt on. 2 sets of hands and its not a big deal. (my 8 year old helped me just a few days ago when I installed the Russ cam gears)

        One other tip I always forget: learned this on my first belt swap- cut a thin piece of cardboard from a regular old box. Say about 3" x 1.5" and wedged it in between the belt (once the marks are lined up with the crank pulley) and the oil pump housing. It will help keep the belt in place on that bottom pulley as you get it in place on the upper 2.

        Easy as pie idea but believe me....I fought it for an hour before I stepped back and came up with that idea. I do it every time now. :wink:
        Just stand back and throw money.
        Performance costs money.
        Reliable performance costs more.

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        • #5
          Yeah, I say screw the whole loosen all the rocker arm bullshit. Thats just a headache that doesnt need to be. Especialy on a stock z31 where you have to pull the upper plenum to get your valve cover off! :shock:
          85 Z31 6.0 LSX turbo 766whp/792wtq
          04 GTO, LS6, big cam, porting, N20... underway for summertime daily driver.

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          • #6
            Good idea about the cardboard, bottom always drove me nuts. One thing I do is set the alignment marks in place and tie a piece of wire in between the holes in the cam gears in the middle so they are linked to gether and can't move (picture sorta like a clothesline in between the gears). Helps keep that pesky pass. cam in place.

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            • #7
              Gregmatic- I like that idea. Good stuff.

              Hell, with your clothesline and my cardboard idea we are venturing on the side of McGiver, but hey....whatever. Now we just need to figure out how to involve some duct tape and a quarter into the mix. :wink:

              Im going to use the clothesline idea next time. Especially when using new belts it can be a pain.
              Just stand back and throw money.
              Performance costs money.
              Reliable performance costs more.

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              • #8
                Funny thing is I didnt have a problem keeping the gears in place.

                As for the tensioner, I just eyeballed it using my allen wrench. I took note what position
                it was in before I loosened it. I think it's better than it was and I'm crossing my fingers
                for it to work.
                http://www.vgpowered.com
                Bridging the gap between VG communities...

                Z shirts and more http://www.cafepress.com/zcargifts

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                • #9
                  I never pull the rockers. I also don't have a problem with anything moving. The only trick I use when installing the belt is to only put it on like a 1/4" on the pulleys. Once it is in place and over the tensioner, just push the rest of the way on.
                  Chuck Stong
                  300+ Parts and Performance owner
                  http://www.300-plus.com
                  2002 ZCOT president and always active member

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                  • #10
                    Firehawk wrote: I never pull the rockers. I also don't have a problem with anything moving. The only trick I use when installing the belt is to only put it on like a 1/4" on the pulleys. Once it is in place and over the tensioner, just push the rest of the way on.
                    Thats exactly what i did
                    http://www.vgpowered.com
                    Bridging the gap between VG communities...

                    Z shirts and more http://www.cafepress.com/zcargifts

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