Good afternoon, all. I'm new to this Forum although I've been a Fiat owner and/or enthusiast since 1976. I've also carried out a great number of cam belt changes over the years including a Delta integrale 8V, Beta HPE and my Prisma Symbol so I know a little about the Lampredi twin cam. My Barchettais now over 10 years old with 38000 miles and I realised that the cam belt was in need of changing. Dismantled the car and turned the engine to TDC(no.1) but none of the marks (white on the crank and exhaust cam pulleys;a feint red spot on the inlet) line up with anything on the block / head. AmI correct in thinking that this job can be completed without special tools?In other words, if I carefully mark all of the relevant pulleys at TDC, removethe old belt, fit the new one, tension, revolve engine twice and check themarks still align - will that suffice? I know most would take the car to aspecialist which I will do if absolutely necessary but I know some people onhere have done the job themselves. Thanks for any input.

You really need the cam locking tools to make it easier,

This guides pretty good,
http://home.hccnet.nl/jaap.bouma/PhaseVariator.htm

I have not changed one myself (and to be honest am not planning on doing it either!!).....

The guy's at DTR tend to be very helpful and happy to dispense advice over the web, I suggest dropping them a mail - the worse that they could tell you is nothing!!

[email protected]

Do do the job correctly my friend you need one of these

Further to my question on the Barchetta cam belt change procedure, I've just spoken to a fellow club member who runs a Fiat specialist garage in Hull and he confirmed that the cam locking tool set must be used. Simply marking up the pulleys and fitting the new belt is insufficient as the belt tolerances (between old and new) are likely to send the engine out of time and so result in poor performance. I priced up the tool kit at about £100 and the tensioner / idler is about the same price. Alan will do all the work for £329 - including the variator!! - so I think it's a case of putting the car back together and letting someone else 'take the strain' for a change. This will be only the second time my car has been worked on by someone else in the nearly 5 years I've owned it........Cheers.

I was reading in a ALFA ROMEO forum that the plastic tensioner / idler is now metallic and is much better,has more durability .Also there is a new type variator with metall instead of plastic ring/parts inside ,the new variator part number is 55202772.
From what i know we use the same variator ,belt,tensioners as the 147/156 TS but check it before plz.

I am going to change the cam soon but just wanted to know if I need to replace the two black belt followers?

So far I have the white tensioner,water pump,auxiliary belt,cam belt, cam tool, cam locks,water pump gasket seal. Anything else ?

A mechanic??
That's everything, you dont need to change the black pulleys unless you feel they sound funny when spinning them by hand once the belt is off but I think you will find that they are OK.

Thanks SS

Mechanic....

It made me PMSL, and I wrote it!!

Hi SS,

I'm also due a cam belt change... have bought new cam belt, tensioner and idler also got a water pump. figured while it was apart it wouldn't hurt to change it.

I have seen a cam belt locking tool on ebay for about 30 quid but it seems to be just the blue n red bits inside that pretty red box U have. are the other bits needed??

Also got a good mechanic lined up but I'm sure he has never done a fiat cam belt before. (nearest dealer is in Dubai)

I have seen a cam belt locking tool on ebay for about 30 quid but it seems to be just the blue n red bits inside that pretty red box U have. are the other bits needed??

Click to expand...

Yo Desert Rat!!
The kit that I have has everything needed to make the job easier The T-piece puts the tension on the tensioner whilst tightening it up. The curved piece locks into the flywheel to ensure the bottom end does not move and the two different coloured cam profiles are for different Fiat engines.
The kit on ebay is the cam profiles and nothing else however, the job can be done, it's just a little easier with my kit

You will notice that I have some bolts sat in the red box. I use these instead of the original cam bolts to hold the profiles in place because these are longer and give better purchase than the shorter, original fiat items.

superspotter said:

Yo Desert Rat!!
The kit that I have has everything needed to make the job easier The T-piece puts the tension on the tensioner whilst tightening it up. The curved piece locks into the flywheel to ensure the bottom end does not move and the two different coloured cam profiles are for different Fiat engines.
The kit on ebay is the cam profiles and nothing else however, the job can be done, it's just a little easier with my kit

You will notice that I have some bolts sat in the red box. I use these instead of the original cam bolts to hold the profiles in place because these are longer and give better purchase than the shorter, original fiat items.

Click to expand...

Fancy doing mine for me?

Err......no

superspotter said:

Err......no

Click to expand...

Gowan - it will give you a chance to show off your extensive tool-chest and prove what a fantastic mechanic you are!!!!

Err.......still no