How to remove cylinder heads withouth messing with timing belt

moskiter · 11-04-09, 02:39 AM

Hey, I own 96' Lexus ES300 and I want to check my cylinder heads for cracks and replace (probably blown) head gaskets underneath. Nonetheless removing my timing belt, like the repair manual wants me to do, would bring me additional costs linked to buying some extra tools. How can I avoid removing the timing belt?

edit,

by the way, the engine is in the vehicle (I didn't take it out), I already removed everything that I was able to, only open cylinder heads are still remaining.

VVT-i · 11-04-09, 04:21 PM

The answer is " You can't " because you have to remove the cam shafts to get to the head bolts.

mitsuguy · 11-04-09, 06:46 PM

you might want to enlist the help of a good technician that knows what he is doing...

I hate to say it, but if you didn't realize that the timing belt has to come off in order to pull the heads, then, I would say you are lacking a little expertise in this very critical area...

GSteg · 11-04-09, 08:34 PM

Is this a trick question?

moskiter · 11-05-09, 08:47 AM

yes I know I have to remove it first but I thought I could remove it only from the camshafts and leave it on the crankshaft, make some marks and after I check the heads put in back on the the camshaft pulleys. And yes - I have never done it before

GSteg · 11-05-09, 10:10 AM

Well the camshafts sits on top of the cylinder head. Are you sure its' the cylinder head you want to remove?

mitsuguy · 11-05-09, 03:12 PM

though I've never done a timing belt on a 96 ES, I can't recall any specific specialty tools needed for that specific job that you wouldn't need already in order to do head gaskets...

moskiter · 11-05-09, 06:09 PM

never mind, i've heard that some people change head haskets without removing a timing belt entirely and it's easier to set it on the camshaft afterwards... or maybe they do it not to remove the wheel and fender apron... anyway I'll be mounting my engine on the engine stand so I'll remove entire timing belt... and dissembly entire engine. All people tell me that the car will end up at a junk yard so you guys are not first

RTIS250 · 11-08-09, 02:25 PM

Well, i know what you were trying to do, and yes, ive done it before. Ive had a car come into the shop with a blown head gasket, and the customer didnt want to buy a new timing belt. So, you leave the lower part of the timing belt attatched, take the tensioner off and use a bungee cord to hold the belt up so it has tension and doesnt fall off the crank pulley. This way you can take the cam pulleys off (and cams, heads, etc) and basically leave the lower portions of the timing belt on that you'd normally remove. So yea, its possible.

moskiter · 11-09-09, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RTIS250

Well, i know what you were trying to do, and yes, ive done it before. Ive had a car come into the shop with a blown head gasket, and the customer didnt want to buy a new timing belt. So, you leave the lower part of the timing belt attatched, take the tensioner off and use a bungee cord to hold the belt up so it has tension and doesnt fall off the crank pulley. This way you can take the cam pulleys off (and cams, heads, etc) and basically leave the lower portions of the timing belt on that you'd normally remove. So yea, its possible.

That's the answer I was expecting! Thanks a lot!

GoFastTSI · 11-19-09, 12:48 PM

One thing to add if you go that route, zip tie the timing belt to the cam gears and also mark with a grease pen at each pulley and on the belt.