Timing chain replacement costs?

[JimmyVR6]

G'day everyone,

Recently my pretty girl (1997 VR6) has started rattling on startup and my mechanic has diagnosed it as the timing chains. She's currently got 151,000km's on her and I believe she's still on the original chains. She idles fine and doesn't seem to rattle at traffic lights etc, it just seems to be at startup (which is generally but not always cold) and taking off from said startup at low revs.
My mechanic's worked on European cars for 20 years and he reckons of all the mk3's he's worked on he's only seen one **** itself (quoted) from the chains, and that they rattle their entire lives. He did however tell me that he avoids changing them as they're a nightmare and he's too busy. (Which he is.)
I've read differing opinions on this issue and I'd love some feedback as I don't want a relatively small issue become a big one as a result of a broken chain.
Has anyone replaced the chains via a mechanic or specialist and how much did it set you back? I'm not confident enough to do it myself and don't really have the time or the space either.

Cheers, Jimmy.


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[mb1907953]

I'm sure more experienced guys on here will have their say but I have seen/ heard of quotes from anywhere between 1500-4500 (4500 from austral up here in brisbane, total bunch of wankers).

If you get someone experienced and competent with the cars (ala. Jmac up here in briso) they can drop the gearboxes/ engines out significantly quicker than anyone else and this makes the labour cheaper. But obviously they're the guys always booked out because everyone knows they do the best job and fairest priced job.

I guess it depends whether you're urgently wanting them done/ impatient, or can hang around and wait for someone who knows the cars back to front. Either way it is an extensive process and usually involves removing the gearbox and engine unless you're game to check the timing with the engine in the car. So once you do that there are a heap of other jobs like clutches, input shaft seals, crack pipes, water pumps etc that you may as well do at the same time to save on labor.

I'd be budgeting for $2500 at least and that would provide you with a really reliable VR6 engine good till 300,000... or $1800 if you just want to do the chains.

[HaydEn]

Pretty much as Max has said.

$1500 will get the chains done by an average-ish mechanic. Might as well do clutch, main seal at minimum while it's apart.

Doing the chains isn't that bad of a job yourself; just need to have every single possible part so you aren't waiting around. But it does take a bit of time to do.

[JimmyVR6]

Well I got her serviced very recently so I may as well get all this out of the way before I look into anything else (I cancelled my order on my Borla catback for this reason) and if it's for the benefit of reliability I'm all for it. I do my own oil and coolant but that's about it.
Thanks mate, appreciate it. I'll look into the fellas in Brisbane and see what the go is.


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[mb1907953]

Well I got her serviced very recently so I may as well get all this out of the way before I look into anything else (I cancelled my order on my Borla catback for this reason) and if it's for the benefit of reliability I'm all for it. I do my own oil and coolant but that's about it.
Thanks mate, appreciate it. I'll look into the fellas in Brisbane and see what the go is.


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Car Services & Repairs | V A Garage | Gold Coast, Australia

Ive heard good reports about those guys down at the goldy, might be worth giving him a ring.

Yeh definitely worth a go man. They're a rewarding car when you pour your money into maintenance and get them up to scratch! haha.

[JimmyVR6]

Hahaha I bought one knowing full well they're a bit of a money pit. But what else is there worth spending your time and money on? The car's a part of my everyday life. Just needs a bit of TLC.
Cheers for the reference, I'll ring em' tomorrow before I start work.


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[Bug_racer]

You should probably factor in changing the sump gasket and rocker cover gasket as well . Test the oil pump too as they tend to start failing .

[JimmyVR6]

Update guys, I took Maxs recommendation and talked to Adam at V A garage. Quoted 1500$ for the chain, and I've requested he check for any parts or components due for a replacement whilst he's at it. Pretty stoked to be honest, cheers for all the advice!


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[mb1907953]

Update guys, I took Maxs recommendation and talked to Adam at V A garage. Quoted 1500$ for the chain, and I've requested he check for any parts or components due for a replacement whilst he's at it. Pretty stoked to be honest, cheers for all the advice!


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Thats a really good price man, and Ive heard he does great work so good luck! Might be wroth doing the clutch while hes there and associated parts like the input shaft seal and check the clutch fork etc. And then theres the coolant system he could do while its all apart.... The list could be endless but you might end up at $2500, albeit providing you with a super reliable vr6 at a fraction of the usual labour costs.

[JimmyVR6]

Thats a really good price man, and Ive heard he does great work so good luck! Might be wroth doing the clutch while hes there and associated parts like the input shaft seal and check the clutch fork etc. And then theres the coolant system he could do while its all apart.... The list could be endless but you might end up at $2500, albeit providing you with a super reliable vr6 at a fraction of the usual labour costs.

Yeah of course, I've kept in touch with him since he started on her and he's said that everything looks to be in good order. Really nice bloke, knows what he's talking about, would highly recommend him from now on.
My clutch has plenty of life in it still and engages smoothly so I'm not particularly fussed about that at the moment. He hasn't made any mention of the fork or seals so I think they're good for now. Will definitely get them looked at when I get my clutch replaced (if I keep her that long) or if any issues come up. He hasn't made any mention of them yet so fingers crossed.


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