Technical Twincam timing belt

[Slotman]

Thank you guys for all of your wisdom and advice!! I'm serious! My engine is a 1979 cs2, My timing belt kit gets delivered in 2 days, today I had a short time to remove the front coolant system which I have all new hoses for, as well as the fan assembly, and getting the radiator unbolted, since my spider is an automatic I'm soaking the coolant lines to the radiator in penetrant until tomorrow so that nothing goes wrong loosening them, then with the radiator out I can remove the yellow cover and hopefully have a "oh, so that's how it works" moment....my brain was making me think the belt needs to go under the crank, and how can it with the pulley and lower cover on..I'm hoping no more questions and I will post a pic after the new belt is on, turned 2 full revolutions, then with the tensioner tightened down...P.S. thanks for the advice about the timing tab, I was hoping it re- indexes it self! Also, once the timing tab is removed does the new belt squeeze thru this space to get under the crankshaft?

 

[124BC1]

It would appear that you've now just found the mysterious 'metal lower timing belt cover' mentioned in your 'shop manual.


I haven't seen this set-up before... The timing belt would normally just slip in where you have your screwdriver tip, i.e. with the V belt pulley still in situ.

Maybe give the area around this metal cover a good clean and see if it can be removed without removing the V belt pulley? If you do have to remove the pulley, it's not a big deal, providing you have a suitably sized socket (38mm, r/hand, normal thread). Smahaley easily whizzed his off with an air wrench.

If you don't mind me saying so, your engine looks somewhat grubby at the front end, any possibility that the front crank oil seal is contributing to the mess or if you've identified where the leak/s are? It obviously wouldn't be a good idea to fit a new timing belt to such a dirty, oily engine especially if the crank front oil seal is leaking. +Removing the front pulley would allow you to check out the oil seal and clean everything properly. And if you should have to delay the t/belt job while waiting on a new oil seal, then that's just how working on older cars sometimes goes.

 

[Slotman]

Completely agree...thanks!

 

[Slotman]

For your viewing pleasure here's a few pictures of the notorious, semi famous, "lower metal timing cover" if the pics show, it completely encompasses the crankshaft rendering getting a timing belt past it impossible with out removing the 38mm nut and v belt pulley as well as covering up removing the water pump, not sure if this is related to North American cars, or 1979 cs2 motors? But here it is in all its glory..perhaps fiat added it to further keep it clean inside? And speaking of clean, 124bc1, you completely " nailed it", "were exactly correct", and were "spot on" regarding the oil seal....it's nasty inside! It looks like for years the seal must have been leaking prior to my ownership as evidenced by the timing cover pic...I only put 200 miles on the car after buying it, the parked it in the corner of the shop for 12 years, needs to say I will be replacing the seal....is there a trick to removing it? Pulling on it with a pic tool or anything?, ps, once I get the @#!%$ lower timing cover off I will do a deep clean inside both prior to, and after removing the old belt that surprisingly didn't look too bad.