Porsche-O-Phile

OK, time to do the belt (cam & balance) on my early 944. . .

Porsche shop wants $600 to do 'em; the Porsche tensioning tool is about $500 - new belts are around $50. Is it worth it to do myself (plus I'd have the tool for the next times). What's involved? Is this an afternoon kind of job or something that's going to end up being highly involved, take 6 consecutive weekends and crawling under the car from about 80 different angles, only to hope / pray that I got it right?

I'm pretty mechanically inclined but I'm still learning my way around P-car engines - not that I mind learning, but if it's easy to screw up and total my engine, I'd rather eat the 600 bones and sleep easy. Advice?

seb928s

What kinds of jobs have you done before? The timing belt job is pretty simple few hours at the most if you are not doing the water pump. I did it before and have about 4 belt jobs under my belt now. I do it without the special tool also some people use the kricket tool. Now let me have it for not using any tensioning tools lol

Techno Duck

Well first off do you have all the basic tools you would need to get to the belts and water pump? A lift can be very helpful, though is not required. Also is it alright that the car be out of commission for atleast a week? I managed to do all the belts, rollers and pump in about 12 hours. Mind you much of that time was spent in traffic trying to get to the Porsche dealer to get the right parts! Which brings up another point, make sure you have all the stuff you need before you start. You dont need the Porsche tool for the belts, i used the Kricket method without a hitch, just make sure you retension the belt a the proper mileage. Mine had loosened severely and was slapping the upper cover on cold startups.

I am the same way as you, mechicanlly inclined though i am also still learning my way around the engine. I luckily had the help of an experienced wrench looking over my shoulder.

Porsche-O-Phile

I've heard the Kriket tool isn't very accurate or consistent in its readings though. . . I want to make sure that this thing isn't going to slip / snap and that to me implies "use the most accurate tool you can find", but I know a lot of ppl do it by feel. . . I guess it's personal preference.

Most of what I've done on these cars is general maintenance kind of stuff - I've never messed with the timing before. I've checked it on Chevy V8s, but not an engine like this with a belt rather than a chain.

Thanks, just don't want to kill it.

Porsche-O-Phile

Someone told me if the rollers are 24mm they need replacement with 27mm ones - does anyone know anything about this?

BruceWard

All the aftermarket suppliers Paragon, Zims, Vertex, etc sell a six piece belts and rollers kit for $150 to $200. Get one of those to start with. You should replace the balance belt as well as the timing belt. Getting the tension correct is very important. Some of the suppliers rent the 9201 tensioning tools, but I bet you can find someone local to you who has done the belts before and has the tool.

The Haynes manual covers the process pretty well and http://www.clarks-garage.com has an excellent writeup.

http://www.hmc-international.com/krikit.htm is a good source for the Krikit tool, but although untested I suggest that the Testifier tool may be the best for our application. If you are going to buy a Krikit the KR-1 is the model you want.

Personally I did the belts on my 968 in early January. I called for a PCA tech session, did all the teardown the night before and then had a PCA BBQ at my home and got a lot of assistance with the reassembly. I spent the $s on tools and burgers instead of labor.

It was a great learning experience and opportunity to get my hands dirty.

Porsche-O-Phile

Sounds like a great idea! I ordered the belts & roller kit earlier and I'm now officially committed to (and excited about) joining the ranks of "real" P-Car owners that actually do serious work on them rather than throwing money at them. If anybody in SoCal wants to participate in a belt-changing party in a couple of weeks, let me know!

BTW I only drink GOOD beer (no cheap stuff here) and there will be plenty of that for any and all who decide to turn out!

Tom M'Guinn

You should be able to get The Tool for just under $400 if you shop around.

Porsche-O-Phile

I like how you capitalized it

"THE Tool"

I like it.

ljd-924SE

i'll be doing this job (with the water pump) for the first time later this spring. i also plan on using the KR-1, but only for the break in period. i'll be taking her to a porsche specialist for the retension, so that the tension is right for the next 10 000 miles. i'm sure i'll end up buying "the tool" eventually, but i still have 3 semesters of college to go.

handscreate

Porsche-O-Phile, let me know when you are going to do this. I am very interested in getting together and doing a belt job. When I get my car back from the body shop, and if it's not "totalled" by the insurance company, I plan on doing my belts and a new updated water pump, and front end seals. Just me being way too cautious but I don't know when or if the P/O did any of this stuff, and I am planning to go up to Santa Cruz & Berkeley in a month or two and fear failure/breakage of the timming belt or waterpump, and having to pay someone that I don't know or trust to fix it because I don't plan on carrying my tool chest up there with me. Especially since it would be a vacation for me. (The first in many years)

Porsche-O-Phile

Sure, let's tenatively say a week from Saturday - that'd be the 13th. . . Even if they total it, are you interested in an extra set of hands to help turn wrenches on it? If you've got any P-Car buddies in the area, they're welcome to help out. . . maybe we can get a group of enthusiasts together around here. I'll PM you with more details as they firm up. Thanks!

Charlie944

The job is not bad...just take your time and double check. A flywheel lock is nessecary, as is the proper wrench for the 24 or 27mm tensioners. I bought the 27mm wrench from: http://www.arnnworx.com, and had already purchased a Porsche flywheel lock previously, but I would have bought it from the aforementioned site. The wrench makes a difference, my first time around I used a snap-on adjustable and it worked, but was bulky! I had also used the Kricket-1 on my first belt job. I set the timing belt alright, but I go the balance shaft belt to tight, and it made a whining sound (loud at startup) and I ended up wearing out my BalBelt tensioner! The Kricket IMHO is not accurate enough to accurately tension the balance shaft belt. The eccentric tensioner it utilizes does not tension in a linear fashion soooo...very small degree of movement can alter your tension a great deal. I ended up borrowing a P9201 from my my neighbor and used it on the re-tension at 1500miles, and on the new belts for my Callaway 944.

SoCal driver posted a graphic of where to cut the rear timing cover to aid in changing the H2O pump the NEXT time without having to pull the Balance shaft sprockets and crank gear. It actually ends up being two seperate pieces when you are done...very simple...took me 10 minutes. I will post the graphic if SoCal driver* does not post it prior....*(thanks again man!)

Also I found Clarks Garage very useful, and I had the factory manual to aid me as well (neighbors)

Hope this helps...I know I was intimidated by this job first time around, but now have had 3 under my belt one with a water pump, and it is walk in the park, and is very satisfing! Next is a clutch job for me in a few months!

Best of luck!!

Charlie944

sorry here you go: http://www.arnnworx.com

EZRider

As long as it is not your daily commute there's no dead line when to button it up. Yea it's worth the effort you'll learn a lot and save a bunch. Do your homework: Get some guides and tools and take your time.