Timing belt life?

[RJ-92]

How long are they good for? The service manuals say 60K I had my first changed at 80K and it looked pretty good yet. The one I have is about 6 yrs old and ~50K on it. I know its time to be changed I just wondered what the actual life span is on them?

Any one know of Timing Belt failures? I have only heard of one or 2, and am not farmiliar with the mileage of them.

Thoughts please.

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

Timing belt failures are very rare.

Im sure there are many SHOs on the road with more than 100k on timing belts.

 

[RJ-92]

Is it more common for the tensioner pully to fail?

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

both are quite rare.

 

[SHOslyter485]

It probably has an effect on what climate you are living in too, as drier climates, belts will have a tendency to crack more. I've seen belts that are almost immaculate at 80k. I think 60k is a bit excessive

 

[somedude_001]

if yours is 6 years old you should probbaly replace it. pull your top timing belt cover off and inspect the condition of it. i know you have cams and head work so is your engine a interfearence engine? if it is i would definately replace it since its only about 45 bucks.

 

[AREA 91]

I pulled a 3.0 at the junk yard that had 136K on the origional T belt. Still looked ok.

 

[SHO_Driver]

My T belt is 10 years old and has 100K on it. I'm gonna change it real soon tho.

 

[RJ-92]

if yours is 6 years old you should probbaly replace it. pull your top timing belt cover off and inspect the condition of it. i know you have cams and head work so is your engine a interfearence engine?

Correct. My v6 is now an interferance engine. I had everything appart and thuroughly inspected it. Looked great, no cracks, wasn't dry rotted, no teeth damage. I guess I should have replaced it but was in a hurry to get things buttoned up to see if i could get it started. Probably only going to put about 3 - 4k miles on it this year anyway. I (knock on wood) hope it would be OK for one more season.

 

[randy'sho]

i bought my SHO from a guy in Texas...it had 102K on it at the time of purchase....at 125K it (timing belt) went out, so glad to have the interferance engine. I shaved eight teeth off of the belt....

 

[somedude_001]

RJ i would do the belt, you would be a fool not to, i don't need to go on about the potential $$$ loss from a $45 belt failing.

and randy'sho the SHO engine in stock form is a non-interfearance engine but since he has stage 2 cams that is no longer the case.

so you should have said "so glad to have a non-interferance engine..." and now you know

 

[RJ-92]

RJ i would do the belt, you would be a fool not to, i don't need to go on about the potential $$$ loss from a $45 belt failing.

and randy'sho the SHO engine in stock form is a non-interfearance engine but since he has stage 2 cams that is no longer the case.

so you should have said "so glad to have a non-interferance engine..." and now you know

You are right. I ordered one. Lemme know when u need the cams. I'll get them over to you when ever. Don't be bashful I'm not avoiding you, just lazy.

 

[sdpatt]

Timing belt life on the 3.0L with the set-once-tensioner is 60,000 miles and 100,000 miles on the 3.2L with the gas piston, constant load tensioner. Theoretically, if you regularly retension the belt on the 3.0L you can get 100,000 miles of service from it too.

That brings up the other side of the timing belt service life equation: belts stretch. They don't stretch much, but with each fraction of a millimeter that they do elongate the camshaft timing is delayed from the optimal setting, affecting your engine's output. That is something you don't want.

Timing belts are rather inexpensive (Dayco 95248 $21.99 from AutoZone, Gates T248 $36.79 or Dayco 95248 $20.89 from RockAuto.com) and when yours has reached its stated service life, any maintenance in the timing belt area should include a new timing belt. For all the money spent trying to improve the output of the already rather tightly wound SHO engines, an inexpensive timing belt ensures it can make all the power it was designed to put out.

 

[somedude_001]

if you would like you can drop them off thursday between my classes 9am-11:30am or after 10:00 mon-friday or after 7 on friday. or this weekend. you call me when its convenient, i would like to get them put on asap and while i'm at it i'll install my 44lb injecters, EX intake BBB's so now i'll make more power and stil not be able to drive it! lol

 

[JoesSHO]

Scptt- does a new timing belt improve performance? I'm not being an idiot, it's really something I've wondered about when people replace TB's and say that they feel more power from the car, etc. Is it because the belt stretches, and the teeth are arriving/leaving in split seconds other than their expected time, or something? I've always wondered that...

TB's and rod bearings- how?

TIA for answering my 5 year old wonderment! :corn:

 

[wood_e]

When I changed mine on my ATX at 107k it didn't look bad at all. That having been said I was already in there so I replaced it.

 

[somedude_001]

Scptt- does a new timing belt improve performance? I'm not being an idiot, it's really something I've wondered about when people replace TB's and say that they feel more power from the car, etc. Is it because the belt stretches, and the teeth are arriving/leaving in split seconds other than their expected time, or something? I've always wondered that...

TB's and rod bearings- how?

TIA for answering my 5 year old wonderment! :corn:

cod bearings will not imrpove power they will just keep you from destroying your engine if your origional ones are worn, timing belts in theory could change your valve timing a tiny amount but it is not a significant amount imo if it has 100K replace it otherwise don't worry about it.

 

[qiksho]

Scptt- does a new timing belt improve performance? I'm not being an idiot, it's really something I've wondered about when people replace TB's and say that they feel more power from the car, etc. Is it because the belt stretches, and the teeth are arriving/leaving in split seconds other than their expected time, or something? I've always wondered that...

TB's and rod bearings- how?

TIA for answering my 5 year old wonderment! :corn:

I noticed an improvement in fuel economy and performance when I did mine on my 91+. However at the same time I did the full 60k so it is hard to judge how much of that was a direct result of the timing belt. Before the 60K I would average 24-26mpg highway. After the 60k I took a long trip and managed a best of 33mpg and averaged 28-30mpg.

Timing belts stretch, get hard, and crack with normal use. I have seen many timing belts that looked fine from a first glance stand point. However after further inspection the belt was no longer pliable and had become hard. Once the belt becomes hard it is alot easier for the teeth to strip of the back of the belt.

With that I would recommend replacement before 100k. Especially if you live in an environment with severe climate changes such as the upper midwest. We can have as much as a 150 degree change in temperature from summer to winter. Think about how often that belt gets hot and then cold....

 

[MONSOUN MOTORS]

I hope I don't jinx myself by replying to this but I have 92 MTX w/187,521 miles and everything is stock with the exception of the plugs, wires, fuel filter, air filter and brakes. I don't think that I am neglecting my SHO its just that I haven't had the need to replace anything. I haven't had any oil or coolant leaks. The only leak that I have is the one in my trunk . But I am planning, as prevenative maintainance, to change the water pump, timing belt and tensioner, cps, cam sensors and seals, rod bearings, UDP set with new belts, adjust the valves, and of course new gaskets all around etc etc. Do you guys think this would be a good idea or should I wait for something to go out, naw I think it's time for some new parts to go in .

 

[Black '93]

Actually, I had a timing belt shred on my '93 ATX. It was in the middle of a race against a turbo diesel truck. Luckily it wasn't a race for money! I thought I blew my motor, and was totally ******..Besides mine, I have never heard of a timing belt breaking on an SHO. I would definitley replace it though because they can and do stretch over time, and a miniscule amount of stretch could f up your timing and performance.. Give her a tune up. She would appreciate it.