headshim, timing belt ??????s

playboy2k4 · Post by **playboy2k4** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 2:34 pm

Got a little problem that I need you guys help with. I am using a headshim and 2 MLS head gaskets and when I tried putting the timing belt back on it's too short probably about an inch or 2 (not real good with gestimating lengths) Any help would be appreciated. Also has anyone heard of not tightening the tensioner back up just leaving it loose so that the belt will fit around it. These may be stupid ???s but I don't know so thats why i'm asking so no flaming

hul kogan · Post by **hul kogan** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 3:20 pm

A headshim AND two MLS gaskets?! Your compression is really going to drop. Are you using the TypeRT head shim by any chance? If so, that shim offers a 1 point drop right off the bat. I think I recall someone using 2 MLS gaskets and a shim before and they dropped over a point in compression...it might have been Graphite.

As far as your belt situation…I am a bit confused. Adding the shim and two head gaskets doesn’t add that much distance (at least not 1-2 inches worth) so something can’t be right. I had the TypeRT shim sandwiched in a MLS and my belt went back on just fine. BTW, you need to keep the tensioner; it keeps the belt taunt so it doesn’t hop right off the gears. I’m just trying to figure out where that 1-2” difference came from…?

.Chris

quicksilvr · Post by **quicksilvr** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 8:56 pm

Kev (Graphite) and I were talking about this same thing when my brother was going to use a shim. He said it's really hard to get the timing belt back on if you use two gaskets. But it's doable. The belt's not anywhere near 1-2 inches short.

And you definately want the tensioner applying some pressure on the belt when you're done. I would split a gasket if I was doing it. That way you have even less chance of leaks and the belt goes on easier.

playboy2k4 · Post by **playboy2k4** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 9:16 pm

Well guys I was over exaggerating the length it was probably more like a 1/2 an inch. so do yall think its possible to just muscle it on or try to find some sort of longer belt( do they make those for our cars) but thanks for the help so far keep the comments coming

hul kogan · Post by **hul kogan** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 8:59 am

playboy2k4 wrote:Well guys I was over exaggerating the length it was probably more like a 1/2 an inch. so do yall think its possible to just muscle it on or try to find some sort of longer belt( do they make those for our cars) but thanks for the help so far keep the comments coming

OK, that sounds about right. I had a feeling you might be exaggerating but I just wanted to make sure something else wasn’t wrong.

Personally, I would just take one of your gaskets apart and sandwich the shim with it. That is what I did and it worked great. I know that others have used the method with success, too. It takes some muscle to get it on there just using 1 gasket so I can imagine putting two gaskets would make it quite frustrating. You should be able to get it on there with both gaskets, but I bet it will take some work and be rather frustrating. If you want to take that route get a buddy to hold the tensioner back while you go after the belt.

.Chris

00element10 · Post by **00element10** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 9:11 am

i ran two mls gaskets and a shim and had no problem getting the belt on.

playboy2k4 · Post by **playboy2k4** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 12:46 pm

Neon_driver00 wrote:
playboy2k4 wrote:Well guys I was over exaggerating the length it was probably more like a 1/2 an inch. so do yall think its possible to just muscle it on or try to find some sort of longer belt( do they make those for our cars) but thanks for the help so far keep the comments coming
OK, that sounds about right. I had a feeling you might be exaggerating but I just wanted to make sure something else wasn’t wrong.

Personally, I would just take one of your gaskets apart and sandwich the shim with it. That is what I did and it worked great. I know that others have used the method with success, too. It takes some muscle to get it on there just using 1 gasket so I can imagine putting two gaskets would make it quite frustrating. You should be able to get it on there with both gaskets, but I bet it will take some work and be rather frustrating. If you want to take that route get a buddy to hold the tensioner back while you go after the belt.

.Chris

Thanks man I'll try that.

00element10 wrote: i ran two mls gaskets and a shim and had no problem getting the belt on.

How did you manage to get it on without any problems?

00element10 · Post by **00element10** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 3:53 pm

granted it was on my 1st gen, but nothing's really different in that respect as far as a headgasket.

The only 'problem' I ran into was that the inside timing belt cover was what wouldnt allow the belt to come on, all we did was losen the bolts that hold that on a little bit, and it slid right down to where it was supposed to sit and tightened everything back up.

lambostealth · Post by **lambostealth** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 4:45 pm

Loosen tensioner, put belt on, tighten tensioner......done.