Timing belt change 1979 2000 carburetor engine

[maxdog]

HI
Now winter has set in I'm in the middle of the old " Well while this off I may as well do that and then I should do the other at the same time " planning stage
I plan to flush the cooling system , replace hoses and hose clips , over flow bottle etc . this logically leads to removing , cleaning and painting the timing belt cover and ultimately the whole water pump , timing belt can of worms.
I have read too many posts on this and am completely confused , can some one please comment on what is involved in changing the timing belt on my specific engine ??
Do I NEED to remove the crank shaft pulley ,?I understand that there is a metal shield which can be hacked and McGyvered out of the way .
If I have to remove the pulley do I have to remove the radiator?
What size is the crank shaft nut: 22 mm ,38 mm , 11/2 inches ?
Is it Left hand or Right hand thread ?
Cheers
Maxdog

[gbraun]

For the pulley it's 38 mm in a right hand thread. Normally you don't have to remove the radiator but if you do it, you will have more place to work.

Regards

[maxdog]

Thanks for clarifying the nut size and the fact that it's a RH thread Now the $ 64000 question , do I HAVE to remove the nut ,before can I change the belt? I'm all for the Colin Chapman " Add lightness" approach and am willing to sacrifice surplus tin to save a potentially PITA step in maintenance !
Cheers
Maxdog

[gbraun]

In the fiat procedure the ask to remove the nut but I did it in my spider and it was very difficult, I was obliged to destroy it because it was stick and certainly rust on the shaft. So I believe that it will be possible if you remove complete the tensioner roller to change the timing belt.

Cheers

[geospider]

I did not have to take the crank pulley off. My radiator was not in yet and the space was nice to have.
the belt just needs to sneak past the timing marker (mine is a separate bracket with the marks: loosen 1 bolt and swing it out of the way). The hardest part for me was keeping the teeth of the belt in place while snaking it around all the pulleys.

Geo

[geospider]

Also; mine did not have the metal timing cover behind the pulleys.
obviously not replaced when belt done prior. from what I have read most leave this off.

Geo

[maxdog]

Thanks to every one for their advice . I now know how to proceed and what parts to buy .
Cheers
Maxdog

[redcars]

The answer is maybe. If your back shield is on then most likely, but if is off then you should not have to. I don't put the back shield back on because I don't like having to remove the crank pulley.