You have to be kidding me..

mazdaverx7 · 09-18-2015, 12:34 PM

Decided to check the timing and balance belt on my 85.1 944 and came across something very startling... I pulled back the timing cover and discovered the previous owner did not install a balance belt on the engine when the last timing service was completed.. What the heck? Not a ton of engine vibration but its not as smooth as my 85.2. Time to put a balance belt on the car instantly if not sooner.

nynor · 09-18-2015, 02:06 PM

that is good for about 50 HP.... LOL!

mytrplseven · mytrplseven's Garage

While you're in there it looks like you might check all the rollers and also replace the timing belt.

Bradical · 09-19-2015, 05:37 PM

Id do a full belt job too, as my777 said.. Those gears and rollers, especially the timing belt tensioner, look like canine feces.

mazdaverx7 · 09-20-2015, 03:38 AM

Took a pic of the car before I started the teardown:

Pics of where I'm at currently. Got the engine to TDC and am awaiting a new timing and balance belt and a new little bolt that holds the ignition rotor in place:

Leo944 · 09-22-2015, 12:30 PM

I second the opinion to replace all rollers & idlers while you're in there.

I learned the hard way when I replaced only the belts last year only to have the timing belt idler freeze this summer and force the camshaft out of sync. $1,400 in parts ($325 to a machine shop to resurface the head & install valves) later, I'm now dealing with lack of oil pressure problems.

So, when it comes to Porsches, while-you-have-access to a part, don't cheap out. Replace it!!

Check out the pix.

pfarah · pfarah's Garage

Ouch!

nynor · 09-22-2015, 04:22 PM

oy!

mattdavis11 · 09-22-2015, 05:55 PM

Two things I see wrong with Leo944's car. Belt guide on the water pump, and larger cam belt idler. The early cars don't need either, ever.

nynor · 09-22-2015, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattdavis11

Two things I see wrong with Leo944's car. Belt guide on the water pump, and larger cam belt idler. The early cars don't need either, ever.

i disagree. but we can still be friends.

Leo944 · 09-23-2015, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattdavis11

Two things I see wrong with Leo944's car. Belt guide on the water pump, and larger cam belt idler. The early cars don't need either, ever.

mattdavis11 - good morning! Well Matt, my 944 is an '86 with a replacement '84 engine due to the fact that I blew the original motor. I upgraded the water pump because the old one began to leak. The new design calls for the belt guide so, frankly, I don't see why you believe that it should be a concern.

The idler in the photo is the one recommended for the newer water pump. But, given that I replaced all the idlers and pulleys last month, it's all water under a bridge.

BTW, the car worked great after the re-build but I am now trying to figure out why I have no oil pressure at all. I have fresh oil, filter, primed the pump, torqued the crankshaft bolt, etc. so I'm replacing the oil pressure relief valve as a first diagnostic step. I'd hate to have to take the oil pump apart or replace the oil pickup tube. Wish me luck!

88Silver924S · 88Silver924S's Garage

How do you know you have no oil pressure, is it because there is no reading on the dashboard gauge? If so it could be the oil pressure sending unit or even just the connections. Hope it is as simple as a wire left off; I love those fixes. Good luck.

Leo944 · 09-23-2015, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 88Silver924S

How do you know you have no oil pressure, is it because there is no reading on the dashboard gauge? If so it could be the oil pressure sending unit or even just the connections. Hope it is as simple as a wire left off; I love those fixes. Good luck.

88Silver924S -- I wish it'd as simple as the pressure sensor or a loose wire connection.

I don't want to hijack this thread but even prior to the timing belt disaster, I've been getting very low pressure at cold start for about 30-45 seconds and then normal pressure. The pressure would remain at normal until the following cold start.

As I mentioned earlier, I had to replace valves, etc. because of the tensioner failure this past summer. When the repairs were completed the engine started fine and the major repair was a success. Pretty proud of myself if I may say, but the low pressure at cold start & then OK issue continued since it obviously was never addressed.

About a week ago the pressure would never build up at all even after a couple of minutes. I dared not drive the car and have been searching all Porsche forums for answers since. Some say to replace the oil pressure relief valve, others to prime the pump and others point to the oil pump or pick-up tube.

Since inspecting/repairing the pump and pick-up tube require lifting the engine and are a major undertaking, I've opted to replace the OPRV and re-prime the pump this weekend as a first step to see if I can spare myself major headaches.

Wish me luck!

kdjones2000 · kdjones2000's Garage

Delayed pressure and eventually loss of pressure are exactly what happened to my race engine when the balance shafts were out of time.

The end result was a spun bearing, broken rod and holed block.

Root cause was cracked oil pick up tube... very hard to see unless it's out of the engine.

/ thread hijack...