Replacing the Head Gasket

[z122643]

Nando is correct. There is no need to replace a belt other than it's 50k life is up. These belts do not stretch much and any slack (we're talking about mm's) is taken up when you re-tension after re install. It will not stretch any more after it's initial stretch when it was first installed.

Now if the belt is 5 years old with only 5k on it, I would replace it.

[nando]

A new timing belt is $20. Why risk it?

Because its a waste of money, the risk doesnt exist.

[KillaCams]

If you want, refresh your injectors while you have everything apart, and don't forget a throttle body gasket im pretty sure those kits don't come with one. Also a good time to refresh vac hoses and coolant hoses if needed. And don't forget a powder coated intake mani and vc hehehe

[Ceeker]

Timing belt kit is on the cheap..no worth risking...keep it fresh... :-)

[AndrewBird]

A new timing belt is $20. Why risk it?

[Chruby99]

Picked up the goetze hg after reading up. Already have the bolts.

[Cabriolet]

this is just not true.

thx for the answer i did a rebuild last year. used the crappy victor rienz HG and its leaking. so i have about 5k on my belt and tensioner and didnt know if i had to replace.

[paperplane94]

this is just not true.

but it IS recommended.

[nando]

once tension on the belt is lost, it needs to be replaced. valve jobs are expensive to risk, not to mention if you break a cam tower. you also need a new set of torx head bolts.

this is just not true.

[nando]

You will have to remove the timing belt to take the head off and you aren't supposed to reuse the belt, even if it was recently replaced.

nah. it will be fine. done it more than once.

[riceh8r]

once tension on the belt is lost, it needs to be replaced. valve jobs are expensive to risk, not to mention if you break a cam tower. you also need a new set of torx head bolts.

[e30trooper]

Timing belt and water pump. You will have to remove the timing belt to take the head off and you aren't supposed to reuse the belt, even if it was recently replaced.

Would be a good time to replace all vacuum and fuel lines as well, but that is cheap and easy.

I reused mine :D not one issue and its been about 15k on it.

[Chruby99]

6000 miles on new conti belt. Replace it?

[AndrewBird]

Timing belt and water pump. You will have to remove the timing belt to take the head off and you aren't supposed to reuse the belt, even if it was recently replaced.

Would be a good time to replace all vacuum and fuel lines as well, but that is cheap and easy.

[Chruby99]

I have finally deemed the car worthy of investing money in. I just dropped a grand into new wheels,tires, and replacing the head gasket. I grabbed a few other items for piece of mind. So I have the parts in. I picked up a HVAC blower motor resistor and the seal kit for oil filter housing. I plan on having the head tore down, decked and cleaned up. My issues are a leak in the intake manifold and a leak from the front oil drain hole in the head gasket. Anything else that I should look into.