Question : timing belt + pulleys - where to buy?

[Rabbi]

Going to replace the timing belt and pulleys/tensioner on one of my z34's

Last time i did it , everything cost me about $340 bucks to do.

is there anywhere cheaper to buy everything than gmpartsdirect ??


and is the gatorback the belt i want still? ( Havent done a timing job on these cars in 5 years)

[bszopi]

I would try Rock Auto to see if its any cheaper. And yeah, I think the Gatorback is still the prefered belt.

[Schurkey]

I've done a grand total of two timing belts on 3.4s. I now own the 3.4 special tools kit, but I didn't at the time I replaced the belts. I just counted teeth on the belt and installed everything as it was already positioned.

Re-used the tensioner both times.

Parts ran ~$175 from NAPA, but that was perhaps two years ago. The price seems unreasonably high when I checked just now:

Current price and part number: NBH 2521920 $274 One belt, two idlers, and a tensioner pulley packaged together as a kit.

http://www.napaonline.com/Search/Detail.aspx?A=NBH2521920_0237535837&An=599001+101993+50012+2012037

[pocket-rocket]

I haven't priced it all, but check www.rockauto.com and if you go ahead with it, there is a 5% discount coupon thread on this forum somewhere that we try to keep updated every time someone orders from there. So if you do order from there (their prices beat the tar out of most places on most stuff) then please be kind enough to post your discount code when you get it emailed to you.

[tincherb]

Check Amazon.com I know it doesn't sound like a likely place, but I'm finding their prices are cheaper than rock auto and if you have amazon prime you get it free two day shipping. Some items have free shipping anyway. I got a gates belts with pulleys for 117 (its 126 now). Its 173 on RockAuto.

[Schurkey]

Check Amazon.com I know it doesn't sound like a likely place, but I'm finding their prices are cheaper than rock auto and if you have amazon prime you get it free two day shipping. Some items have free shipping anyway. I got a gates belts with pulleys for 117 (its 126 now). Its 173 on RockAuto.

Good call! I'm still surprised at the NAPA price. Completely unreasonable.

http://www.amazon.com/Gates-TCK192-Engine-Timing-Component/dp/B000CHKKCY/ref=au_pf_pfg_s?ie=UTF8&Model=Lumina|465&n=15684181&s=automotive&Make=Chevrolet|47&Year=1993|1993&carId=002

$118.65 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping.

[Rabbi]

wow thats cheap! Any source for the hydrolic tensioner ?

[Schurkey]

The tensioner isn't hydraulic. It's just oil-filled. The actual tension is provided by a spring.

Are they known for wearing out? I re-used mine.

[pocket-rocket]

Are they known for wearing out? I re-used mine.

I've re-used most. If they are a bit tight when turning the screw in the back in because someone that did the job before you left the plug out, replace it. Other than that, I've yet to hear of one failing completely. When the belt let loose in the 91, the previous mechanic didn't put the plug in or fill it with oil, but IIRC, it still turned fine so after we put some Mobil 1 in it we used some black silicone as a plug, lol.

[Rabbi]

this one is off a car with 240k miles, i think ill replace it to be on the safe side

the belt is the width of a dime or so, Im gonna have to get a picture, I Don't think its ever been changed tbh.

Never seen a timing belt this worn out before without it failing, But then again the car never got driven over 60 in its entire life i dont think

(old lady car)

[pocket-rocket]

O.O! Holy cow man! You got lucky! Not because it's interference, because it's not, but because you didn't get stranded with it somewhere.

[tincherb]

I only know this because I just went thru the hassle....the tensioner is only available (as far as I could find) thru Chevrolet. The problem with it is it doesn't come with the brass bushing so you'll need to take your old one off and put it on the new one. I was able to buy it for 84 bucks but didn't take is since I realized it wasn't a true hydraulic unit.