Preventative Maintenance: o-ringing

Mancini · 08-03-2003, 07:35 PM

Scenario: I have about 3 weeks off from school and don't need my car for the next couple weeks. I have a 98 RS-T running 4psi of boost and have about 3500 turbo'd miles on there, 87k total. Should I do some preventative maintenance and get new gaskets and get the heads o-ringed or just wait for disaster to occur?

If I do it, I'd like to take everything apart myself, but the thought of playing with the timing belt and cams is kinda scary. I'm fairly confident that I can do it...but it's a very daunting task with only the guidance of the service manual. What do you all think? Yes, no, anyone want to help??? Please...I'll fly you to Pittsburgh...well...I'll at least buy the beer.

Brian

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Darshu · 08-04-2003, 12:43 AM

Hah! I've done it myself. Not a problem to do, but wac gave me a hand

If I were you I'd wait to do it in the winter in a garage or something. Anyway, just watch your coolant overflow tank. If you see it getting full, you know your gaskets are leaking.

yebokmj · 08-04-2003, 12:53 AM

I just did it on my 2.5 DOHC and all I can say is make sure you don't mess around with buckets and shims at all when you take off the cams to get to the head bolts. Other than that it's easy. Timing belt is easy too, I have done about 10 of them on DOHC and it's just about taking your time and making sure everything lines up like it should.
Joshua

Mancini · 08-04-2003, 01:09 AM

Well it's either the next few weeks or who knows when. On a good note, I spent a few hours reading over the service manual and I think I have it figured out...lemme run it by you guys.

Aight, so when removing the timing belt the engine will be rotated so that passenger side valves are closed. The drivers side will have the #2 cylinder intake open and the #4 exhaust open. Now do I hold these open by hand? I know there is a special tool for it, any tricks if don't have the tool? Then when the belt is removed I can slowly close them in the direction with as little movement as possible to prevent interference. (It shows which direction to rotate in manual)

Once the belt is off, all the valves will be closed. I can remove the sprokets and the cams without having to worry about anything. Cams are off, heads come off. Gaskets come off, clean the surfaces, install new gaskets after the o-ringing.

Installation. Kind of reverse of removal. There are diagrams at which angle will allow for the least movement of the sprokets when installing the timing belt. So generally follow those so that passenger side valves are closed and so I can rotate #2 intake and #4 exhaust with the least movement to align marks. Then install the timing belt...voila hard stuff is done...

Does that sound about right? Also I'll be looking at replacing the timing belt, tensioner assembly, valve cover gaskets, head gaskets. Anything else? Lemme know if I missed anything.

Thanks guys,
Brian

Mancini · 08-04-2003, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by yebokmj
I just did it on my 2.5 DOHC and all I can say is make sure you don't mess around with buckets and shims at all when you take off the cams to get to the head bolts. Other than that it's easy. Timing belt is easy too, I have done about 10 of them on DOHC and it's just about taking your time and making sure everything lines up like it should.
Joshua

Cool, I read about them putting all your shims and buckets in a box and handing it back. Are the sims held in by anything other than the cams? If so, when I take it to the machinist, should I have the cams temporarily on there to hold everything together?

Haha, sorry for 20 questions. I just like to know what I'm getting into so I don't get pissed off and confused then throw a temper tantrum

I kid, I kid.

Darshu · 08-04-2003, 02:16 AM

Actually, don't worry about removing the timing belt so much, the valves on side of engine will be open, but as soon as the timing belt comes off, they'll snap closed, so no worries. just don't crank the crank sprocket and cam gears without the timing belt linking them. Also, with a DOHC motor, the cams have to come out to get at the head bolts. Having an air impact wrench will make getting these off much easier. If you don't care about your timing belt, it might be easier to loosen the sprocket bolts with the timing belt still on the engine. Just loosen though, you wanna pull the timing belt tensioner or an idler pulley to relieve the tension on the timing belt. putting it back together, just make sure the timing marks are in the right place and you're fine. The driver's side head is gonna have the valves under tension so it'll be a little bit of a hassle getting the cam gears lined up. Passenger's side will be cake.

yebokmj · 08-04-2003, 10:06 AM

The shims just sit on top of the buckets but they all can come out easily. I would remove all the shims with their bucket. Then lable them as to exactly which valve the belong to example: Exhaust-Cyclinder #1 valve #2. Also the cams have an area for a 25mm wrenchto be applied, once you remove the vavle cover, this will come in handy when removing the cam sprockets. If you need more help when doing it drop me an IM or email.
Joshua

Mancini · 08-04-2003, 11:05 AM

Thanks guys, I appreciate the help!

yebokmj, I'm sure you'll be hearing from me

08-04-2003, 12:53 AM	#3
yebokmj Scooby Specialist Member#: 2213 Join Date: Aug 2000 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Raymond, NH USA Vehicle: 1995 Impreza w/EJ257 Brilliant Red	Did it I just did it on my 2.5 DOHC and all I can say is make sure you don't mess around with buckets and shims at all when you take off the cams to get to the head bolts. Other than that it's easy. Timing belt is easy too, I have done about 10 of them on DOHC and it's just about taking your time and making sure everything lines up like it should. Joshua

08-04-2003, 10:06 AM	#7
yebokmj Scooby Specialist Member#: 2213 Join Date: Aug 2000 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Raymond, NH USA Vehicle: 1995 Impreza w/EJ257 Brilliant Red	Shims and Buckets The shims just sit on top of the buckets but they all can come out easily. I would remove all the shims with their bucket. Then lable them as to exactly which valve the belong to example: Exhaust-Cyclinder #1 valve #2. Also the cams have an area for a 25mm wrenchto be applied, once you remove the vavle cover, this will come in handy when removing the cam sprockets. If you need more help when doing it drop me an IM or email. Joshua

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08-03-2003, 07:35 PM	#1
Mancini Scooby Specialist Member#: 20726 Join Date: Jul 2002 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Pittsburgh, PA	Preventative Maintenance: o-ringing Scenario: I have about 3 weeks off from school and don't need my car for the next couple weeks. I have a 98 RS-T running 4psi of boost and have about 3500 turbo'd miles on there, 87k total. Should I do some preventative maintenance and get new gaskets and get the heads o-ringed or just wait for disaster to occur? If I do it, I'd like to take everything apart myself, but the thought of playing with the timing belt and cams is kinda scary. I'm fairly confident that I can do it...but it's a very daunting task with only the guidance of the service manual. What do you all think? Yes, no, anyone want to help??? Please...I'll fly you to Pittsburgh...well...I'll at least buy the beer. Brian * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

08-04-2003, 12:43 AM	#2
Darshu Scooby Specialist Member#: 1676 Join Date: Jun 2000 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Exile in Norcal Vehicle: 98RS w/ EJ207 2010 Mazdaspeed3	Hah! I've done it myself. Not a problem to do, but wac gave me a hand If I were you I'd wait to do it in the winter in a garage or something. Anyway, just watch your coolant overflow tank. If you see it getting full, you know your gaskets are leaking.

08-04-2003, 01:09 AM	#4
Mancini Scooby Specialist Member#: 20726 Join Date: Jul 2002 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Pittsburgh, PA	Well it's either the next few weeks or who knows when. On a good note, I spent a few hours reading over the service manual and I think I have it figured out...lemme run it by you guys. Aight, so when removing the timing belt the engine will be rotated so that passenger side valves are closed. The drivers side will have the #2 cylinder intake open and the #4 exhaust open. Now do I hold these open by hand? I know there is a special tool for it, any tricks if don't have the tool? Then when the belt is removed I can slowly close them in the direction with as little movement as possible to prevent interference. (It shows which direction to rotate in manual) Once the belt is off, all the valves will be closed. I can remove the sprokets and the cams without having to worry about anything. Cams are off, heads come off. Gaskets come off, clean the surfaces, install new gaskets after the o-ringing. Installation. Kind of reverse of removal. There are diagrams at which angle will allow for the least movement of the sprokets when installing the timing belt. So generally follow those so that passenger side valves are closed and so I can rotate #2 intake and #4 exhaust with the least movement to align marks. Then install the timing belt...voila hard stuff is done... Does that sound about right? Also I'll be looking at replacing the timing belt, tensioner assembly, valve cover gaskets, head gaskets. Anything else? Lemme know if I missed anything. Thanks guys, Brian

08-04-2003, 02:16 AM	#6
Darshu Scooby Specialist Member#: 1676 Join Date: Jun 2000 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Exile in Norcal Vehicle: 98RS w/ EJ207 2010 Mazdaspeed3	Actually, don't worry about removing the timing belt so much, the valves on side of engine will be open, but as soon as the timing belt comes off, they'll snap closed, so no worries. just don't crank the crank sprocket and cam gears without the timing belt linking them. Also, with a DOHC motor, the cams have to come out to get at the head bolts. Having an air impact wrench will make getting these off much easier. If you don't care about your timing belt, it might be easier to loosen the sprocket bolts with the timing belt still on the engine. Just loosen though, you wanna pull the timing belt tensioner or an idler pulley to relieve the tension on the timing belt. putting it back together, just make sure the timing marks are in the right place and you're fine. The driver's side head is gonna have the valves under tension so it'll be a little bit of a hassle getting the cam gears lined up. Passenger's side will be cake.

08-04-2003, 11:05 AM	#8
Mancini Scooby Specialist Member#: 20726 Join Date: Jul 2002 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Pittsburgh, PA	Thanks guys, I appreciate the help! yebokmj, I'm sure you'll be hearing from me