[ds968]

<!--quoteo(post=72130:date=May 18 2009, 06:48 PM:name=Anchorman)-->QUOTE (Anchorman @ May 18 2009, 06:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Yes, I did mean the LS1 Corvette engine. I understand the sentiment - "never do that" - but with all of the anguish that seems to be inherent in the design of the 968 engine (and accessories), I'd consider it in a heartbeat - but that's just me. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img]<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Not arguing with the logic at all, it makes perfect sense and furthermore all that power would be sooooo welcomed, but I have always, always, always followed my heart instead of my brain, to a fault in many cases, and in this case my heart prohibits the thought of doing anything like this.. in spite of
my brain who may tell me otherwise [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif[/img]

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[Anchorman]

Understood. For me, if faced with it, it might be easier, as I don't have a sense of what I'll call "Porsche Purity". I love the look of the car, I want it to perform well and reliably, and whatever is available that can achieve that is fine with me. Between belts, A/C compressors, oil issues, etc., I'd be pretty pleased to deal with something different. Of course, the LS1 conversion is not likely to be trouble-free, at least not for a while, but...the result - AH!

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[ds968]

Back to the belts : in another recent post I wondered if anyone can develop a chain to replace the belt.. not many replies to that one though. Bob, Pete , no thoughts on designing anything along those lines ? But that aside, how about something to separate / contain the balance belt so as to prevent it from taking out the timing belt, since it seems more often than not that's the belt that breaks first ?

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[sbdrivingdotcom]

I feel your pain Dan! Sorry to hear that you and Flash lost belts. The two organizers that put everything together get hit with it. I'm setting up an appointment to get my belt changed. Mine has about 8k miles but over six years on it. This is CLEARLY the weak link on these cars, more so than the dreaded pinon bearing issue that seems to have disappeared in the past five-ish years.

I went to LA on Saturday morning to drop off my wheels at Wheel Enhancement to get refinished and drove back wondering how you guys were doing on your trip. I guess I'd have thought with all of Bob's warnings, that you'd have your belts replaced on schedule. Sorry about the news and take care buddy. Let us all know how it goes when your mechanic takes a peek.

Bob, how are you doing?

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[flash]

it was a drag for me because i had to change the way i drove, but i got home ok - i'll be looking into the belt design problem this week

as for the LS1, not much chance of me ever getting around to the chassis changes needed to properly handle the torque, the gearing changes needed to keep the engine from sounding like it's going to explode, or the suspension and brake changes that the weight and power increases would dictate, so that's not a solution for me

the 3.2 would bump me up to around 300 though, so i am going to be doing that

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[josephsc]

<!--quoteo(post=72159:date=May 19 2009, 07:06 AM:name=ds968)-->QUOTE (ds968 @ May 19 2009, 07:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Back to the belts : in another recent post I wondered if anyone can develop a chain to replace the belt.....<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->There is a Kevlar belt that Rennbay located for 944s -- I wonder if some store can stock the right size for 968s:
http://www.rennbay.com/timing-balance-blet...belt-p-165.html

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[flash]

thanks - i'll be checking this out - kevlar is exactly what i had in mind, and mentioned it at paso

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[flash]

just spoke to travis - no go YET on kevlar for us

good news though - he'll be on here soon to let you know about a new full kit of Gates stuff that will actually be less expensive than the cheapo Conti kits

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[jeffski1]

DANG IT DAN!!! Nobody was to have anything worse happen to their cars then me or Flash. You just had to one up us, didn't you?

I know this is a real bummer, BUT it was still a great weekend none the less, I know you agree. And, I believe your car is going to come out of this smelling like a rose. 3.2 liter, new head, hmmmm.

Best of luck,
Jeff

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[biotechee]

Geez-

I don't post for a few days and all Hell breaks loose!

Bob, Dan- sorry to hear about your cars, but I agree with Jeffski- they be better when they emerge!

Looking forward to the Kevlar belt- should help in the long run.

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[Cloud9...68]

<!--quoteo(post=72174:date=May 19 2009, 11:11 AM:name=flash)-->QUOTE (flash @ May 19 2009, 11:11 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->good news though - he'll be on here soon to let you know about a new full kit of Gates stuff that will actually be less expensive than the cheapo Conti kits<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I put a Gates timing belt in mine when I changed it last year. What's different about the upcoming Gates kit vs. what's available today?

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[flash]

nothing other than pricing - travis at rennbay has put together a package that prices out LOWER than the conti kit many people cheap out and get

the kevlar belt is in the works, but is nowhere near ready yet

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[xrad]

Cloud9: I use Contitech...don't know if better or worse than Gates or if sub-manufacturers are used. Contitech supposed to be OEM...

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[Cloud9...68]

Sounds great - I'm one of those who cheaped out and got the Conti balance shaft belt (but I did get the Gates timing belt). I should probably consider the Gates balance shaft belt, now that I could do a belt replacement in my sleep. The Kevlar one should definitely be available by my next timing belt change, though. As usual, thanks A TON for looking out for us, in this case on the weakest link in the 968 universe's chain. What's next, rod bearings that can be replaced without removing the oil pan? [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]

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[flash]

conti is NOT oem

originally equipped, one belt was Dayco and the other was Gates (i'm spacing on which was which, but somebody here was in on that, and a search should turn in up)

however, what porsche supplies as "oem" changes from year to year, based on their buyer's particular guidelines - this is true of all auto manufacturers - they change suppliers all the time - the minimum specs to which the part must be manufactured don't necessarily mean you get the best part

anybody remember the dodge deal when they went from moog to trw?

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[xrad]

Very interesting data Flash...hope Conti is up to spec...

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[flash]

i think "spec" is a relative term - the specs porsche chose to use for approving vendors do not seem to include those that prevent premature failure

this smells a LOT like the pinion bearing issue, and is definitely like the pressure plate problem

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[RS Barn]

Replace
Replace
Replace

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[Cloud9...68]

I can understand timing belts breaking, given the strain they're under, but I'm baffled why so many balance shaft belts (including mine) have gone bad, given that they are under such a light load. If I didn't know any better, I would have guessed they should last at least 100,000 miles or ten years, whichever comes first. What gives?

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[flash]

this one is simple:

on page 6 of the maintenance book that came with the car, it says the balance shaft belt needs to be inspected, and if necessary tightened EVERY 15,000 MILES

i'm willing to bet that almost nobody here does that

all it takes is for a little slack to happen, the belt pops off, rips, gets caught under the timing belt, and BOINK! you get to buy new valves

it also says the timing belt needs to be inspected every 15,000 miles - this does not mean peeking at it through the little port on the distributor

it also says that if there are ANY signs of wear or damage, they need to be replaced - that means a nick, loose thread, ding, or anything

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