98 v70 na timing belt replace - question

Post by **98v70dad** » 22 Nov 2015, 22:52

I cruised along without too much trouble on Saturday until I broke the lower timing belt cover trying to remove it. Since everything is closed today I didn't really do much on the car project except think about it.

In thinking about it I realized that I didn't really need to remove the lower timing belt cover and maybe that's why it broke getting it out. I have not removed the cam pulleys up top and really don't want to mess with them unless I have to.

On Monday I'm either buying a used lower cover or ordering a new one. How do I get it on the car? Do I have to remove the cam pulleys or is there so trick to it? When removing it I couldn't get it pushed down and over far enough to clear the bottoms of the cam pulleys. Pushing it up to clear the crank pulley worked better but it broke into several pieces trying to line up the opening in the cover with the crank pulley.

Post by **kahl** » 22 Nov 2015, 23:20

It is tough to put on. My recollection was to angle towards the fire wall and work it over the water pump pulley. As your fighting it over the water pump pulley make sure the crank cut out is sliding into place around the crank shaft.

Post by **98v70dad** » 22 Nov 2015, 23:46

kahl wrote:It is tough to put on. My recollection was to angle towards the fire wall and work it over the water pump pulley. As your fighting it over the water pump pulley make sure the crank cut out is sliding into place around the crank shaft.

I have the water pump out so that will help. My plan is to put it in before the water pump. I live in the Deep South and it gets really hot here in the summer. I had planned to repair the broken part today with some fiberglass and it broke in two more places just examining it to get a repair plan. The plastic was just extremely brittle.

So it sounds like you are saying that the cam pulleys do not have to be removed to get the lower cover in place. Correct?

Post by **kahl** » 23 Nov 2015, 06:07

You do not have to remove cam pulleys to install cover. It is really easy to install water pump with that cover off. You can see the upper square cornor has the old gasket off.

Post by **98v70dad** » 23 Nov 2015, 08:01

kahl wrote:You do not have to remove cam pulleys to install cover. It is really easy to install water pump with that cover off. You can see the upper square cornor has the old gasket off.

Now I have a used part in hand. Its not nearly as brittle as mine was but its still pretty fragile. The time i think I'll try to put it on from up top looking down. Sitting in the wheel area you cant tell how much you're flexing it.

Post by **98v70dad** » 23 Nov 2015, 09:44

If anyone can give me some good advice on how to get the cover in I'd appreciate it. I just spent 40 minutes trying and broke another one. This time I was extremely careful. Luckily it only broke at a repairable spot. The first layer of my epoxy patch is drying right now.. I am into my last day of being able to work on this until Sunday and would really appreciate any tips because this is my daily driver and Thanksgiving holiday is coming up. I had it in 90 percent of the way and had clearance to tuck it up under the forward cam pulley but at that point the part is so twisted that it broke. The steering pump frame is in the way to really be able to move it around. The problem I'm having is that I have to tip it toward the firewall to get it under one cam pulley and to get it under the other one you have to twist it too much.

Post by **rspi** » 23 Nov 2015, 11:38

I don't know but would removing the harmonic balancer help?

Post by **98v70dad** » 23 Nov 2015, 12:02

rspi wrote:I don't know but would removing the harmonic balancer help?

Maybe...whats that? is it the big pulley held on with 4 bolts on the crank?

Post by **98v70dad** » 23 Nov 2015, 12:06

98v70dad wrote:
rspi wrote:I don't know but would removing the harmonic balancer help?

Maybe...whats that? Is it the big pulley held on with 4 bolts on the crank? If it is I'm afraid to mess with that since its lined up perfectly

Post by **rspi** » 23 Nov 2015, 12:13

That wont effect the timing alignment, as long as you leave the rest of the stuff alone.