I got a price quote from the only mechanics in town that I trust as far as I can throw em (my second cousins' shop), and its going to cost me about $1000 for them to replace my timing belt.

So, somtime in the next couple weeks I'm going to pick up a haynes manual and start reading up on the procedure..If anyone in the northeast missouri/southeast iowa area near Kirksville thats done it once before is just DYING to do it again, I'll probably need all the help I can get.



Chris

 

Speaking of which, can someone tell me what size the crankshaft pully bolt is? Is it 26 or 27mm?

 

$1000 is way overpriced, check some other places

The crankshaft bolt on a VE is 27mm (I think it's probably the same on the VG). I'd be REALLY surprised if it were 26 on the VG and 27 on VE.

 

yeah it should be under $500 its proboly only 3-4 hours of labor plus parts

 

There are 5 shops here, only 1 of them I trust with a penny, and thats the shop my cousins own..they're higher than anyone else in town and do more business than anyone else in town, and for good reason..2 of the shops are owned by the same person, who tried to tell me my truck needed a full exhaust system including 1 manifold, when it had a brand new cat back, a 2 year old cat, and a 5 year old y pipe (no emissions testing here either). Needless to say, neither one will see a penny from me. That leaves 2, one of which wants to sell me a whole motor out of an impound purchase with a mere 220k miles, and just put a new timing belt on that and keep my old motor..they want $900 to do that. The other one has absolutely no reputation, neither good or bad as an automotive shop, but has(had) a decent rep for lawnmower repair...not that they may not be good, but I'd rather not find out the hard way that their mechanic is a shmuck.

 

I"ll replace it for 500, that includes the parts... I need cash badly.

 

When I spoke to a couple of shops (1 I trust, 1 I don't much), both of them said the job required 7-9 hours to do. It seems you have to take off a whole lot of stuff to get to the belt, and then put it all back on. In Vancouver, I'm looking at $800-$1000 for the job, (which includes replacing a leaking cam seal and a new water pump).

 

Had mine done a couple years ago it cost me around 360.

 

If I had $500, I'd pay it, but, I have...$3 in quarters, and $29 in my bank account..for now, I'm driving my truck and putting up with 10 mpg..the timing belt is what i'm most concerned about getting done on the max, followed by axles (left cv boot exploded, put a split boot on the left side, right one exploded a week later) and alternator. I figured I'd buy a haynes manual and reseach the procedure, then find out how lost I get..So far the extent of my mechanical experience is limited to 73-87 GM trucks, and some minor things on my '63 riviera.

 

Check the stickies autozone link. There you'll find detailed timing belt
removal and installation instructions.. Good Luck.

 

7 to 9 hours to replace a timing belt? On a VG in a Max??? Only if you're really slow! The last time I did mine it took less than 3 hours and that included a water pump change. Heck, it only took about 6 hours to remove and completely dissassemble the entire engine when I rebuilt it. I think you're being taken advantage of.

 

nailheads rule!

 

the Riviera is so much easier to work on

 

What labor rate are they using?????
the book time on the belt is 5.7 hrs

 

DIY, with u money u get the belt. No hurry, take your time, 'one day'.

Read chilton, but do NOT read the belt tightening guide confuzeus. Tighten the belt however u will. Important: measure it: press with 20lb force down between sprockets, result is ½inch bend down. If not, readjust. (This same text is in chiltons, but otherwise its tightening sequence text is bs.)

 

it shouldn't cost more than $400, keep in mind most of the money is for the labor, not the belt. the belt is cheap. don't get ripped off.

 

Just got mine done for 650 with timming, water pump, seals and belts and stuff plus I had them put my underdrive pulley on. Car runs great now. I had it done here in St Peters MO since i see u live in mo too. Place is called IMPORTS SPEICALISTS i have the # if ur interested.

 

$650 is a little expensive, but it beats $1000

 

Unfortunately, where I live, $650US = $800 CDN.

I was quoted a book time of 7 or 8 hours. Labour (istr) was $85/hr.

Hmmm, the math doesn't quite add up, does it...

m

 

I had mine done by a mechanic on his "own time" and he charged me $100. It took him about 4 hours. Unfortunatly the timing was off and the next day I nearly blew up my engine. Needless to say he wont be touching my car again. I took it to my Firestone mechanic and he repositioned it for $70 for almost 2 hours of work. So I guess $170 plus $55 for belt and tensioner is pretty good.

 

I'd say that's about the right price...1k is way overpriced...and that's your cousin? Don't they give a discount for family?

 

While we're on the subject of timing belts, mine broke on my '90 Maxima and I've heard that once the belt breaks, your valve(s) will get messed up or your head will warp? How true is that?

 

been putting my heap of parts I have for my truck on, haven't had much time to come check posts. $1000 IS with a family discount..they can charge that and have people falling over themselves to come back the next problem they have, because 90% of the car owners in a town of 17000 people have been burned by the other local shops..
St. Peters is further than I can drive the car without stopping to recharge the battery (dead alt too) and I don't have a car trailer..I can maybe bribe Ed into doing it cheaper if I have a large BBQ, like I did when I had the carb rebuilt, plugs and wires changed, and 3 tires put on my Riviera..got him full of steak and beer and he decided to charge half of what he had initially told me on the labor side of it, but I don't like being THAT manipulative that often.

 

Show your "cousin" this:



When my dad had it done in 02.

I think he may have been ripped off w/ the rack bushing thing, but this shows a good quote for labor and parts for the tb.

 

You sound smart egnough to diy. Thats what I reccomend, but then I like working on anything though, BTW Im in the middle of rebuilding my front end. Timing belt shouldnt be that hard with the right tools and egnough time and common sense.

~Alex