1986 B2000 Timing Belt Replacement Schedule

I know the manual says replace the timing belt every 60,000 miles.

I replaced it at 120,000.
And am quickly approaching 180,000 miles.

Wondering if the 60k recommendation is something that needs to be strictly adhered to. Thanks in advance.

There's a little wiggle room, but timing belts are cheap.
Better to be safe than sorry.

thanks.

definitely better to be safe than sorry. but the truck is currently in the shop for what i fear is a burned up clutch.

clutch cost + timing belt cost is gonna be more than i can swing at the moment. (and i have a 3000 mile trip planned....so just trying to figure out everything)

I noticed folks recommending a water pump change, during the belt change. I don't know if it needs doing every time, but I plan to swap my water pump, when I do my 180K belt change.

My truck did 72000 miles before its first belt change. They're non-interference engines, so if a belt fails, you'll be stranded, but the engine won't be destroyed.

My factory water pump started leaking at just under 120K miles, so had that done and the second timing belt done together, was about $450 then. So when that replacement water pump started leaking at about 180K miles last May, I did both myself, Gates timing belt and CarQuest water pump, pretty straightforward, my first timing belt change myself.

The 60K old Gates timing belt still looked good (which means nothing on a timing belt) so kept that as a spare. I say do those two yourself, parts were less than $75.

You'll save nothing having a shop do that all as clutch and water pump/timing belt don't share labor in common, except the hassle factor for taking it in.

+ one on SinCity... Don't go too long after the 60K interval.

Also + on Cusser's notes... I had a similar experience with my first B water pump.

I put what I was told is a heavy duty water pump on my recent complete engine rebuild at 118K, hopefully it will last longer than 120K because at my current rate, I only drive my rig in the summer, it will be changed by one of my possible future grandchildren.

I may have gotten away with exceeding the recommended interval, but I definitely don't suggest it. I got lucky, you might not.

Actually, in early 2011 (at least 6 months before I had decided to rebuild my engine due to smoking), I was approaching 180K miles on my B2200, and 60K mile son my existing timing belt. But being a non-interference engine and that I have free AAA towing 100 miles, I had decided to just go past the 60K interval on mine as one of my co-workers has done with his Corolla.

But in May 2011, the water pump started leaking, and I knew that was behind the timing belt, and that R&R would cost about $550 at the shop. So I tackled this myself, my first timing belt, did it the next Sunday morning, just a few hours without rushing, and it was straightforward. Probably the toughest part was getting all the air out of the cooling system when filling.

The whole exercise restored my confidence in the truck (coupled with my parts yard jaunts) that I could unbolt stuff without it breaking. This whole repair job convinced me that I could rebuild my own engine, even though it had been 25 years since I had been into any engine's internals. Completed that project October 2011.

These are so simple to work on, you should be doing the clutch yourself as well. All the work can be done in the driveway with simple hand tools and a floor jack.

The timing belt itself is under $20 - for that kind of money I'd replace it every 50k and not worry about getting stranded!

Thanks for all the advice!

I don't think i'm mechanically inclined enough to work on the clutch or the timing belt, but it's something to consider.

Good to know all the info about the water pump, and non interference engine and whatnot. Had the truck for 6.5 years and have put 80,000 miles on it. i'd love to see it get a bunch more.