Replacing Timing Cover

[StealthAu]

Had a bit of a problem today, the factory belt tensionor shattered resulting in a hole in the timing cover. Can anyone advise what is involved in fixing this?
I had a bit of a look and am leaning towards replacing the engine instead

[sly]

I guess you read vctxr6ute's thread? I hear what you're saying.

I hope there wasn't too much tension on the tensioner?

But seriously, I had a workshop replace the auxiliary shaft (where the cam was on the 250), which involved taking the timing cover off to get to it. With the accessories off, and 250,000km up on the engine at the time, they strongly recommended I replace the water pump and harmonic balancer with new as I'd probably need to have them done soon anyway. During disassembly a leak in the radiator core became obvious, so that was replaced with new as well. All-up cost of the job was $1,600 or so. I've had 90,000 reliable km out of the engine since then though.

In my case it was worth it as my compression was spot-on and oil consumption was SFA. It may not be your best option though.

[au2sw]

timing cover off (on a 6)involves head off so straight away your up for new VRS kit and head bolts (head bolts on au are one use only) id personally give the head a shave as well to ensure its spot on when going back together. all up your looking at about $1000 for all that depending on who does it etc. ring around you local mechanics and get some quotes. not sure about an 8....havent actually looked.

[StealthAu]

Originally Posted by sly

I guess you read vctxr6ute's thread? I hear what you're saying.

I hope there wasn't too much tension on the tensioner?

But seriously, I had a workshop replace the auxiliary shaft (where the cam was on the 250), which involved taking the timing cover off to get to it. With the accessories off, and 250,000km up on the engine at the time, they strongly recommended I replace the water pump and harmonic balancer with new as I'd probably need to have them done soon anyway. During disassembly a leak in the radiator core became obvious, so that was replaced with new as well. All-up cost of the job was $1,600 or so. I've had 90,000 reliable km out of the engine since then though.

In my case it was worth it as my compression was spot-on and oil consumption was SFA. It may not be your best option though.

I missed that thread when I posted this, then saw it a few hours latter directly under this one

[sly]

Originally Posted by au2sw

timing cover off (on a 6)involves head off so straight away your up for new VRS kit and head bolts (head bolts on au are one use only) id personally give the head a shave as well to ensure its spot on when going back together

According to the other thread Col the head is about the only major thing that doesn't need to come off:

Originally Posted by vctxr6ute

looking at the haines manual,its a radiator,crank pulley,sump,engine mount,alternator a/c compressor off/out job

Brendan has also recently supercharged his I6, so needs to be very careful not to increase his compression by too much. Skimming his head may do more harm than good...

[StealthAu]

I've had a quick look into it, the wreckers will charge me on $1500 for an engine swap. I'm going to take this option as well as keeping my current engine, gives me something to throw money at without having any down time on my car. I was planning on buying another engine to have work done to anyway, the mechanics told me at worste I'd be looking at $1000 just to do the timing cover, so the differance is the cost of the engine, also they wouldn't be able to do it till Wednesday at earliest, the wreckers can have an engine swap done by Tuesday Arvo.