Timing belt replacement help

[Cajun]

I'm "restoring" a 98 camry 4 cyl. with 200K miles I picked up for free. I'm going to use it to keep the miles off of my gas guzzling trucks.

So far I've:
Cleaned it as good as a possible. Previous owner spilled food and drinks everywhere, lots of pet hair.I think I went through a whole bottle of Frebreeze
Washed and waxed, I don't think it ever was waxed in 10 years
Put in new sparkplugs
Changed the oil
Drained and filled the tranny a couple times until the fluid came out red then changed the filter.
Changed the tranny fluid in the front diff.
Flushed the brake fluid, pads still look good.

The P.O. said she changed the timing belt around 120k or maybe 140k miles so I figure it could use changing. I was going to replace the water pump, thermostat, and flush the coolant. I have the tools and have experience with timing belts on other cars. How hard is the 4 cyl Camry? Any tricks I need to know? How long of a job is it?

Thanks

[bcny168]

There is a good tutorial here. My Timing belt change (very detailed, pics) Gen 4

Good luck!

[ghettosled]

they are easy to change on the camry. this was the first timing belt i did and i was able to complete the job in about 3 hours-ish. i replaced the seals around the oil pump (its driven off of the TB) about a year ago and i was able to do that in about 2 hours.

[Cajun]

I've read that I should change the water pump while I'm in there. Is that good idea? Even if it isn't leaking.

What about the thermostat.

[bcny168]

Originally Posted by Cajun

I've read that I should change the water pump while I'm in there. Is that good idea? Even if it isn't leaking.

What about the thermostat.

I think it is a good idea. I had mine done by my friend and he changed the waterpump and thermostat as well as replaced all the drive belts as indicated by the tutorial mentioned earlier. Have fun, I'm hoping to do it myself this summer when I get the chance.

[hooRAH]

If you've done a timing belt on another car, you'll walk through this one. There's nothing special about it, its very easy (as timing belts go). Only things to know (which you can pick up from reading the DIYs) are that the crank pulley bolt is a mother to get off (arent they all?) and that you need to use a threaded puller for the crank pulley, not a claw type.

Also, you want to replace both the oil pump seal and the pump O-ring. The o-ring is what usually leaks. Replace the water pump while you're in there and you don't have to open the front of the motor for a long, long time!

[Cajun]

Thanks guys.

I'll probably just get a kit like this and change everything.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Timin...spagenameZWDVW