Getting a heart transplant.....

**DrGonzo** · 06-24-2013, 09:56 AM

Well atleast my Stealth is!

So this past Friday I spent some time working on the Stealth. Installed the last Solid motor mount and swapped out some parts for some Hydro Dipped ones. I also installed the front timing cover that I dipped in the funky skulls to show off at our Friday Night local car meet. I get everything swapped out and go to start the car. I hear a god awful noise and immediately turned off the car. I knew right off the bat it was the timing belt and though that it had broken. I pulled the covers to find this:

I told myself months ago that if anything happened to this motor I was just going to swap it out for the block I had been working on. You can find that engine build thread here: http://www.3sgto.org/3000gt-stealth-...th-10-1-a.html

So Sunday I started to pull the engine. it would have only taken a couple hours if the weather would have cooperated. it rained on and off and since I don't have a garage it is all done in my driveway.

Engine pulled:

And sitting in the driveway:

From this point I will be pulling items off this engine like turbos and such and swapping them over to the new block. All parts will be cleaned and repainted as needed but for the mast parts things are in good condition and will just be swapped over.

While the engine was out I pulled the covers to see what caused the issue with the timing belt. I originally though the timing cover hit the belt as the hole is right inline with the nub on the underside of the front timing cover. Upon pulling the lower cover I found the culprit....

I thought that nut fell down in between the heads into the bottomless pit, guess I was wrong. I also found that the metal cover that goes between the heads was missing which is how it made it's way into the timing belt area to begin with!

I will say this, I have a lot more trust in Gates timing belts now. The belt has a massive hole right though it but it belt never broke or slipped. I personally believe that these gates belts are just as good as OEM.

If the weather and time works with me this week I may have everything cleaned and and the new engine dropped in next week. I have a few things I will be addressing during this time so it may be a month or so before the car is back on the road.

**j2k4** · 06-24-2013, 10:14 AM

In for progress postage.

**Alan92RTTT** · 06-24-2013, 11:05 AM

If the Tbelt did not skip/jump why not just replace it and move on? (I'm assuming I'm missing something)

**DrGonzo** · 06-24-2013, 12:05 PM

1. I did't want to put anymore money into that engine.

2. The time it takes to do a t-belt with the engine in the car I had the motor pulled.

**J-Groove** · 06-24-2013, 01:41 PM

Crazy the belt held like that!

Now to go read the thread on the engine's details.

-John

**Uniuno** · 06-24-2013, 01:50 PM

Plus side of doing it in the driveway like that; look at all the space you have!!!

Can't wait to see what you can do with the new engine

**Alan92RTTT** · 06-24-2013, 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by DrGonzo

1. I did't want to put anymore money into that engine.

2. The time it takes to do a t-belt with the engine in the car I had the motor pulled.

AH, no need to rebuild just based on what happened, it just fits your personal goals.

**sergechronos** · 06-24-2013, 03:11 PM

If you need another one of those metal covers for between the heads (not sure if you have an extra for the new block) I've got one I'd sell you for pretty dang cheap.

**DrGonzo** · 06-24-2013, 03:56 PM

Originally Posted by sergechronos

If you need another one of those metal covers for between the heads (not sure if you have an extra for the new block) I've got one I'd sell you for pretty dang cheap.

The new engine has all of the covers including that one that was missing.

IDK at what point I removed it and never re-installed it. I have had that engine now for almost 15 years and through multiple rebuilds. I guess at one point I forgot to put it back on and just never noticed it missing.