so after purchasing a new head from another member on the boards, i know i need new gaskets, but i was told i also need a new timing belt? is this true? if so what type of belt should i invest in? i have a 94 ej1 with a d16y8...

also on another subject i was talking to a friend about an intake gasket, he mentioned this gasket thats not like a rubber, or a metal, but some in-between material, it also spaces it out if that helps...

 

People will have different opinions about this, but any time I pull a head I just reuse the old belt if it's in great shape with low miles. However, with even the slightest cracks or wear, or if it looks great but has a lot of miles, I would just replace it. Don't play around when it comes to timing belts/tensioner stuff.

Other than that, I don't see a problem with OEM belts. You probably really don't need a high performance belt unless well over stock power output or RPM.

The IM gaskets I most commonly hear about are the insulating ones like from Hondata. They're meant to prevent heat from transferring from the head to the manifold in order to keep the intake charge cool.

 

i ALWAYS replace the timing belt regardless of how many miles is on the motor. its just an added insurance in my mind knowing its new and one less thing to worry about. thats just me though

 

I agree with 93egSLEEPER, but for me it's usually a case of money. For example, I'm doing my sister's head gasket right now, and she can barely afford the parts as it is, so I'm not gonna have her spend like $100 extra just to replace a belt that's in great condition. Besides, if she really cared about her motor she would have just replaced the radiator when I told her too.

So in short, it's best to go new every time, but if money's tight then it probably won't hurt to reuse the belt.

 

thanks alot guys, i think im going to pick up a new belt if i can find it for the right price, and the gasket i was talking about b4 is called a phenolic gasket.. anyone have any good or bad experiences with them?

 

Just use a stock intake gasket. Your not building a 500hp beast.

Any timing belt from a auto parts store is fine. We used OEM belts on our race engine.