I just made a Thread in the "How-To" section for making the Timing Belt tool! Check it out!

 

and to think the local performance shop wants 9.5 hours of labor to change my cams and springs/retainers... When the cams looked like they can be changed out in about an hour to hour and half. Don't tell me it takes 8 hours to change springs/retainers...

 

well for the springs and retainers...you have to remove the head...get a valve spring compressor, and go at it...all 16 valves. It took me a good hour to remove all springs and retainers on my DSM. Thats not including removing the head which was and hour and a half, install of teh Ti-springs and retainers = 1 hour, reinstall head, redo timing, rewire everythign up, another good 3 hours. Almost 7 hours if you are fast. Its just cams you dont have to take the head off.

Also if you cant find M8X1.25 allthread... DSM battery tie downs work, just gotta thread it a little more.
http://www.plymouthlaser.com/ttool.htm

As you can see I'm a big DSM guy. LOL OLD SCHOOL!

 

Thanks for the video! Yeah, that video makes it look really easy. I don't plan on it being that easy or fast the first time around.

The hobby shop said they had timing belt tools last time I was there. We'll see.

I've heard mixed reviews on the battery tie down idea.

 

The head does not need to be removed, however it is a lot of work regardless and basically requires all the timing covers off in the process, adding to the labor.

 

Scott-

So you're saying the shop's estimate is spot on at 9.5 hours for springs/retainers and IX cams?

Erich

 

Your welcome. Its actually as easy as it is in the video. A week ago or so I just replaced some bent intake valves on the DSM ( jumped timing ftl ) and took the head apart to save money on labor at the machine shop, just had them seat the new valves and some minor work. Total cost for me was 50 bucks (good friends with the machinist) . Re-assembled the head on the car. Just make sure you torque it all to spec. I backed out the bolts and torqued them again just to be safe and account for pulling the caps down to make sure I get the true reading. Check all timing marks prior to firing it up. Turn the crank by hand a few revolutions until you feel comfortable and make sure the belt is still tight. When all checks out, take the leap of faith and fire it up!

 

9.5 by the book might as well be correct.

What I can say is that my record is about 48 minutes on an Evo8 for a pair of cams.

I would suggest springs and retainers as a two person job as one to compress the springs and another to retrieve the keepers and replace them on the new springs.

 

As promised, I would humbly let you know I messed up. The cam install went great. It was actually a lot easier and quicker than what I expected. Here's where it went wrong . . . I decided I was going to install some headstuds at the same time. Well, I untorqued one of the bolts a couple turns and then decided, no I'd rather watch the superbowl. So I started to retorque it. After a turn or so it didn't feel like it was tightening and then by the time I could say to myself something wasn't right it snapped. So I pulled the head and luckily got the bolt out no problem. Now I'm just waiting on gaskets to get here. Here's some pics.

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/g.../moto_0047.jpg
http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/g.../moto_0044.jpg
http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/g.../moto_0046.jpg

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/g.../moto_0050.jpg - A headless Evo!!

The pics of the head and cylinders was for someone to chime in about the coloring, and if there's some way to clean it and any other suggestions while the car is apart. It's had crap gas back home and some octane booster for the last 6 months while I was on deployment. I'm assuming that is part of the reason for the orange coloring.

GO GO Gadget flamesuit!!! Equip I told you so shield; Level up humility . . .

 

Warned you.

 

^haha

 

Did you find you had to do anything differently in terms of the MIVEC crap? I'm taking mine to a shop. Those pics make me a little sick to look at.

 

There's another sensor of some sort, I'm guessing for Mivec, on the intake cam like there is on the exhaust cam. Basically same procedure as for the cas on the exhaust cam. And the Mivec cam gear. Other than that, no. I am in no way saying don't take it to a shop, but it really isn't as bad as it looks. I feel the same way when I look at the car. The cam install took me right around 3 hours, and the head took me about 4-5 hours after that including a dinner break. And lots of EvoM searching for support with the head.

 

permatex gasket remover is sold at most autoparts stores. Make sure it clean as a wistle. Get a MLS gasket and some ARP studs and you'll never break a bolt again!

 

So are you up and running again? Any oil leaking? Way to stay after it!