Which timing belt kit do I need?

[Drooool]

Hello everyone,

I have recently bought a 1999 GSX. The timing belt is starting to show some stress cracks so I am going to replace the belt before I start driving it. I do not have much info on the engine though. I was told when I bought it that the engine was replaced, but he was not sure with what engine. There is three belt kits that I have found; 6 bolt, (95) 7 bolt and a (96-99) 7 bolt. How do I know which kit that I need for my engine.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Cooper-97gst]

99 have 7 bolt engines from factory but 6 bolt swaps are popular. How about a couple pictures so we can help you get the right things.

 

[2gmitsueclipse]

This will help you identify the engine you have: http://vfaq.com/mods/early-late-engine.html

Once you determine your engine, then extremepsi has a timing kit available. There are other options as well, but this makes it easy. If you want a one-stop-shop, here is a kit for any 90-99 DSM:
Edit: link removed as it is deemed redundant in nature.

 

[pauleyman]

That last link doesnt help the op. You have to choose which tensioner, which pulleys etc. Belts are all the same as is idler. Hydraulic tensioner, balance tensioner pulley and main pulley tensioner are whats different.

 

[2gmitsueclipse]

That last link doesnt help the op. You have to choose which tensioner, which pulleys etc. Belts are all the same as is idler. Hydraulic tensioner, balance tensioner pulley and main pulley tensioner are whats different.

Once the OP identifies what engine they have, I fail to see how the link does not help them put together a timing kit for their needs. To each their own though.

 

[pauleyman]

What I mean is hes trying to figure this out. The link essentially asks the same questions he needs answered.

 

[Drooool]

Yeah I have been on the extremepsi site. But yes essentially I need to figure out which kit I need. I will take a few pictures tomorrow, anything specifically I should take pictures of?

 

[Drooool]

I just took a look at the link. I will check and feel if it bumps in or out.

 

[2gmitsueclipse]

Yeah I have been on the extremepsi site. But yes essentially I need to figure out which kit I need. I will take a few pictures tomorrow, anything specifically I should take pictures of?

Oil pan (as noted in first link), intake manifold, area near thermostat housing (where radiator cap is), a pic of the timing side with the upper cover off (shows engine mount design and timing gears).

 

[Drooool]

Awesome. I'll get those pictures tomorrow. Thanks for the help.

 

[Drooool]

Okay so I went and got some pictures after work. Hope this will help. Sorry its dark in my garage and there is not really enough room to lay down and take a good picture of the oil pan.


Cam gears

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Engine mount

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Thermostat Housing

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Intake Manifold

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Oil pan

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Oil pan II

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Oil pan III

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[2gmitsueclipse]

You have a 95-96 7-bolt engine based on the oil pan, intake manifold, timing side motor mount, thermostat housing, and CAS.

The cam angle sensor on the timing side of the intake cam.

 

[Cooper-97gst]

7 bolt

 

[Drooool]

haha so 7 bolt for sure. now i wonder if it has actually been replaced at all. what do you look for with the thermostat housing, mount and manifold?

 

[2gmitsueclipse]

I revised my previous post. I had asked for timing cover off to see the intake cam. 95-96 7 bolt engine.

 

[Drooool]

You were looking at the cam gears cause the one is different? has anyone had good luck with the gate racing performance belts?

 

[pauleyman]

You guys aren't looking. It's got a 97 up CAS. Engine may have been replaced but given how stock everything else looks I'm guessing it is a 97-99 motor. Doesn't make much of a difference anyway.
MD352473 has superceeded all 2g cars for balance shaft pulley, the two belts are the same for all years (although some have run an evo belt), the idler pulley is the same, the main tensioner pulley is the same MD182537 and that only leaves the hydraulic tensioner and there are only two. MD308587 which is through aug 95 and the MD308086 which is everything else 2g related. The two tensioners are very physically different and cannot be mistaken for one another. OP you may just have to remove the covers to see what you actually have but my guess would be the latter of the two as since you have a 97 up cas it's doubtful somebody also changed your intake cam to accommodate that. It likely came with the donor engine as a unit. You still won't necessarily know what motor is it, that is 97 or 98-99. You could also check the vin stamp on the block. If it came from a mitsu at least it's easier to cross reference although the vin itself will give you both model and year.

 

[19Eclipse90]

Get the kit that has the same tensioner currently on the motor. Pull the lower timing cover and find out which.

Or check the VIN on the block for model year.

I say this as I see a '98-'99 throttle body and a 2Gb cam sensor that is actually hooked up. All 7-bolt turbo oil pans are the same. All 2G turbo thermostat housings are the same. All 2G turbo timing side motor mounts are the same. It just goes to say you never know what an engine is judging by its bolt-on accessories.

Edit: damnit, Paul...

 

[pauleyman]

One more thing. I haven't referenced a timing belt tutorial in 20 years so for curiosity I went to the old vfaq site. It's a little confusing as they are talking about a 2g install but show motors from several different years and none of them are 97 up. There are some differences when tensioning (which is mentioned). Dots up or dots down on the pulley (NOT CAMS) and which way to turn etc. THe info is good but the pictures don't quite match all the time. Food for thought. In my opinion as the cars are so old, buy the factory manuals. I don't have them anymore (tornado...another story) but I had 90, 92, 93, 95, 96, 97 and 98 paper manuals. They are so cheap on ebay it wasn't a big deal. That covered what I needed although I had planned to accumulate all years just because I could.

 

[Drooool]

Alright I will pull the rest of the covers off and take a look to make sure I order the correct tensioner.

I was looking at the extremepsi site and I want to get the Gates Racing Performance belts but its a pain cause they dont make it as a kit with the water pump and the pulleys. Makes it so much more expensive to buy it all separately, especially with the Canadian dollar being so crappy right now. Anywhere that sells it as a kit or thats just how it is?

I'm also buying a paper manual off ebay, may just be nice to have.