getting ready to do a timing belt as preventive maint on my 98 2.5. did one about 4 years ago on a 2.3 and have since sold the truck. are they basically the same on the newer 2.5 engine or is it different from the 2.3?

thanks

 

I think they are about the same. How many miles are on it?

 

125000, now I'm sitting here ready to pull old belt off and I'm screwed with a damper that won't slide off, obviously I need a puller but what size bolts are in th damper for puller to grab??? Gotta be metric because 1/4" bolt is too small. Help

 

well found that problem, they were m8x1.25's or so, whatever course is. anyhow got the new belt on and damper installed, and the marks dont line up 100% but their not off enough to call it a tooth, just a hair off. is it normal for these marks not to be lined up 100%? i set crank dead even on timing marks, but oil pump and cam are just a hair off. engine spins over when turning by hand on the crank, and clearly has compression(i.e. it gets to that point and spins itself a bit)

 

Will the truck not start now? The oil pump drive it timing indifferent btw. You only have to worry about that on the older distro equipped 2.3's.