codrus
SuperDork
11/25/16 11:45 a.m.
dean1484 wrote:
I have done alot of research on the 4.2 and if you are thinking of using one of these motors you want a 2004 or earlier as they have the front mount timing belts.
Why? If you're putting it in a Boxster then you're taking it out to do a timing service, even if it's a belt.
In reply to codrus:
The units with the chain belt hybrid are not as reliable and the chain is ridiculously expensive to replace and is the fail point
codrus
SuperDork
11/25/16 4:53 p.m.
Flight Service wrote:
In reply to codrus:
The units with the chain belt hybrid are not as reliable and the chain is ridiculously expensive to replace and is the fail point
Don't believe everything you read on Jalopnik. Most of them go 150K+ before needing chain service, and it's not something that fails without giving you lots of warning first. While the parts are expensive, most of the motors don't need all of them, it's just that if you're paying someone to take the motor out then it doesn't make sense to only replace some of the parts. That calculation changes if you're DIYing it.
Service the chain before you put it in and it'll probably outlast the chassis, whereas the belt unit will have to come out in 60K miles.