kaptnjack Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 I still havent got my new vert recue project home but wanted too ask..... According to the owners...there has never been any timing work done on the car...no belts etc. The car runs like a top.....no noise etc....very smooth too. Way over a hundred thousand miles.....120-130K range I looked at it closley today and there no evidence of dissassembly...ie..worn bolt heads and screws, scuffs etc. It's been sitting 8 months and if I ever get the trans fixed...I have a 60 mile trip home. some have suggested that it would be likley the car may not even be running if its true that no belt/chain work has been done considering the mileage. This 3.4L DOHC is a new beast for me. I have driven Bonnevilles for 16 years and those old 3800 series I motors.......hell they'll run dry and get 250K miles and keep chugging. any things to look for short of pulling the inspection covers? What am I looking for if I pull the covers? I assume its drivable? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1990lumina Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 Only way to see the belt is to pull the covers - that's why they are there I'd assume. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5speedz34 Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 Pull the covers, make sure the belt isn't worn horribly, that there is plenty of "teeth" left and that its not showing fibers on the sides. The kicker is though even if the belt is in good shape who knows what shape the tensioner, and idlers are in.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BXX Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 And of course a visually sound belt can tear itself to shreds overnight.... It's best just to have it replaced and then follow a stricker than recommened maintenance schedule on it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psych0matt Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 And of course a visually sound belt can tear itself to shreds overnight.... It's best just to have it replaced and then follow a stricker than recommened maintenance schedule on it... are you french or something all the sudden? Mine was decent, but one of the idlers shattered. My dad tried to tell me only to get one, but I insisted on getting both. at $45 compared to $500 to time it (did it myself though), I wasn't going to cheap out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BXX Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 Hahah, lol no, im not a stinkin frenchy... Im just tired as hell from an almost 11 hour day of changing tires and doing oil changes.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mediabandit Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 Hahah, lol no, im not a stinkin frenchy... Im just tired as hell from an almost 11 hour day of changing tires and doing oil changes.... wow, the respect for fellow board member is overwhelming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White93z34 Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 Hahah, lol no, im not a stinkin frenchy... Im just tired as hell from an almost 11 hour day of changing tires and doing oil changes.... wow, the respect for fellow board member is overwhelming. He didn't mean it towards you..... I assume you have been talking to the original owner about the timing belt? It is altogether possable that it has never been changed at 120k, I've heard of it before. the best way to tell is to pull the timing inspection cover and visually inspect it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jake63 Posted February 27, 2008 Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 If you are at 120K on the original you're living on borrowed time. Replace it soon, there is a post on this site for a shortcut method check it out. I have 87,000 on the car I'm restoring and plan to change mine before it goes on the road. Cheap insurance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuminaPower92 Posted February 29, 2008 Report Share Posted February 29, 2008 If you are at 120K on the original you're living on borrowed time. Replace it soon, there is a post on this site for a shortcut method check it out. I have 87,000 on the car I'm restoring and plan to change mine before it goes on the road. Cheap insurance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuminaPower92 Posted February 29, 2008 Report Share Posted February 29, 2008 I gotta do one on a 97 MC z34 soon for this guy, wants a tune up and everything. got 81k on it. Good news if it ever breaks, the 3.4 is a "spin free" engine, as GM puts it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89GP_SE Posted February 29, 2008 Report Share Posted February 29, 2008 I gotta do one on a 97 MC z34 soon for this guy, wants a tune up and everything. got 81k on it. Good news if it ever breaks, the 3.4 is a "spin free" engine, as GM puts it. spin free as in the internals wont mash together Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BXX Posted February 29, 2008 Report Share Posted February 29, 2008 Only certain years were non-interference engine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuminaPower92 Posted March 1, 2008 Report Share Posted March 1, 2008 I gotta do one on a 97 MC z34 soon for this guy, wants a tune up and everything. got 81k on it. Good news if it ever breaks, the 3.4 is a "spin free" engine, as GM puts it. spin free as in the internals wont mash together pretty much and i quote from my Gm STG Book "....The 3.4 Liter engine is a "spin free" engine which means the valve to piston clearance is large enough that if the timing belt breaks, the valves will not contact the top of the piston. The valve seats have the same conventional design as those in the 2.3 Quad 4 L4 engine." Only certain years were non-interference engine IThe one i got here is first gen 3.4, so maybe the 2nd gen 3.4 is different? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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