I was at Ian's Sub Shop today, close to where Susan works, and

she came running in out of breath telling me "My car died!!"

She ordered a sub also and we ate together and from what she described

it was about like when the timing gear disintegrated on the 164.

I think this car has a rubber timing gear turned inside out with the

teeth on the inside of a flexible band, much like a Gilmer belt,

but not running a Rootes blower, like a good Gilmer belt ought to.

This evening we went over to the scene of the crime and pulled the

oil cap, cranked the engine and notice the cam was not moving.

Looking at the cover for the timing belt, it seemed quite loose

and stuck to the inside of the cover. I conclude beyond reasonable

doubt that Susan has a broken timing belt. We dragged it to my house

with a heavy chain (Know why a man drags a chain? see below....*)

with no extraordinary trauma and I am about to get ready to prepare

myself emotionally to handle this new task. On a B16, B18, B20

or B30 it would be no sweat but the OHC models seem to be sort of

European (so THAT'S what you're a-doin'!), metric, biased to the left

and just plain DIFFERENT, if not weird. Therefore I also need to

prepare myself intellectually,o fend off years of accumulated ignorance,

as well as logistically so that I have everything I'll need on hand.

The help I am hoping for is as follows:

1. Can anyone fax or mail me some manual pages for a timing belt

replacement on a 1980 245? I'll be happy to pay for copying, mailing

or other associated expense. Also tips or hints the manual may not

cover too cleary that would make the job easier or help avoiding

common pitfalls would be worth their weight in gold.

2. What else do I need besides the timing belt? I have both manuals

and parts microfiches for the oldtimers but only the driver's

instruction book for this car, and that is water-damaged.

Not sure if I should wear my "metricsucks.com" hat while I work on

this car. If it is sentient it might take it the wrong way.

Many thanks for your help with this strange new (for me) task. I'm

sure that many of you have come through this trauma with flying colors

but there is always a first time. Maybe a last time too....

Best wishes to all,

*(why does a man...... Did you ever try to push one??)