Good mechanic shop in COS? Montero Timing Belt

[CS1983]

My 99 Montero's timing belt will need to be replaced in about 10-20k miles. Is there a consensus on a good mechanic shop for the job in Colorado Springs? Vectorsc and I *could* do it, but we sure don't want to!

This Montero is... a bit weird. It's a 99 whose transmission went out, so we spent a few months converting it to a manual with a 95's transmission and a whole lot of custom fabrication, so I really don't want to trust the work to some goober.

[SideShow Bob]

You trusted the transmission to some goobers...............[LOL]

[CS1983]

Yeah, but I didn't have all my goober glory invested until the completion of that trust exercise. :)

[CS1983]

Anyone? Anywhere?

[William]

Bill Crider's auto repair used to be honest/good but haven't used them in 5-10 years. As long as Bill is still there should be gtg.

[SouthPaw]

If you did the conversion, surely you can take it all apart and put most it back the way it came apart. A shop is going to be about $650-$700 with parts and labor. Book shows its a 4.2 hour job with AC so two hours to tear down and two hours to put back together. That is one of the easier ones to do.

[CS1983]

Thanks, I'll have the wife contact them for an estimate.

[CS1983]

If you did the conversion, surely you can take it all apart and put most it back the way it came apart. A shop is going to be about $650-$700 with parts and labor. Book shows its a 4.2 hour job with AC so two hours to tear down and two hours to put back together. That is one of the easier ones to do.

ability and desire are two totally different things. :D

[SouthPaw]

ability and desire are two totally different things. :D

Coming from me who just paid one of the grease monkeys in our shop to put on my leveling kit because I didn't 'feel' like it. Believe me, I know.

[sellersm]

I've used Hellem Auto in the past, not sure if Bob's still in business or not or if one of his son's is wrenching now... Honest Accurate is a good shop (the East one off Powers).

[CS1983]

Had wife get quotes from a few shops. Honest Accurate quoted 1200-2k depending on make and model (!?)

[HoneyBadger]

Where is Zteknik when you need him??

[Batteriesnare]

Gregor's Motor Works - family has used them for decades.

[zteknik]

Where is Zteknik when you need him??
[Wave]
I can do the job, have full shop access- but I'm booked solid. Might be a month or so before I can catch up.
If your interested shoot me a pm and I'll see if I have any Saturdays free.

[CS1983]

I was just coming to write that I contacted the former owner and asked if/when he'd had it changed so I could better gauge actual need (was basing on typical service timelines). I took off the inspection cover off and frankly, I don't see that it *needs* to be changed -- no cracks or obvious damage. Looks pretty good. He said he thinks it was around 210k miles, but he can't remember because he did one montero and not the other and doesn't recall now which one. Current mileage is ~238k
66337
Thoughts, based on picture?

[zteknik]

Just judging off that picture it looks ok. Really have to look at the ribbed side underneath for cracks separations and or stretching. Usually when the belt wears yo can see a line developing on the outer edges, like white thread starting to show- that's when you definitely need to change it. I don't remember if the mitsu is an interference engine or not meaning the tolerances are so tight that if it does go out the valves hit the piston. I'd have to look that up.

[CS1983]

According to this PDF, if I'm reading it right, it is an interference engine: http://www.gates.com/~/media/files/gates/automotive/catalogs/automotive/timingbeltreplacementguide.pdf?la=en

1999 3.5 V6 takes a t287 cam belt and is marked with a star, which should indicate interference.

Another option, since it's at a fairly high mileage engine, is to just drive the thing til it goes and replace the whole engine with one that has way less miles. Aside from the massive PITA that is, is there a mechanical consideration I'm not aware of which would say that's a bad idea?

[zteknik]

Yea it would be a bad idea to drive it till it breaks- busts up a whole bunch of stuff. Finding a lower mileage engine is a good option. But if this one runs good and the compression is good keep it running till it starts giving you troubles.

[Irving]

The belt on my Amigo looked similar, but I changed it anyway.