I finally completed my first timing belt, front seals and water pump job.No leaks either.I did rip the water pump gasket the first try but was successful the second.The timing belt was relatively easy after I realized I forgot to put the back timing cover on first.I am a pro at the rope trick now.
It's a real sense of accomplishment firing up the car after it's been in my garage two weeks.It started right up idled great and didn't leak a drop of coolant or oil. New life at 305k.I drove it around town all day and kept expecting a puddle of something on the ground after each errand but all seems to be holding up.I may venture out on the highway tomorrow.
Thanks for all your support...
Philvo

Congrats on a job well done.

Cuddy

Keep your Ears and nose accute for a few days to feel comfortable that all is well. Maybe next Saturday pop the grommet off the Top cover, Loosen the Tension about 1 full turn and then retighten. It'll tighten up the stretch in teh new belt.

Congrats
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'75 Jeep CJ5 345Hp ChevyPwrd, two motorcycles, '85 Pickup: The '89 Volvo is the newest vehicle I own. it wasn't Volvos safety , it was Longevity that sold me http://home.no.net/ebrox/Tony's%20cars.htm

I have been checking the engine and the ground beneath each time I go out to the car.My oil leaks usually occured after the engine cooled and the seals contracted.
I still have a seeping rear main seal. Will that eventually let go and gush oil ? Do you use 10w-30 in your 240 ? I was thinking of switching to 15w-40.
Philvo

The rear should not just quit. I've never heard of one 'blowing out'. It'll weep worse and worse.

Oil: I use 10-40 Castrol GTX in everything I own. Lawn mowers, motorcycles, cars. All year round. If I lived further North I might have to change that a bit. Cars don't like to crank that oil in 0 degree weather.

All my cars are at, or over 300K miles, the motorcycle is over 50K miles and the lawn mower is over 17 years old. So, I think it's working for me.
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'75 Jeep CJ5 345Hp ChevyPwrd, two motorcycles, '85 Pickup: The '89 Volvo is the newest vehicle I own. it wasn't Volvos safety , it was Longevity that sold me http://home.no.net/ebrox/Tony's%20cars.htm

I have had a couple dozen high milage 240s and have always used Castrol GTX. I live in Maine and use 10w-40 in the spring/summer/fall and 10w-30 in the winter.It's a balmy 19 degrees right now....
Drove to Portland and back today(60 miles) with no leaks or problems....
Phil
'93 245 305k, '91 244 188k, '91 SAAB 900T convert. 228k

That good feeling is one of the reasons I keep doing this. Plus, driving around you'll be able to visualize exactly what's happening behind those covers.
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Thanks for all the help. DougC 1981 242, IPD bars and Turbo wheels, M46 :::::::::::::::::: 1993 245, B230 NA L-Block, M47, Turbo bars::::::::::::1984 760, B23FT, M46, waiting to donate engine to 242

how many miles on your 245 ?? L-Block ? do I have that ?

Phil
Two big thumbs up on a job well done, sure does feel good to hear it running in the end. Dan

Good job! Must be a great feeling to finish a timing belt. I haven't dared to try it yet, will do next time though, in about 13k. I did the 'easy' belts yesterday, and had to grind down nuts. Was very pleased once it was done, though.
Cheers,
Boerre