81 Celica and Timing Belt - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

GregAt99 · 05-09-2003, 10:43 AM

Background info to my question: My friend who is a Toyota nut has an 81 Celica GT for sale, but it needs a new timing belt. Im new to the import world (us domestics just recently started using belts instead of chains), so I'm hesitant to buy pending the answer.

The car needs a new headgasket, and although I haven't popped the hood yet, I'll assume its an OHC or DOHC, which means that the timing belt will be accessable anyways when I go to change the gasket. On some domestics, when the belt breaks it can have a nasty tendancy to bend valves and crack heads. Will I be up against that with this celica (seeing as how the belt broke while driving)? And secondly, when I do go to change it, often you need special tools to apply tension to the belt or to make sure the sprocket is on good and tight...Im sure Im not the first one to change a head gasket and timing belt on a celica, so if you have any advice it would be appreciated, otherwise if it is straightfoward, like it is on, lets say, a chevy, just let me know.

Thanks a lot

Greg

Hotwheelharmer · 05-09-2003, 02:39 PM

Well just to let you know that in 81 the celicas didn't have a timing belt they had a timing chain. It is either a 20r or 22r motor in there but both of them are a SOHC motor. If it does infact need a timing chain it is very easy to replace. I would suggest getting the double chain setup for it though. It will help you quite a bit. I know toyota had a problem with the chains in the early years of rht 20r's and the 22r's but fixed it later on.

GregAt99 · 05-10-2003, 11:25 AM

thanks for the reply....it might have been an 80 celica then, because I have been told many times that its the timing BELT that needs to be replaced. Anyways, I wont be up against any bent valves or cracked guides will I? And the most important thing...will I need a special tool to put tension on when reinstalling, or to make sure the sprocket is on tight.

Thanks

G

(learning more every day...)

Hotwheelharmer · 05-10-2003, 12:09 PM

What motor do you have in the celica? Or I guess better yet where are you located at? If you are in america then you still have a chain if is a 1980. In america celicas didn't have timing belts until 1986. That is the same year Celica went to a FWD vehicle. You shouldn't have to worry about bent valves because there are only 2 toyota motors that are interference motors...well except the new 3mzfe motor but that is a different story.