What needs to be done on a 348/Mondi T engine during a T belt change?

The engine has to come out to do the belt service, so since that is the bulk of the expense you do the rest while you are in there. I believe I paid around $700 for a water pump so it may not be very expensive but if it goes you have to pull the engine to replace it so now it just got real expensive to just change a water pump.

The bottom line is the engine removal , if you are going to do that much labor it is easier to do the rest while it is out.

 

Need more info -
What year is car?
How many miles on the car now?
What was done in the last major?
Is the car running good now?
Where are you located?

The best thing you could do is find a trustworthy service shop in your area. I think Eugenio's is near you (assuming OC is Orange County). He would be a great guy to advise you about what needs to be done.

Typically a good major service would include: Belts, Tensioner bearings (use the Hill Engineering parts), Water Pump (New or re-built - your choice based on level of risk you want to take), clutch work (if it is needed).

A 30k service including belts, tensioners, water pump may cost about $5-8k at an independent and maybe a lot more at the dealer. the water pump is an expensive item new - costs $1700 at a dealer. Clutch work could be 1-3K depending on what needs to be done.

 

Using the logic of time instead of miles.

You assume the mileage is correct, though the previous owner could have driven with the fuse pulled. He claims he did a FULL major X years and X miles ago, and YOU assume he checked valves, but he sluffed it off because he didnt think it was neccessary.

8 years pass, your doing a major, you think "why check the valve clearance, its only been X miles since"...

You sell the car, nooby owner does a major X years and X miles down the road, and he says to himself "Hmmm, it had a major in '09, maybe ill just pass on the valve clearance.....

You spend the better part of a day pulling the engine, and most of another day putting it back in and getting it running. You have to pull the cam covers to degree wheel the valve timing (unless your fudging that too), whats another 20 minutes spent checking the valve gonna make or break? And just because you may find its still within spec, well, finding nothing wrong has its own rewards. Its the piece of mind that you "know".

My Father was an aircraft mechanic, and ive worked around them myself. A Ferrari may not have wings, but the engine is worth every bit as much as a complex high performance airplane. I would do everything within reason as long as your doing a major service. Often its the things you overlook that will reach out and bite you later. The less you leave to chance the better. A major means everything. If you skip steps its no longer a major.