Timing belt project

You have the cleanest engine bay I've ever seen

 

It's a non-interference engine, so aside from the normal leaks etc from improper re-assembly, the worst that will happen is it will run like shit, or won't run at all. Fixable with proper belt alignment.

I did mine in a weekend. I started taking the bumper/radiator off when I got home Friday night, then had it running by early afternoon on Sunday, ready for work on Monday. That included some family time and constantly running back and forth from computer/tablet to the truck to make sure I was doing it right. I probably could have had it running later Saturday night, but I was being super anal and basically ran through the process twice to be sure I didn't forget anything, and wanted to do the final checks in daylight.

It's not that bad. When you go to reassemble the belt, there are little marks everywhere on the belt and pulleys/gears. Bring it to top-dead-center before you take the belt off, then line up the marks with the new belt.

I found it easier if you get a couple clamps to hold the belt to the cam pulleys as you're putting it together. It kept wanting to jump a tooth or two as I was wrestling the belt on. The clamps just hold it in place on each pulley until you can get the tensioner positioned.

 

Yep, this is where I got my kit, too.

 

The specialty tools are at this point the thing holding me up. Watching the videos, these seem mandatory. Some are inexpensive but some and $100 or more. Did everyone just buy these or get lucky with a buddy having them or can I rent these kind of tools from somewhere? I would hate to spend that kind of money on tools when I am guessing I will only ever do this once.

 

I purchased all of them as I plan on having my rig for ever and figure I will be doing the TB/WP a number of times. Most places should have rental tools that will work, but I would also throw out a feeler on your regional TW page.

 

do you live in a dust-free location with basically ZERO humidity and no rain?
not a spot!!!

 

There's a sticky on DIY crank pully tool. That and a torque wrench are the only "specialty" tools you really need.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/homemade-crank-pulley-tool.140646/

Also, most auto parts stores (Auto Zone etc...) rent specialty tools for free... I've rented ball joint tools, spring compressors, etc... from them. I think they usually even have torque wrenches.

 

More pictures from the torque up. Since I couldn't find the Schley crankshaft tool, I bought one of these

$81 OTC 4754 Universal Pulley Holder Wrench with Interchangeable pins, black

OTC 4754 multi-purpose pulley holding tools.
Though initially, the holding pins were either too large for the crankshaft pulley holes or too small to hold it under high torque.

So I decided to take the next to largest side pin and use my grinder to buff down off a small amount of metal so those would fit tightly inside the two holes on the crankshaft pulley.

Well, that worked swimmingly.

Here's a picture of the tool.



Picture of the pins with a slight buffing around the outer edge to fit inside the crankshaft holes.



Picture using the tool with my 3/4" drive HF torque wrench that I purchased almost 10 years ago for other engine projects. Click.