Timing belt install question

[jdh00]

I just want to confirm that I am doing this correctly. All I have to do is line up the dots on the cam sprockets with the notches on the timing cover at 12 o'clock and the dimple on the crank has to be lined up with the notch at 5 o'clock? I want so be sure before I reassemble everything. Thanks in advance...

 

[twr]

Sound right, the new timing belt "should" have marks that line up too.

 

[jdh00]

There was something in the SHO Registry about turning the crank two revolutions clockwise, until the yellow mark on the damper aligns with the 0 deg. mark on the lower timing belt cover. Then it said to tighten the tensioner and rotate the crank 60 deg. more so that the white mark on the damper alings with the 0 deg. mark on the lower timing belt cover. Is this the normal procedure? Also, what does this accomplish? I feel foolish for asking.

<small>[ August 06, 2002, 05:49 PM: Message edited by: jdh00 ]</small>

 

[Shoman94]

jdh00:
There was something in the SHO Registry about turning the crank two revolutions clockwise, until the yellow mark on the damper aligns with the 0 deg. mark on the lower timing belt cover. Then it said to tighten the tensioner and rotate the crank 60 deg. more so that the white mark on the damper alings with the 0 deg. mark on the lower timing belt cover. Is this the normal procedure? Also, what does this accomplish? I feel foolish for asking.

That is the procedure for adjustng the timing belt tension on an MTX SHO. Doing that procedure ensures that all the slack in the belt is on the tensioner side thus giving proper tension to the belt.

You should make a signiture giving your year and tranny SHO. This will allow us to give you more specific answers.

 

[sdpatt]

Search Keys: timing belt alignment index

Here are photos of the index marks on the cam and crank pulleys and covers and the timing belt marks when the new belt is first installed. This is the only time you will see this alignment. Once the crank has been turned, the white marks on the belt will no longer line up with the index marks and cannot be used for alignment verification. The belt lines are only to be used for the initial belt installation.

Rear bank cam pulley. Note the index marks on the pulley and belt and the raised ridge on the rear belt cover.

Front bank cam pulley. Note the index marks on the pulley and belt and the raised ridge on the rear belt cover.

Crank pulley - the index on the pulley tooth is lined up with the "3.0L" mark on the belt in this MTX installation. Note the index marks on the pulley and belt and the raised ridge on the oil pump housing.

Here is another shot of the crank pulley during the timing belt installation on a 3.2L SHO. Note the index marks on the pulley and belt and the raised ridge on the oil pump housing.

The writing on the belt should be readable in the normal direction if you are standing by the driver's front fender. This is the only way the lines on the belt will line up with the index marks on the pulleys. This is from my engine at 269,000 miles.

 

[pete c]

Scott,

You really need to catalog all your pics and info. into a manual. I will be first inline to buy a copy. Awesome pics. Why can't the haynes or chilton folks do as well?

 

[DHMag]

twrsho:
Sound right, the new timing belt "should" have marks that line up too.

is it abolutely required to have the index marks on the belt ? or is that just for idiot sake ? i mean, i can go to O-Reillys and either pay 60 dollas for a belt with the index marks or pay 40 for it without. not that im cheap, but IMO, if you know what youre doing, and do it right the first time, you shouldnt pay an extra 20 dollas just to insure your brain farts.

 

[billh]

DHMag:

twrsho:
Sound right, the new timing belt "should" have marks that line up too.

is it abolutely required to have the index marks on the belt ? or is that just for idiot sake ? i mean, i can go to O-Reillys and either pay 60 dollas for a belt with the index marks or pay 40 for it without. not that im cheap, but IMO, if you know what youre doing, and do it right the first time, you shouldnt pay an extra 20 dollas just to insure your brain farts.

I would have a hard time trsting a "bargain basement" timing belt on my SHO, even if the lack of timing marks was really the only actual difference between the two.

 

[DHMag]

billh:
I would have a hard time trsting a "bargain basement" timing belt on my SHO, even if the lack of timing marks was really the only actual difference between the two.

Gates is *hardly* a "bargain basement" brand

 

[sdpatt]

Or you can go to RockAuto.com and pay $32.81 for the Gates T248 with the timing marks you see in the photos. Yes, the timing marks are very important and I have not seen a SHO belt without them.

Scott

<small>[ August 07, 2002, 03:18 PM: Message edited by: sdpatt ]</small>

 

[Huntervf]

Obviously you don't need the timing marks on the belt for the car to run right...but those marks are an important guide as you're installing the belt. With the marks it's very easy to see that you have the belt on with the correct gap & tension between the cam pulleys. If the belt is even 1 tooth off your car will run very poorly or not at all, and without the marks as a guide you could make this mistake very easily.

 

[DHMag]

sdpatt:
Or you can go to RockAuto.com and pay $32.81 for the Gates T248 with the timing marks you see in the photos. Yes, the timing marks are very important and I have not seen a SHO belt without them.

Scott

Scott, i saw that and wondered what the difference was between the T202 and the T248...thanks for the clarification

 

[93nighthawk]

Scott's Pics are not showing up??? I really need them!

BTW, does anyone have a suggestion to get the timming belt back on? I don't seem to have enough slack to get it over the sprockets.

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

here you go:

If there doesnt seem to be enough slack, then you are not rotating the tensioner enough.

 

[Dr. Tweak]

Even if you rotate the tensioner away from the belt as far as it can go, it is still tricky to get it on. You have to go a very little bit at a time.

For more pics and instructions check out the links in my sig. thumb