Timing belt inspection

[Cappt]

I’ve been working on my sons 951 he traded into this winter. he’s at college so I’m working down the list of items that needed attention.
Inspected the timing belt today as the last evidence of it being changed was in 2016.

[Cappt]

I also noted the balance shaft belt is not timed right?

[nize]

beware one of the cam cover bolts has a tendency to back out and destroy the timing belt, which is what that damage looks like. have you checked if the bolt is missing?

[Cappt]

Interesting, that would make sense. All three bolts were in tight, overtight even. May have happened at some time prior, found some messed up stuff on this car so far.

Made good save on the electric seat switch today also. It was blowing the 30a fuse, one of the switches felt a little funny and when touching it the fuse would blow. Dissembled it to find one of the little rocker arms had fallen out of position. Replaced it and tightened up the tabs holding it, works good.

[Cappt]

Car was a uncompleted project, new seat kit upholstery that was included looks great.

Alternator has been relocated and the A/C deleted, not to excited about that.

[nize]

i actually posted the wrong diagram which shows the bolt for the outer/front cover. there are two bolts that hold the inner/back cover to the cam, these bolts are hidden behind the timing belt and are the ones that can back out. take a look and verify those bolts are still there. arrow shows the approximate location of the bolt behind the timing belt.

[Cappt]

You’re the man! Thank-you.
Both bolts missing, found one laying behind the tensioner.

[Cappt]

Here’s another question.
The timing appeared to be off one tooth because the flywheel OT line didn’t line up perfectly in the bell housing tab with the cam gear timing mark lined up, also the bottom notch is off? I can’t get a good pic of the OT line but it’s about 3/16” off the tab.
The car has a Vitesse chip in it. It started and ran fine when we brought it home but never really drove it other then up and down the street because of the bad clutch.
Would there be a reason to time it like that or was it just a bad timing belt change?

[Fast Freddy 944]

Originally Posted by nize

beware one of the cam cover bolts has a tendency to back out and destroy the timing belt, which is what that damage looks like. have you checked if the bolt is missing?

Thats funny, I had bolt #32? back out and rub on my timing belt, it sounded like a Hobart kitchen tool you hear at the lunchroom needing up dough. LOL! I had a buddy help me put a locknut on the back of it and its quiet now. I checked the whole belt and it did no damage..but it backed out and rubbed the outside skin of the timing belt. very odd..

[Cappt]

I emailed Vitesse about the chip and timing and they answered immediately, chips are designed for the original correct timing. Add another uff to this car, both balance and timing belt was off a couple teeth.

[cfassett]

Those belts look pretty awful. Maybe the cam location is off because they just stretched?

[Cappt]

Originally Posted by cfassett

Those belts look pretty awful. Maybe the cam location is off because they just stretched?

Possible, it was too tight IMO. The balance shaft belt was off on both shafts by at least one tooth probably two and the idler roller was about 5mm too high, sigh. Total hack job on the belt change who ever did it.
Both belts are now changed and timed perfectly. Will close it up and start it tomorrow.
I've left the top cover off before to keep an eye on the belts, any thoughts on that?

[nize]

a lot of people run their cars with the top/front timing belt cover off so they can easily inspect the belt. whatever happened to the aftermarket clear belt cover someone was going to make?

regarding the loose bolts, i highly recommend using loc-tite on them so they don't back out.

i also recommend using the gates brand (blue) kevlar timing belt when you replace the current one as it's supposed to not stretch and last twice as long as the factory belt. available right here on pelican:
https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/94410515704M1051.htm?pn=944-105-157-04-M1051

[Cappt]

I like that belt Nize, will definitely go with that one next time as I’d already purchased the standard Gates belt.
Cars running good with new belts and timed correctly.
I also changed oil and swapped out the oil level sensor as it was always showing low oil warning light.
Found the old level sensor had a piece missing.

[nize]

an important question is where did that missing piece go?

[Cappt]

Originally Posted by nize

an important question is where did that missing piece go?

Good question? It didn't fix the oil level light problem as it has come back on. After some reading it seems it might be in the little electrical board behind the speedometer. It will stay off sitting in the garage running at different RPM's but as soon as you back out it comes back on, weird.
The clutch change went well, just sloow! Not sure I want to do another laying on the garage floor. Lots of rusted and stuck bolts on the wastegate, ended up getting it out with a sawzall UGH, had to buy a new/used stock wastegate and short pipe after finding the old wastegate was cracked.
We were able to change out the clutch/PP/pilot bearing/main seal/fork bearings/ fork shaft and guide tube without removing the crossover pipe or catalytic converter pipe. Not fun, so happy to be finished under there, and she rips good.
I'd only driven NA's and one with a LT1, the LT1 was quicker off the line and never stopped pulling but this Turbo, well when it kicks in and makes boost, oh yeah!