timing belt cover

[akens124]

I'm wondering what people think about removing the timing belt cover. Having been bitten twice by failed timng belts, I would rather leave the cover of so I can watch what is happening.

Jim Akens

[81SPIDERMATT]

you are going to get 2 answers to this question ..... both answers have valid points according to who is on what side of the fence..... lots of guys run without... lots do not .... arguments for road debris getting into the belt without the cover is a good point as well as safety when working on the engine..... the cool look factor of without is a big reason for some .... myself i have mine on but next time i have to remove it for whatever reason thinking i might leave it off .... and my reason would be kuz it's cool .... recently i have developed a small oil leak somewhere on the front of the engine and glad it is on until i track it down ... as without it i am sure i would have a nice oil stripe across the hood and engine bay .... but if it was off might already know where the oil is coming from .... glad i could help ... lol ... Matt

[digitech]

I shared your pain in removing the T. cover to gain access; I compromised by cutting my cover along one of the ridges near the coolant tee on a band saw. Now I can easily remove the cover and when it's in place, the cut is not visible.

[mscafide]

The other (or first) question is WHY do you have timing belt failures. Something else is wrong.

Mike

[akens124]

My first failure was right after a complete engine rebuild. This was in a 1438 cc 69 spider. My mechanic forgot to tighten the tensioner. He made good on the job. The second was in an 1800 spider that I wasn't paying much attention to, since it was degenerating into a pile of rust. This was my fault completely.

[pooldoctorstl]

Timing marks are on the cover so if you do remove it, don't plan on quickly adjusting timing.

Jeff

[81SPIDERMATT]

Timing marks are on the cover so if you do remove it, don't plan on quickly adjusting timing.

Jeff

aren't there marks on the head also??

[RRoller123]

cam timing or ignition timing?

[majicwrench]

Leave it on. Is it really that hard to take off??? Would you have caught either belt failure before the fact without the cover??
You could leave the hood off too, that way you could maybe see things failing before they do. Wouldn't have to open the hood either.
Keith

[81SPIDERMATT]

You could leave the hood off too, that way you could maybe see things failing before they do. Wouldn't have to open the hood either.
Keith

i am a daily lurker .... it is one of the ways i learn without asking a multitude of silly questions .... and right after hitting "active topics" i look to the right and scroll down to see who is responding ... majicwrench will ALLWAYS win as the first read posts .... true wisdom is hard to find .... thanks Kieth .... leave off the hood .. that is hilarious and well said to make a point ... i have now switched my point of view on this subject and will smile a little smile when it comes up again in about a month .... Matt

[htchevyii]

I left the cover off of my 1438, but had to make a timing pointer. I don't think the cover does much to keep road debris out of the belt much, since there Isn't a lower part to it. Of course it does kep your fingers out of it!

[akens124]

Thanks to all who replied.

I now have a 2000 FI. Since I bought this car a few months ago, I learned that timing belt failures are not nearly as catastrophic as with earlier engines. I drove this car for 4 miles before I changed the timing belt. The previous owner didn't even know what it is.

There are no timing marks on my cover, at least that I can find. It doesn't come near the timing pulley.

Road debris doesn't bother me much. Safety, while it sounds good, isn't very relevant. There is a metal flange that completly separates the back of the pulleys from the front of the motor. I think the alternator belt is more dangerous.

Keith brought up a few good points.

" Is it really that hard to take off???" Yes, if it means opening the cooling system. That is not something I want to do very often.

"Would you have caught either belt failure before the fact without the cover?? " Yes, certainly in one case and possibly the other as well.

My first failure was about 60 miles after a nearly complete engine rebuild. Because of this, I was taking short trips and checking the engine after each trip for leaks, including with the engine running. I might have seen the belt flopping before it actually loosened completely. Who really knows.

The second failure, in my badly rusted, and somewhat neglected 1800, occured 20 years and a few spiders. later. In the post mortem I found an incredible amount of rubber debris, and a belt that had several pieces flopping from it. I doubt that it happened at the instant of failure. I would have seen it when checking the oil.

So I have decided to remove it the next time I have the cooling system open, which I hope is never, but know better. Probably the biggest motivation is that is so obviously plastic and so obviously yellow and so ugly. I like watching the belt and camshaft assembly too.

Regards

Jim Akens