'87 944 turbo timing belt

[jason951crazy]

Have to change the timing belt. 87 944 turbo, has 153000 miles, in decent shape, just bought it. what does it typically cost to do this? what else should be done? Cheap suppleirs? thank you.

[AaronM]

Most of the cost on this is labor. I generally figure the proper front of engine service (timing belt, balance shaft belts, rollers, seals, and water pump) as being between $1,500 and $2,000 at a good shop.

Here's a list of the cost of parts and labor for the last time I had it done:

Timing Belt: $32.00
Balance Belt: $82.74
Alternator Belt: $18.40
Power Steering Belt: $7.50
Cam Seal: $10.45
Cam Sleeve Gasket: $1.05
Cam Bolt: $2.05
Small Cam Housing O-ring: $2.55
Large Cam Housing O-ring: $1.55
Upper Cam Balance Shaft Seal: $10.40
Lower Balance Shaft Seal: $14.50
Balance Housing O-ring: $2.65
Cam Sleeve Gasket: $1.05
Seal Sleeve: $29.95
Crank Seal: $15.95
Water Pump O-ring (2x) each: $1.95
Water Pump (rebuilt): $129.95
Labor: 12 hours at $110/hour ($1,320 total)

[jason951crazy]

Originally Posted by AaronM

Most of the cost on this is labor. I generally figure the proper front of engine service (timing belt, balance shaft belts, rollers, seals, and water pump) as being between $1,500 and $2,000 at a good shop.

Here's a list of the cost of parts and labor for the last time I had it done:

Timing Belt: $32.00
Balance Belt: $82.74
Alternator Belt: $18.40
Power Steering Belt: $7.50
Cam Seal: $10.45
Cam Sleeve Gasket: $1.05
Cam Bolt: $2.05
Small Cam Housing O-ring: $2.55
Large Cam Housing O-ring: $1.55
Upper Cam Balance Shaft Seal: $10.40
Lower Balance Shaft Seal: $14.50
Balance Housing O-ring: $2.65
Cam Sleeve Gasket: $1.05
Seal Sleeve: $29.95
Crank Seal: $15.95
Water Pump O-ring (2x) each: $1.95
Water Pump (rebuilt): $129.95
Labor: 12 hours at $110/hour ($1,320 total)

F!

well I thought it would be $1k. where do all those parts come from? I mean, what supplier?

This for a four cylinder?

[JAXTURBO]

Originally Posted by jason951crazy

F!

well I thought it would be $1k. where do all those parts come from? I mean, what supplier?

Well I tell you this. As I look over the list, most of those parts are available right here from Pelican. I try to look here first when shopping for parts, due primarily to all the help this Pelican sponsored BBS has given me while wrenching. Even so, as you search around in this BBS, other suppliers will pop up that offer competitively priced high quality stuff.

[zedsn]

I bought the belts and rollers and did not have the water pump done. The parts ran me 100 and the labor was 400 for doing the timing, balance belt, and rollers. I had the auto adjuster which must be set as well. The early cars do not.

[968 GUY]

Jason, you are on a forum sponsored by a supplier of all these parts!
Also there are many threads about changing belts on here. Take a look, maybe it will save you a grand if you have any mechanical ability and the place to do it.
There are many members on here that enjoy helping to work on these cars, might be some close to you.

[968 GUY]

JAX, I have never been able to figure out what BBS means,...a little help?

[JAXTURBO]

Originally Posted by 968 GUY

JAX, I have never been able to figure out what BBS means,...a little help?

Bulletin Board Service

[jason951crazy]

well thanx. I guess I should see what pelican parts has for this.

[jason951crazy]

ok thank you

[jason951crazy]

Originally Posted by 968 GUY

Jason, you are on a forum sponsored by a supplier of all these parts!
Also there are many threads about changing belts on here. Take a look, maybe it will save you a grand if you have any mechanical ability and the place to do it.
There are many members on here that enjoy helping to work on these cars, might be some close to you.

I know i'm on a fourum for the parts, but I'm not made of money ok? I understand your point but I'm on a budget! The 30 mpg is why I bought this thing. Thank you

[Gawernator]

That's why you should do the work yourself I'm barely 19 and I can afford my Porsche only because I do everything myself. *minus A/C

[968 GUY]

Damn Jason, no insult intended. At the time I sent that, you had 2 posts. Since Pelican is the host, that would be a good place to start, since your question was "where do these parts come from".
Have a nice day!

[nize]

Originally Posted by jason951crazy

I know i'm on a fourum for the parts, but I'm not made of money ok? I understand your point but I'm on a budget! The 30 mpg is why I bought this thing. Thank you

if you're on a budget and looking for gas economy, why not get a true economy car like a civic? if you still want some performance on a budget why not get a 944?

a 951 will either burn a hole in your wallet, or you'll end up parting the car out due to being priced out of repairs/maintenance, usually both. a 951 is NOT for the limited budget owner if they can't do most/all of their own work.

be realistic.

[John_AZ]

Jason,

If you do not have service records, you should change the rollers and belts.
Kit for the "updated turbo waterpump" (normally changed by now with 153K)

'87 951 turbo kit

Pelican Parts - Product Information: TB-107-293-K2-M21

Did you have the car inspected before the purchase?

K2- Thanks 968 GUY

John

[AaronM]

Originally Posted by jason951crazy

F!

well I thought it would be $1k. where do all those parts come from? I mean, what supplier?

This for a four cylinder?

Those are the parts costs from the shop I use, straight off my bill. I'm not sure what their source is, but they are generally close to prevailing market price (for equivalent quality parts) in my experience. Yes, this is for a 4-cylinder.

Bear in mind that the timing belt needs to be changed every 30,000 miles or 3 years, whichever comes first. The water pump is generally changed every 60,000 miles. Also, after being changed, the belt needs to be re-tensioned at 1,500 miles and 15,000 miles in between changes. Bear in mind that the water pump is driven off the back of the timing belt, so if the water pump seizes, it can easily destroy the timing belt (and by extension the valves when the belt breaks) so it's important to change the water pump too if you don't know how old the current pump is.

Remember, this was around a $40,000 car in the late 1980's. That's equivalent to a bit more than $80,000 in today's money. The maintenance costs and maintenance frequency demands are going to be commensurate with that market level. If you think the labor is bad for a timing belt, look at the shop times for a clutch change. The book time for the later 944 Turbos, the faster time, is 20 hours.

Also, I don't know many people getting 30mpg on average for a whole tank. While it may touch that at a steady 60 or 65 on a level freeway, I typically observe 23 mpg in mixed driving from mine. And the EPA stickers were 19/27 IIRC.

If you're looking for something fun to drive that's cheap to keep running and good on gas, you're probably better off looking for a Miata.

[968 GUY]

I think he would need the K2 kit since the car is an 87.