Tensioner Upgrade Old Parts Questions

scarletbegonias · scarletbegonias's Garage

I'm struggling with Tensioner Upgrade, I'm supposed to get it done next week. Mechanic says it will be about $1,400 - sounds a little high to me based on what I've read here, but I think they know what they're doing and I'd rather have them do it than anyone else in the area.

I still don't know if I really need them, I just do street driving and don't really push it that hard. And I'm very scared from posts I've read here about the new tensioners failing right away. It's running so well now - I hate to fix something that's not broken.

On the other hand - I have the money to get it done now and if they don't fail it should significantly protect and prolong the engine's life and condition (has about 112K on it now).

The parts questions I have are - is it okay to ask the mechanic for the old parts and do they have any value on eBay? Maybe I can offset the upgrade cost a little, I think there should be at least the old covers and chain adjusters.

Thanks, Howard

shrouded · 05-06-2005, 08:15 AM

You really may want to consider doing this yourself, if you decide to do the upgrade. When I bought my SC I had never even changed the oil on one of my vehicles myself. Weeks after I bought the car, armed with 1) Wayne's book 2) the parts kit from PP & 3) a kit of tools from Sears I was able to do this project myself.

It took me more time than Wayne's book suggested it would, but it was still accomplished in 2 weekends. I now have a set of tools, the pride of doing having done it myself, and about $700 more in my pocket than I would have had paying the shop to do it.

ras911 · ras911's Garage

They make nice paper-weights!

yelcab1 · 05-06-2005, 08:36 AM

Used tensioners, and used covers make really nice weights to weigh down your garbage cans. Not good for anything else.

Jays72T · 05-06-2005, 08:49 AM

My understanding is that it doesn't matter what type of driving you're doing, the original tensioners MAY fail at some point. With that said I am going to rebuild the original tensioners and put on the collar. pp link to Chain Tensioner Slip Prevention Collars

I think it's a good way to go but that's just my opinion.

silverc4s · silverc4s's Garage

Hey, maybe it's just me, but $1400 to install chain tensioners sounds a bit like Ferrari labor rates...;-(

PARTS ARE $545 here, which means your wrench can get them for LESS. That leaves $855 for labor. If he is doing an oil/filter change, and valve adjust with all parts included, it could be a fair price. Just tensioners, thats 10 to 12 hrs labor!! Or he charges $125/hr???