ENGINE "Front-end" Maintenance

[SHO Mojo]

Great gurus of the boards,

As warm weather approaches (meaning I can park the car for a bit and ride my motorcycle to work), I'm planning to address a leaking front main oil seal on my 1989 w/ 118Kmi...

Since this is no minor effort, I figured it'd be best to address other "front-end" bits on the motor. Any suggestions on just what to replace? I changed the belt at about 80k, so this one has only 38k on it, should I change it while I'm there? I changed the water pump out even more recently, so I think I'm safe there...but who knows?

Anyway, if anyone can chime-in with suggestions regarding CPS or other bits accessible once the front cover is off, please let me know...

Thanks!

SHO Mojo, Cincinnati, OH

1989 Lt.Ti., 118kmi, Eibachs, Tokicos, SFC's, HD motor mounts, rod shifter, '96 brake upgrade w/ Carbotech Superstreet 'F' pads, braided stainless brake lines, SS y-pipe, SS catback, 17" Team Dynamics w/ P7000SS 225/45-17's...waiting in the garage, STB's, '91 SHO plus decklid spoiler, '91 SHO plus taillights.

 

[srfdude]

Assuming tools on hand, the whole job can be done in probably 6-8 hrs., once you've become familiar with it. So it depends on your threshold of pain ;-) I'd say the belt is actually good for at least 80K if there's no antifreeze leaking on it (or oil, perhaps its got oil on it from your leak). The cps may be more problematic; there's a good chance it may fail before 150K. The waterpump should be good for a long while yet. I would say this is a good lesson for everyone: change everything when you go into the front. I went in at 130K (previous service at 60K) and the waterpump was leaking, although the front seal had never been changed and still wasn't leaking I changed it and the cps to be safe.
Mike

 

[sdpatt]

Srfdude's obviously been there. The front main seal is usually a side job during the timing belt change. If the timing belt was not removed during the water pump change then it certainly got coolant on it. That is not desireable. For $33 (from RockAuto.com), it is cheap maintenance to replace the belt again. At least reset the tension on the existing belt by the same procedure as during installation since you will have to remove it to access the main seal.

I would replace the main seal ($8 O'Reilly), CPS ($43 AutoZone.com) and possibly the timing belt. The other main part is the water pump and you have "recently" taken care of that.

 

[nc89sho]

i agree with the previous two posts