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MG MGF Technical - HGF/Timing belt

So, my car, 1996 VVC owned from new, 97000 miles, has blown its' second head gasket. I'm about to remove the head etc. to do the repair myself. I want to replace the timing belt and water pump at the same time. If the head comes off do I still need to remove the crank pulley first to replace the belt?
Henry Harris

Hi Henry,

yes,the crank pulley has to come off.If you have axcess to 6-9bar air and an air-tool like the one used by tyre-fitters it is very convenient to release the bolt. A HEAVY (black) 22mm socket on the air-tool will do the job. The better tools also have at least 4 torque settings ,so it can be rough calibrated against a torque-wrench and used to get the 205 Nm upon assembly as well.Before an air-condition unit was possible to fit to the engine the torque on the bolt was 165 Nm,so it seems to be some reserve in the 205 Nm !
If there is no cut in the plastic back-cover for the cam-wheels/waterpump /etc. the camwheels at the front at the engine has to come off as well....
If you encounter more head-exercise in the future it can be wise to make a clean cut in that cover . If so the head can be easily removed without taking off the cam-wheels.
There is loads of info in the archive...
Good luck and let us know how you went on. / Carl.
Carl

I pulled the head with camwheels attached, so strictly not entireley nec to remove themunless the head needs a skim

Also remove the crank nut _before_ touching any head bolts, as moving the crank with the head off (which you may well do, if only slightly) is bad news for the liner goo and you may end up with weaping liners which looks like HGF and is impossible to find.
Will Munns

Did you remove the head with the full length plastic back-cover attached to the head section then ?? / Carl.
Carl

...I understand that it can be possible to do that on an engine out of the car.
BUT I myself would need more than two pints of "Old Speckeld Hen" to do that on a VVC with the engine in place ! / Carl.
Carl

I think that the back of the cover is trapped behind the engine mount, mine errm, was modified during removal*.

The cover is in various pieces, the top/front bolts off, the top/back is secured in a number of places, then there is the bottom piece and IIRC another, the cover pieces at the bottom end do not need to come off.


* I had a HGF and frozen fingers, but if your doing a belt change you have to remove the engine mount anyhows.
Will Munns

This thread was discussed on 15/03/2005

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