Timing Chain

[Hawkridesdirt]

What is a reasonable cost to have the timing chain replaced on a 2003 Eurovan?

I just got a $6000 estimate... that seems pretty extreme to me.

Thanks
Toby Hawk
04 Land Rover D2 SE7
03 EV MV

[Zeitgeist 13]

I think you can get a new engine + installation for that ridiculous price. It's a big job, but not that big.

I think the shop is telling you they don't want to work on your van.
_________________
Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[Hawkridesdirt]

Thanks Z, me too.

I’ll keep checking around. I really don’t want to sell or trade it in...

[LongmontLou]

[Zeitgeist 13]

I'm getting ready to dive into my timing chains and swap out the trans. Where's the place with the best deal on the TC kits these days? I see that ECS has several kits, but are there other places to go?
_________________
Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[Abscate]

16 hours times your local labor rate plus $1000 in parts

Tax and shop,supplies, additional

Casey...FCP has parts listed separately
_________________
.ssS!

[Zeitgeist 13]

Ok, I've heard the arguments for pulling the whole drivetrain to do the chains, but could I save time/effort by just pulling the transmission? I've got the front end pulled and have started unplugging the harness, but the more I look at the A/C and PS components, it just seems like a real hassle to work around them without tweaking something or opening up the A/C.
_________________
Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[TDCTDI]

It sounds counterintuitive but I found it easier to remove the engine & leave the transmission in place. You can unbolt the flex plate & there is enough room to slip the engine out. I even left the A/C system sealed & just moved the condenser & compressor out of the way.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[Zeitgeist 13]

I guess I'll just keep going and pull everything. I'm also swapping the transmission for another. I'm having a hard time locally locating an M14 triple square tool for the CV joints. The bolts supplied with the new boot kits are M12
_________________
Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[Joshwa]

[Zeitgeist 13]

I have a whole bunch of triple square tools, but I've never encountered this size before. The CVs are huge
_________________
Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[CdnVWJunkie]

I know Lisle makes a reasonably priced triple square tool kit. Not sure if this brand is available in the US or not.

[Zeitgeist 13]

Sears and others used to carry a full complement of Lisle tools, but sadly, no longer. I spent the better part of today driving around looking for this tool at all the usual suspects, but it turns out that AutoZone was the only place that had one.

If you have a late model EV do yourself a favor and buy a M14 XZN (triple square) socket. But then again, if the CVs have already been replaced, then you may just have M12s in there. screwy
_________________
Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[xavior12]

No kidding here, just this week I had a 24V van's CV bolt strip out. Went to the local supplier and found out that the early 12V CV bolts are the smaller M12 XZN triple square fastener. So the early vans had smaller CV bolts at the flange and late model vans had the larger CV flange bolts. Also, the lower ball joint on a 24V van is the same size fastener as the CV bolts. Thats if they've never been changed.

Hope this helps.

[Zeitgeist 13]

It turns out the vendor sent me the wrong inner CV boot kits. Those M14 heads are attached to larger shafts as well. I'm guessing the 24v engines all got the larger CVs. I also snapped off two of the exhaust flange bolts, so I've got that going for me.
_________________
Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[Zeitgeist 13]

What's the trick to getting the downpipe separated from the exhaust manifold? I have everything else separated, but I can't get that downpipe to Leggo my Eggo.
_________________
Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[TDCTDI]

Heat! Get a torch, you'll need at least MAPP gas if oxy/acetylene isn't available & heat up the nuts until they glow red/orange, then you might get them to release without shearing the studs.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[Zeitgeist 13]

The nuts are all removed, but I can't get the engine up and forward enough to let the downpipe drop away from the exhaust studs. The downpipe is resting on the subframe, so there's nowhere for it to drop any further. Can the drivetrain be removed with the engine/trans mounts installed, or do I need to remove them beforehand? I'm currently lifting from the trans mount.
_________________
Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[TDCTDI]

If I remember correctly, I usually unbolted the manifolds from the head.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[Zeitgeist 13]

Ugh...I'm gonna try to unbolt the rear of the downpipe first, before tackling the manifolds. This would be so much easier if they had just used bolts instead of studs in the manifold. I've already lost two days on dealing with dumbass stuff. The clock is ticking and I need this done asap. We're heading to B.C. in less than two weeks.
_________________
Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?