That last - >>I spent 40 dollars and yes, it took a long time, but I'm much more satisfied having done it myself and learned something.<< Says it all. Forty bucks instead of $345 is my kind of deal. Get a quote from a dealer on replacing just a timing belt sometime. Close to $200 if they don't sell you up to all seals and a water pump. YUKK

May take a long time, and - if you're like me - take several attempts to get it right, but you know EXACTLY what got done and what else was found out in the process.

When I am faced with a medium to large job, I get a dealer quote, being sure to get the parts and labor breakout. Then I change it to my parts cost (parts car, junkyard, fpcgroton, etc.) and double the shop labor time.

Timing belt gets 2 hours at 80 bucks per, and forty bucks of parts, rags, shop towels, etc. I use a $20 belt, take 4 hours, and am happy. And not TOO greasy.

Huge greasy jobs, well........ Motor mounts and mufflers I still do.

Regards,

Bob

:>)