Getting ready for new timing belt w/Porkensioner - Questions
03-24-2009, 04:26 AM
#1
Track Day
Thread Starter
Getting ready for new timing belt w/Porkensioner - Questions
My 928 is coming up on the 4 year mark since it's last timing belt job, so it's time for a replacement. I want to tackle the belt job myself for the first time. I have a few questions, but first - a little history.
The previous belt job was done by Motorsport in Salt Lake City, and they gave it the full work over - pretty much everything in there has been replaced. Specifically, they replaced the belt, tensioner, water pump, cam seals, oil pump, oil pump gear, oil pump seals, the front main seal, the rear main seal, the main tension roller, and the idler rollers.
The work they did was fantastic, and the car has had no problems related to the timing belt.
Now, as I said, it's been about 4 years, and I've driven the car about 25,000 miles since then. I'd like to put in a Porkensioner so that the system will be more or less self-sustaining for the next 4 years. I also want to do the work myself this time - partly to save on labor costs, and also so I can move up to the next level of confidence on doing my own wrenching on the car. I have purchased John Pirtle's excellent book, and done plenty of thread-reading on the procedure - I feel reasonably confident about pulling off everything that's required of me.
Okay, so there's the history. On to the questions!
1) Besides the belt, water pump, and new rollers for the Porkensioner, what other bits should be replaced at the 4 year mark? I did some searching, but couldn't find any specific recommendations on the replacement intervals for items like the cam seals, oil pump seals, crank seals, etc. FWIW, the car doesn't appear to be leaking any oil that I'm aware of.
2) Besides wear on the cam gears, are there any other red flag bits that could wear out or leak that I should be looking for while I'm in there? I'm not too worried about the rollers since the Porkensioner will replace them.
3) Should I wait for the new kevlar-reinforced "racing belt" to come out before doing the job? I don't track the car (mostly highway driving), but I do like to romp on it a lot!
I'm inclined to stick with the stock belt, because I've always gotten the impression that the water pump and rollers should be replaced every 4 years, and I'd just as soon replace the belt again if I'm going in there for the pump and rollers.
Thank you much for any opinions and help!
The previous belt job was done by Motorsport in Salt Lake City, and they gave it the full work over - pretty much everything in there has been replaced. Specifically, they replaced the belt, tensioner, water pump, cam seals, oil pump, oil pump gear, oil pump seals, the front main seal, the rear main seal, the main tension roller, and the idler rollers.
The work they did was fantastic, and the car has had no problems related to the timing belt.
Now, as I said, it's been about 4 years, and I've driven the car about 25,000 miles since then. I'd like to put in a Porkensioner so that the system will be more or less self-sustaining for the next 4 years. I also want to do the work myself this time - partly to save on labor costs, and also so I can move up to the next level of confidence on doing my own wrenching on the car. I have purchased John Pirtle's excellent book, and done plenty of thread-reading on the procedure - I feel reasonably confident about pulling off everything that's required of me.
Okay, so there's the history. On to the questions!
1) Besides the belt, water pump, and new rollers for the Porkensioner, what other bits should be replaced at the 4 year mark? I did some searching, but couldn't find any specific recommendations on the replacement intervals for items like the cam seals, oil pump seals, crank seals, etc. FWIW, the car doesn't appear to be leaking any oil that I'm aware of.
2) Besides wear on the cam gears, are there any other red flag bits that could wear out or leak that I should be looking for while I'm in there? I'm not too worried about the rollers since the Porkensioner will replace them.
3) Should I wait for the new kevlar-reinforced "racing belt" to come out before doing the job? I don't track the car (mostly highway driving), but I do like to romp on it a lot!
I'm inclined to stick with the stock belt, because I've always gotten the impression that the water pump and rollers should be replaced every 4 years, and I'd just as soon replace the belt again if I'm going in there for the pump and rollers.Thank you much for any opinions and help!
03-24-2009, 09:30 AM
#2
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
I just did mine last week.
The seals should all be fine, if it's not leaking I would leave it until at least next time. It is a good time to check caps/rotors, plug wires, flush coolant, change belts/hoses/t-stat seal, oil change, etc. Got to love the while you're at it's!
If the gears look good, you should be good. I left my WP in, the bearing felt good with no play and was not leaking. The pump did not have more than 15k miles with perfect belt tension throughout, I felt fine leaving it in place.
As for the new "racing" belt, waiting is your call. It is currently unavailable and untested. That being said, I would have tried it on my car if it was available. I'll wait for 5 years when I'm due again.
Jim
The seals should all be fine, if it's not leaking I would leave it until at least next time. It is a good time to check caps/rotors, plug wires, flush coolant, change belts/hoses/t-stat seal, oil change, etc. Got to love the while you're at it's!
If the gears look good, you should be good. I left my WP in, the bearing felt good with no play and was not leaking. The pump did not have more than 15k miles with perfect belt tension throughout, I felt fine leaving it in place.
As for the new "racing" belt, waiting is your call. It is currently unavailable and untested. That being said, I would have tried it on my car if it was available. I'll wait for 5 years when I'm due again.
Jim
03-25-2009, 05:44 PM
#3
Track Day
Thread Starter
Okay, that's great information. It sounds like the seals are a replace-every-second-timing-belt sort of thing. I think I'll swap the water pump anyways - I'm paranoid, and it's worth the $125 to know I won't have any coolant leaks.
Thank you, Jim!
Thank you, Jim!
