Timing Belt Question

[grandprixgtp_91]

to tell you the truth , it actually takes longer to do it the way you want to do it, like i said, i did it your way my first time, it takes alot longer because when you finally get everything tight you will relize that it is one tooth to much, so you take it apart and do it again, and you do it a few times until you figure the damn thing out, i got it , the car ran when i was done, it took forever, in your mind it might seem easy but it is ALOT harder to do than it seems! and the car just wont run properly after this, you timing chain will stretch enough to notice a difference in about 20,000 miles, our chain has alot to turn( 4 cams pushing on 24 valves, and drive the oil pump. ) the chain goes through alot, and they do break fairly early in these engines, my suggestion is save time , and headache, and muscle cramps and unbolt the cams, i have a very nice tool i made for unbolting the cams , it takes like 5 min. for all of them. its not worth it trying it your way unless your trying to prove that it be done, but ive already done that, but if you insist then good luck, also when you order parts for the timing, make sure you tell them its for the timing belt or they will always get the wrong parts.

Jake

[perfimage]

Ok...I have heeded all the warnings and it is all taken to heart. You mention a tool you made for removing the sprockets, I have searched this site high and low and have found no information on how to make this tool...can you post the information to make it? The hold down tool is a piece of cake, I found that easy enough.

Thanks.

[grandprixgtp_91]

yeah, ill will take some pics of my tool, and try to get some dimensions off of it, what year is your car? i think the gears are a little different some years. but this tool should work on all of them. ill try to get the info tommorow.

Jake

[jmgtp]

FYI... the tensioner pulley that you showed in the large picture above looks like the one for the serpentine belt... it is definetly NOT the one for the timing belt. The Timing belt tensioner pulley is metal, about the same size as the idler pulleys but with larger bearings, and has a square 'nub' on its front face of the inner race. The backside has a small 'cup' that the tensioner actuator fits into.

[perfimage]

grandprixgtp 91...thanks, I have a 93 and I will be looking for the information.

jmgtp...thanks for answering the question about the pulley, I have not taken it apart yet so i coudl not compare. I guess I will have to return the part.

Thanks again fellas!

[bud36light]

I made my own sprocket holder out of a peice of steel pipe and 1/4 inch plate. Pipe measures at I/D 2 1/4" X OD 2 7/8" X 1 1/4" deep. Plate is 3" X 3". Welded plate to the pipe and ground the spoke slot reliefs 3/8" X3/8" ( 6 of them). Drilled 7/8' hole for the 15mm socket to fit( Warning: Do Not Use An ACE Hardware socket) and I also cut a 1/2" square hole for a breaker bar to grab ahold of it. This is an optional thing tho cause you can always grab on with a big pipe wrench. If I can figure this new camera out Ill send you a pic. Of course you can spend $50 on a new one too.

[93vinx]

thats the serpentine belt tensoiner, i seel those all day long, the timing has ridges on the sides, not to mention the width

[perfimage]

Here is the status of this project.

Belt removed, Front sprockets removed, tensioner removed/retracted, front cams held in line with hold down tool.

I have a question... 93=locking rings. I assume these need to be replaced??

I used my Harmonic balancer puller to remove the front sprockets, but there is no way this will fit between the spockets and strut tower to remove the rears. Has anyone made a sprocket removal tool?

Thanks

[perfimage]

Does anyone have any experience with these locking rings? I called every dealership in my area to no surprise, no one has them in stock and the price is outrageous. $42.26 for a "kit" and they indicate 2 kits are needed. This seems kinda expensive for spring steel rings, but then again, what on this car isn't.

GMparts direct shows the same part # at $24.

The part number is 12537018.

The reason I ask is, neither of the timing belt walk throughs indicate what is done with these parts...replaced or reused.

Thanks yet again.

[jmgtp]

They should be just fine to reuse.

[dykz34]

Here is the status of this project.

Belt removed, Front sprockets removed, tensioner removed/retracted, front cams held in line with hold down tool.

I have a question... 93=locking rings. I assume these need to be replaced??

I used my Harmonic balancer puller to remove the front sprockets, but there is no way this will fit between the spockets and strut tower to remove the rears. Has anyone made a sprocket removal tool?

Thanks

You need to reuse the locking rings.

To get the rear cams off, you will have to pull the rear cam carrier--this is what I did.

[pocket-rocket]

I can't remember how many LQ1's Ben and I have retimed, and reused the lock rings without a single failure.

yeah, ill will take some pics of my tool

Please spare us from having to see that, this is not an XXX site :P lol

Geez, Dave, I hoped you cleaned that dirty bastard before tossing it back on!

[dykz34]

Nope, I didn't clean it. I'm fuckin hardcore.

[Juglenaut]

Supose if you had a Kent moore cog puller you could leave the rear carrier on the cylinder head.

[perfimage]

Thanks guys!!

Well i got the rears off without purchasing a $118 tool from Kent-Moore AND without rmoving the cam carrier.

I used my harmonic balancer puller and some 5/16 carriage bolts cut to 2". I then used a threaded shaft (that fit the shaft threads of the puller) and nut from an old bearing puller I got from my grandfather's garage and cut it to the necessary length, welded the nut to it and yanked them babies right off.

I have not taken a shot of it yet, but I will post one when I do. I had JUST enough room to wiggle the damned thing in and get the sprockets off.

NEVER challenge the capability of a stubborn pollack!!

I now have the timing components disassembled and the upper and lower intakes removed so I can try to fix the infamous O ring and puth this puppy back together.