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The Very Last Timing Belt Question!

Discussion in '308/328' started by lou staller, Jul 9, 2015.

  1. lou staller

    lou staller Formula Junior

    Dec 21, 2002
    378
    Orange County Ca
    Full Name:
    Lou Staller
    #1 lou staller, Jul 9, 2015
    Hello friends,
    It's been years since I last posted because I finished the restoration on my '84 308 and was just laying low. But it's now time to spend some time under the car instead of in it's seat. I last replaced the timing belts when I did a full rebuild back in 2004 or 2005. The car was driven only 1,500 miles since then and am curious to hear what you guys think concerning the need to replace the belts. Should I replace them due to their age or leave them as is because of the low number of miles? I'll be doing the work myself so the cost isn't an issue. And if you think I should change them what brand belts are now the best to use? What do you guys think? Thanks!
     

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  2. electrogunner

    electrogunner Formula Junior

    Sep 2, 2013
    316
    Amish country PA
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    Joe
    #2 electrogunner, Jul 9, 2015
    I think rifledriver should dive into this pool :eek:

    I would do a search if i were you
    you're welcome ;)

    Sent from my SM-P905V using Tapatalk
     
  3. airdelroy

    airdelroy Formula Junior

    May 10, 2007
    418
    Austin, TX
    Full Name:
    Aaron Richardson
    #3 airdelroy, Jul 9, 2015
    Funny, the question I thought of when I saw the thread title was:

    How do I break in my new timing belts?

    ;)

    Aaron
     
  4. mwr4440

    mwr4440 Four Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jun 8, 2007
    43,019
    Bavaria, The 'Other' Germany
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    Mark W.R.
    #4 mwr4440, Jul 9, 2015
    OUCH !!!!!!!

    I'll save you from the "Kill Shot."

    #1: Change them.

    #2: Get the belts from one of our sponsors and tell them you will take them only if they have the "Horseys" on them and are less than 5 years old. (The more Lesser than 5 the better).
     
  5. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Two Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    27,086
    Austin TX
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    Brian Crall
    #5 Rifledriver, Jul 9, 2015
    Last edited: Jul 9, 2015
    I never accept them unless they are less than 2 years old. Seldom do I see them over 1 year old.

    I have been seeing well known shops installing belts over 5 years, assuming they were changed at all. But then I specialize in reliability, not repairing damaged engines.
    A client car sitting by the side of the road is hardly a good advertisement and the good part is I have no need to operate my own tow truck.
     

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  6. lou staller

    lou staller Formula Junior

    Dec 21, 2002
    378
    Orange County Ca
    Full Name:
    Lou Staller
    #6 lou staller, Jul 9, 2015
    That's exactly my point, Aaron! Do I drive the car and "break them in" or are they too old and need to be replaced?
    Rifledriver, would it be incorrect to ask you where you get the belts you use?
    It sounds like I need to replace them to avoid a major problem. Plus I'll feel better about having new ones then worrying about the 7 year old ones.
    OK, now where do I get them and what else do I need to order?
    Thanks again, Lou
     
  7. rob

    rob F1 Rookie

    May 22, 2002
    3,665
    Vt
    #7 rob, Jul 9, 2015
    I always go by 5 years or 30,000 miles whichever comes first. Bing bam boom done.
     
  8. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Two Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    27,086
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    Brian Crall
    #8 Rifledriver, Jul 9, 2015
    Ricambi, or T Rutlands.
     
  9. ME308

    ME308 Formula 3

    Nov 5, 2003
    1,538
    Munich, Germany
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    Michael
    #9 ME308, Jul 9, 2015
    in addition:


    it`s not miles that kills those belts, it`s time
     

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  10. bentrm

    bentrm Formula Junior

    Sep 17, 2011
    596
    Pittsburgh, PA
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    Rob
    #10 bentrm, Jul 9, 2015
    Couple hundred bucks and a weekend or two for new belts AND tensioner bearings vs. possible broken belt and bent valves and so on. I would definitely do the maintenance.
     
  11. George Vosburgh

    George Vosburgh F1 Rookie

    May 26, 2011
    2,946
    Pittsburgh, PA
    #11 George Vosburgh, Jul 9, 2015
    I think you need to drive a lot more!
     
  12. lou staller

    lou staller Formula Junior

    Dec 21, 2002
    378
    Orange County Ca
    Full Name:
    Lou Staller
    #12 lou staller, Jul 9, 2015
    I will be driving the car more once I change the belts and regain confidence that I won't have a problem, at least not with the belts. The reason I haven't been driving the car is I've been spending my time restoring other cars. But now that I finished a body off restoration of my '54 MG TF it's back to the 308. Thanks.
     
  13. robertgarven

    robertgarven F1 Veteran
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    Feb 24, 2002
    5,089
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    Robert Garven
    #13 robertgarven, Jul 10, 2015
    Brian,

    Is there a date code on there or actual date?

    Rob
     
  14. 2281GT

    2281GT Formula 3
    Owner

    Oct 9, 2006
    1,128
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    Markus
    #14 2281GT, Jul 10, 2015
    I am driving less than 500 miles a year and change them every third year. The belts from T.Rutlands are "fresh"
     
  15. GrayTA

    GrayTA F1 World Champ
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    Jun 25, 2006
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    #15 GrayTA, Jul 10, 2015
    My aim is every 5 years. Just did them last year.

    And I would use new belts just as Brian suggested.



    PDG

    Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk
     
  16. miketuason

    miketuason F1 World Champ
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    Feb 24, 2006
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    Mike
    #16 miketuason, Jul 10, 2015
    I also like to suggest to use the Hill Engineering tensioner bearings.
     
  17. mwr4440

    mwr4440 Four Time F1 World Champ
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    Jun 8, 2007
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    Mark W.R.
    #17 mwr4440, Jul 10, 2015
  18. AaronMeisner

    AaronMeisner Formula Junior

    Jul 15, 2014
    263
    Baltimore MD USA
    Full Name:
    Aaron Meisner
    #18 AaronMeisner, Jul 10, 2015
    The answer to this question is always basically this: No matter when you replaced the belts, you would be crazy not to replace them again this weekend. They are too old, too many miles, too unknown, of unknown manufacture, or unknown date of manufacture, have the wrong tooth profile, came in the wrong box, came in a counterfeit box, sat in a hot UPS truck for too long, were incorrectly installed, had the wrong date code, et cetera. And when I say "et cetera," I really mean it.

    I bought a spare long block and it is sitting on a pallet in my garage. Let the damned thing break!
     

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