changing cam belt & chain

Jettson

New Member
Messages
2
Hi,

Has anyone done a DYI thread on changing the cam belt etc. I would be interested in maintaining this aspect of my car.
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,631
Cant say I have seen one.

Its not difficult but extremely crutial and I think most shy away from it and leave it to the pros, I know I do.

If you have a go, can you do a guide for us?

All I know is that you need to remove the radiator fully and not bent it out of the way as it cracks the flange and will mysteriously start leaking a week later.

Check the water pump for play when your in there too and double/triple check the tensioner. You should always turn over the engine by hand to let the fidgets settle and check, check again.
 

davy83

Member
Messages
2,823
What car have you got? I am assuming its a 3200GT? I have changed my CAM belt and it was not too bad. if its a 3200 I will try to put some notes together for you, the workshop manual covers it quite well though. i recently had a garage do it, but they were doing a bunch of other things, and I had the idler pulleys and tensioner replaced too.
 

beau

Member
Messages
1,391
I done mine, but didn't set it up using any dial gauges or anything, done it all by eye/tip-ex/cable ties !

There was no reason to remove the radiator, I don't think I went anywhere near it or had to move it at all
 

davy83

Member
Messages
2,823
I also managed to replace the CAM belt without removing the radiator, the oil cooler radiator hoses get in the way and it helps if you can move these, but its not major. You need a way of locking the crank to get the crank pulley off the rest of it is straight forward, and the tensioner is not manually set up, but requires a little pin to hold it off while you are working, jewelers screw driver will do it. so its simple enough, just need to be careful obviously. If you want to change out the idler pulley its behind the filler tube and this can be quite awkward, both the pulley bolts and the filler tube attachment bolts.
 

Topbomin

New Member
Messages
24
I also managed to replace the CAM belt without removing the radiator, the oil cooler radiator hoses get in the way and it helps if you can move these, but its not major. You need a way of locking the crank to get the crank pulley off the rest of it is straight forward, and the tensioner is not manually set up, but requires a little pin to hold it off while you are working, jewelers screw driver will do it. so its simple enough, just need to be careful obviously. If you want to change out the idler pulley its behind the filler tube and this can be quite awkward, both the pulley bolts and the filler tube attachment bolts.

To remove the oil filler/dipstick tube, you have to remove the alternator. It is a bit of a fiddle but very satisfying. For price of them it is not worth leaving the idler pulleys. Cost of parts (belt and pulleys) was only £130 + VAT-very reasonable. The crankshaft pulley bolt can be removed fairly simply with a half-inch air gun. I had no instructions for mine, but I do have a two post lift, which is very handy as everything is done from underneath. My 3200 GTA had its belt changed a couple of hundred miles before, but was abandoned in a driveway for six years. Changing it was a precaution. The tyres had rotted too, which was a shame as they had hardly any wear. Super car now and goes like a train.
 

beau

Member
Messages
1,391
you defiantly do not need to remove the alternator, the dipstick tube can be removed in about 3 minutes as i had to take it off to do my crank sensor.