beware of bad timing belt!

[Black '93]

I recently bought a new timing belt and installed it on my '93 ATX. The car ran fine after I got it back together, but I lost some power on the top end. I thought that I had done some damage to my motor when my belt broke, but since it's a non-interference motor I figured it was very unlikely. I thought that maybe the belt slipped when I first started the motor because of the tension being too tight so I took it back apart only to find out that my timing was advanced 10 degrees! I was wondering how the **** this happened so I took the timing belt off and installed it again. Guess what? Still at 10 degrees timing! It was the correct belt, so me and my buddy thought that maybe they put the white mark for the crankshaft 1 notch too soon. We moved the crank 1 notch ahead ( one notch past the white mark on the belt) so it was at 0 degrees timing. Fired up the motor, and now it runs fine and has all of its power back. The moral of the story is DO NOT BUY A TIMING BELT FOR YOUR SHO FROM LEE AUTO PARTS. I forgot what brand the belt was, but it cost about $40.00 ($100 Cheaper than ford) and the number that is printed on the belt is 202. I called and told the guy at lee and he was cool, but I'm not gonna take it off again just to get another belt that might be mismarked. It could just be the one belt that I bought happened to be a bad one, but be careful.

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

The MTX and ATX use the same timing belt. HOWEVER, the crank gear timing is different between the two by ONE TOOTH.

The belts I run actually have two marks, one for 3.2, and one for 3.0

 

[Jaz2099]

FWIW, SHO Timing belts usually have two white marks --- one for 3.0 and one for 3.2?

 

[TYSHO]

No, not all timing belts have 2 marks and it's a big misunderstanding.

I bought one for a 3.0 and installed it. I rotated the crankshaft 2 revolutions and checked the timing, it was off by 10 degrees. I had to sit the and count each tooth on the old timing belt and new one, just to know which one to set it at. It wasn't cool digging in the motor twice, as you basically install everything to turn the crank.

Edit: Looked up my belt number and it was 202, as well. However, mine was a Cloyes timing belt and I know I did my timing belt install correctly! What about you?

 

[Slo-Sho]

As long as the cam gears and crank line up TDC then it doesn't matter how the marks are oriented. BTW, even if the marks do line up, they will never line up again once the crank has been revolved.

 

[AREA 91]

Gates Belt # T248

 

[e_clouser]

Just did the timing belt on my 94 and the white marks did not line up with the notches on the crank, my belt was a goodyear belt, can not remember the part number.

 

[TYSHO]

As long as the cam gears and crank line up TDC then it doesn't matter how the marks are oriented. BTW, even if the marks do line up, they will never line up again once the crank has been revolved.

Yes, we know that but when you install a timing belt, it is recommended to turn the crank 2 revolutions and check the timing marks[the indentions on the gears] to see if they are aligned. In my case, they were off.

 

[Black '93]

I know that once you rotate the crank it wont line up again for a few revolutions, but that was not the problem. The problem was that I had the correct belt, for the 3.2 litre, with only 1 crankshaft line on it for the 3.2 motor. I double checked the part # before buying it. The point of this thread was to inform you guys that it is the correct belt, just mismarked. Not everything on the PhoenixProject front 60k service is correct. I'm not trying to rip on the guy for putting up the info because it is very useful. However, the ATX and MTX vary slightly in motor design around the front of the engine. Even ATX alone changed throughout the years and many of the parts are different. It is kind of annoying when you ask how to torque an ATX crankshaft bolt and somebody tells you to put your left tire on the ground so it wont spin, then jam the brakes and tighten it. Yeah; that wont work for an automatic tranny because when you spin the crank the tires do not spin(torque converter)! Anyways, no hard feelings, thewhole mismarked belt thing just had me aggravated. Oh and TYSHO- yeah I did install it correctly according to the mark on the stupid belt, but the mark was one tooth too early. Thats weird that your number was a 202 also because mine wasn't a Cloyes belt.

 

[Slo-Sho]

Yes, we know that but when you install a timing belt, it is recommended to turn the crank 2 revolutions and check the timing marks[the indentions on the gears] to see if they are aligned. In my case, they were off.

Then your belt was/is stretched, that is all. The previous post still applies.

 

[TYSHO]

Then your belt was/is stretched, that is all. The previous post still applies.

Your saying my new belt was stretched?

Anyways, I know what I'm doing working on cars and pointed out, the belt only had ONE timing mark for the crank and did NOT specify if it was for the 3.0 or 3.2. When I installed it, I found out it was for the 3.2. I took it off and moved the belt by one tooth and it was perfect, nothing stretched.

I think you're confused in the marks we are talking about, it's the crank marks on the belt only having one and not meant for our application. And when we turn the crank, we find out the cam gears get out of align by one tooth, due to the wrong groove of the belt used for the crank gear.

 

[TYSHO]

Oh and TYSHO- yeah I did install it correctly according to the mark on the stupid belt, but the mark was one tooth too early. Thats weird that your number was a 202 also because mine wasn't a Cloyes belt.

Yeah, I think mine was one tooth ahead. I guess the new timing belt companies producing them are just grabbing motor specific belts and listing them for both apps with only one mark.

 

[Slo-Sho]

Anyways, I know what I'm doing working on cars and pointed out

And when we turn the crank, we find out the cam gears get out of align by one tooth, due to the wrong groove of the belt used for the crank gear.

The crank and cam gears should line up EVERY revolution of the engine regardless of the marks on the belt, the valve timing would be off if they didn't. You stated they did not in your particular instance. So if your new belt was not stretched then I presume that you obviously incorrectly installed the belt Mr.ASE.

 

[TYSHO]

The crank and cam gears should line up EVERY revolution of the engine regardless of the marks on the belt, the valve timing would be off if they didn't. You stated they did not in your particular instance. So if your new belt was not stretched then I presume that you obviously incorrectly installed the belt Mr.ASE.

It takes 2 crank revolutions to re-align the cam gears, thank you very much!

 

[TYSHO]

The crank and cam gears should line up EVERY revolution of the engine regardless of the marks on the belt, the valve timing would be off if they didn't. You stated they did not in your particular instance. So if your new belt was not stretched then I presume that you obviously incorrectly installed the belt Mr.ASE.

Actually, it takes TWO crank revolutions to make the cam gears re-align, thank you very much!

 

[Slo-Sho]

 

[TYSHO]

Whatever, laugh all you want, but it's a fact that it takes 2 crank revolutions to equal 1 cam revolution. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to find that out, as the crank gear has 23 groves, compared to 46 on the cam gears.

 

[DHMag]

the purpose of rotating the crank 2 revolutions to to properly tension the belt.

 

[Black '93]

It DOES take 2 revolutions for the cams to align perfectly with the crankshaft. lol....What have you got to say now? If you thought that, its no wonder why your sho is slo! Mr. ASE??? (just kiddin')

 

[DigDeez]

Yeah man, Lee Auto isn't worth a whole lot! They seem way expensive on allot of certain things, but not too sure about parts. I just assume they wouldn't have much for the SHO I couldn't get anywhere else.

Besides, what do they have, like two branches... !

Go Cubbies!!!!!