OK, I completed the job last Friday and drove to Maine Saturday morning. I returned on Tuesday. Total trip mileage was about 1,000 miles. No problems.

Here’s what I did:

Replaced trimming belt. I don’t think I did this a moment too soon. The old belt was totally full of little cracks on the outside surface. I don’t have my records here but I believe it was on there for well over 100,000 miles.

 

I replaced all of the idler pulleys as well as the tensioner pulley with those that Alex K. (screen name “avk”) very kindly gave me (Thanks again Alex!!). All of Alex’s pulleys seemed to be in better shape than mine. None of mine were obviously “bad” but they all spun very freely and made more noise than Alex’s. Alex said his were the original ones from a car with 80,000 miles on it.

 

I removed the oil pump. Two of the screws on the back cover plate were loose. I cleaned the threads and replaced the screws using red Loctite. I replaced the oil pump O-ring (blue one from Subaru). I resealed the oil pump to the engine block using Permatex Ultra Grey.

 

I replaced the cam and crank front seals. I replaced the O-ring behind the left side cam shaft support.

 

I replaced the water pump and the thermostat (Subaru parts). New gasket of course.

 

Before I installed any fastener, I cleaned the threads with a wire wheel on my bench grinder and treated the threads with anti-seize. I am hoping this will avoid thread stripping problems like I have had in the past with there cars.

 

I did disconnect the igniter and crank the engine until the oil pressure warning light went off. I am very glad I did this because it took a while (I’m guessing 10 to 15 seconds) of cranking before the light went off.

 

I did not like the idea of buttoning the engine up and immediately departing on a rather long trip but my fears were needless. Thanks very much to those here who so promptly offered advice and comments as I went through this last week. Even after all the years of doing this kind (and much more involved) of work, I still find I’m occasionally looking for some sanity checks and moral support!

 

Mike V.

Mike,

 

Glad it all went well.

 

When you get to it you might want to replace that other Oring on the back of the head on the pass side.

 

Dave

+1^ and the cam cap seal on the back of the drivers side head....they do leak with time...Ive seen quite a few....Im glad to hear that everything went well though... EJ22 im assuming?

I have to say tho...it's crazy to replace old pulleys with old pulleys...

yep.

 

Ebay kit all the way.

 

I usually keep one on stock and a new new style tensioner.

 

Have lots of used ones. I almost always replace them (even on non-interference). Crazy not to while you're in there.

 

As folks say. They seem good now. But will they last another 100k? That's also why I replace perfectly fine water pumps.

Yes, it is an EJ22.

 

Yes, I am probably crazy (as proven by other things than not replacing timing belt pulleys)

 

I am not only cheap but also currently extra poor and had already decided not to replace any pulleys unless I could detect eminent failure. I mentioned that plan here and no one told me that I was crazy. Alex made available pulleys that seemed noticibly better than the ones I removed. So, I do not believe that swapping them was crazy.

 

If I were repairing/maintaining Subarus for others who were paying me to do so, I would definitely recommend that they replace all of the pulleys when the belt is replaced. It would be "crazy" not to.

 

Don't worry. When a pulley fails and I lunch the engine I'll let ya know so you can say you told me so.

 

Mike

Don't worry. When a pulley fails and I lunch the engine I'll let ya know so you can say you told me so.

Mike, are you suggesting that anyone here would be so cruel as to rub your nose in it?

 

Although pulley failure can sometimes be relatively sudden, often there's some warning. My suggestion would be to not ignore any ''new'' engine noises or symptoms in the hope that they'd go away on their own.

The pulleys were kept in factory boxes from the new parts, for almost 3 years. Wouldn't that make them good as new?

The pulleys were kept in factory boxes from the new parts, for almost 3 years. Wouldn't that make them good as new?

 

 

Depends. Were there a lot of greasy fingerprints on the boxes?!! :-\

Yes, it is an EJ22.

 

Yes, I am probably crazy (as proven by other things than not replacing timing belt pulleys)

 

I am not only cheap but also currently extra poor and had already decided not to replace any pulleys unless I could detect eminent failure. I mentioned that plan here and no one told me that I was crazy. Alex made available pulleys that seemed noticibly better than the ones I removed. So, I do not believe that swapping them was crazy.

 

If I were repairing/maintaining Subarus for others who were paying me to do so, I would definitely recommend that they replace all of the pulleys when the belt is replaced. It would be "crazy" not to.

 

Don't worry. When a pulley fails and I lunch the engine I'll let ya know so you can say you told me so.

 

Mike

 

Sorry Mike

I would not have mentioned that had I known the economic situation