Getting ready for timing belt and water pump swap.. need some advice please...

[bishop242]

Hi All...
Getting prepared for the Timing Belt, Tensioners and water pump replace on my 2000 Rodeo 3.2. No noises or leaking, but at 120,000 I figure it's about time.
I think I remember reading something about changing a couple of seals while I have it opened up (cam seals???)
Does this ring a bell with anyone or does anyone have any tips for me before I begin the job?
Thanks!

[Ramblin Fever]

Camshaft & Crankshaft seals - especially if you're gonna keep it for the long haul.

Oh, and if you haven't already, replace those little coolant hoses, not just the big ones - those little ones are the ones that'll bite you when you least expect it, i.e. by-pass hose, oil cooler to engine block, heater core hoses, etc. Not quite sure where all of yours are located on that Dohc, but at 120k get 'em out.

Do everything while you're taking it all apart, i.e. belts, hoses, etc. that way it's all up to date.

Have fun I personally chose not to allow myself the frustration, as I tend to start kicking a wheel or mumble choice words, then the tossing of tools comes into play - that, and the thought of doing all of this during that Artic Freeze that came through in February (when my waterpump croaked) just wasn't my cup of tea.

But, I did pay for it, labor cost wise, that's for sure.

[bishop242]

thanks R F,
I know... I'm a glutton for punishment!
I've got a warm garage, tools, time, and most importantly a trusty 91 Trooper for the several trips to the parts store I am sure I will be making mid-job.
Good point on the hoses. I am going to keep this one for a while.
Do you know if i will need any special tool for the cam seals?

Originally Posted by Ramblin Fever

Camshaft & Crankshaft seals - especially if you're gonna keep it for the long haul.

Oh, and if you haven't already, replace those little coolant hoses, not just the big ones - those little ones are the ones that'll bite you when you least expect it, i.e. by-pass hose, oil cooler to engine block, heater core hoses, etc. Not quite sure where all of yours are located on that Dohc, but at 120k get 'em out.

Do everything while you're taking it all apart, i.e. belts, hoses, etc. that way it's all up to date.

Have fun I personally chose not to allow myself the frustration, as I tend to start kicking a wheel or mumble choice words, then the tossing of tools comes into play - that, and the thought of doing all of this during that Artic Freeze that came through in February (when my waterpump croaked) just wasn't my cup of tea.

But, I did pay for it, labor cost wise, that's for sure.

[Ramblin Fever]

No, I'm not sure about any special tools for the seals, sorry.

Been wanting to ask you, the picture you have on the left here, under your name - where was that taken at?

[bishop242]

Hey R F,

The pic was taken on a forrest service road off of Fall River Road out of Idaho Springs.
We took Fall River rd. to the lake near St. Marys and veered off to the right on the fire trails and went over the top of the mountain... The goal was to drop down into central City, but after creeping straight down the side of the mountain (no turning back) we wound up tooling around for three hours in 4-low, completely lost on some seriously treacherous trails/roads before we finally popped out at Rollinsville. Guys in rockcrawlers and ATVs were looking at us like we were nuts! I was sure I was going to rip the undercarraige out of the Rodeo but managed to escape with only seriously scarred skid plates. A real testament to the off-road abilities of a stock Rodeo with new All Terrain T/As.
I have gone back several times and done some camping on the back end where we came out at Rollinsville. Great area.

[Ramblin Fever]

Yes, that's a wonderful area!

You'd be surprised, really, in what even a stock 4x2 Rodeo can do. All I have aftermarket wise is a set of Yokohama Geolander ATII's that are of the 265/75 16's and I've ran some wicked trails solely (of all idiotic things to do) without much issue. I usually though, tend to avoid deep mud holes, if at all possible.

I'd like to hit that trail, don't believe we've gone on that particular one, but I am familiar with the area.

[Gizmo42]

Sounds like a cool trail. I've been up fall river rd (the rough dirt one to fall river res.) a couple times. I still havent done any real offroading this summer, just ghetto wheeling

I usually though, tend to avoid deep mud holes, if at all possible.

Awww common where's your sense of adventure

Deep mud holes can be lots of fun with all the clean up and water inside

[bishop242]

Nice... knee deep in the soup!
Did the same thing in a Nissan, never did get all the dirt out of that thing!

ghetto wheeling...hahaha

[Ramblin Fever]

Originally Posted by Gizmo42

Awww common where's your sense of adventure

Nah been there, done that!

Worst one was with a 3/4 ton 4x4 Chevy with an 11' camper, try cleaning that one!

Truck's rear-end literally sank in mud up to the bed - had no idea it was such soft surface, but then again, that was an idiotic thing to do with a biga$$ camper.

Before it was all said and done, the floorboard of the cab was filled with about 2" of water/mud; the whole bed of the truck was covered, as was about 4" of carpeting inside the camper.

Talk about MAJOR clean-up, along with several days of swapping out transfer case, gearbox, driveshaft fluids along with repacking wheel bearings, replacing a U-joint.

No, no that's ok - I've had my fun with all the gew over the years, got tired of the clean-up.