Thanks for helping with a non-3rdgen question. My mom dropped off her 94' Grand Prix at a shop after it died on her, they called, said it was the timing belt, and it was going to cost $460! She told them to go ahead. I was like WTF!!! They told her because it had the DOHC (3.4L) that it was labor intensive. Can anyone atest to that? Thanks a ton!

 

The infamous X motor 3.4.. Shew I hated working on those motors...It seriously was one of the worst to work on at the Pontiac dealer I worked at.... Everyone scattered like the plague when one came in. I cant remember how much a timing belt job is, but it is a lot more involved than most OHC motors...

 

I've got the 3.4L DOHC in my '92 Cutlass Supreme. Great engine but its a bitch to work on because it's shoehorned into the engine compartment. I've changed the timing belt myself a couple times, but it's almost a weekend project. You have to take off the coolant recovery bottle, serpentine belt, power steering pump, upper plenum, timing covers, and a whole bunch of other stuff I'm probably forgetting. And then there's always the fun of getting the timing belt tensioner back in by feel when you only have about 4 inches of space to reach your hands into between the engine and the strut tower.

 

I figured as much, it is a reputable shop. I'm gonna have to build mom something with a carb.

Thanks guys.

 

make sure they replace the idler pulleys too. they are plastic and tend to get flat spots on them. other than the cost of the parts it is a freebie. btw,,,there are special tools involved with timing that engine. let the dealer do it.

 

Oh yeah, good point, idler pulleys. They're prone to wear around the shaft too. On two separate timing belt changes I've had to replace a pulley. Since the belt is actually gone it sounds like, they'll have to re-time the cams, which takes their magic tool.

 

I was going to change the timing cover gasket a couple months ago on my 91 grand am w/2.3L QuadFour, pulled out the helms, and began reading. After about two minutes and some mention about needing a special engine hoist to hold the engine in place while removing one of the engine mounts, pissss I went over to checker auto and got a can of stop leak.
I would do the water pump on my Vette's LT1 again before even trying to jimmie out the altenator on that grand am.

Good Luck,

Ron C. Terry

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'82 Trans Am
'81 Camaro Z-28
'94 Vette LT1 Coupe