I need help Identifying my engine

[dsmcoder]

I am trying to figure out what year my engine is because the last owner replaced it, the vin is not recognizable, but the oil pan looks like the one on the top here http://www.vfaq.com/mods/early-late-engine.html Is there anyway way of determining what year my engine is without the vin?

I need this information so I can buy a timing belt kit.

[90BlueGSX]

Pictures would help more

[shott17]

Pictures would indeed help. Moved to newbie section.

[dsmcoder]

My vehicle is at my school shop so I can't take a picture of it right now, but if you click on the link you will see what the oil pan looks like.

[shott17]

If it doesn't have the indent by the crank on the timing side then it should be a 6bolt.

[dsmcoder]

I think it's a 6-bolt but I need to know what year because aren't the timing kits different for 1990 dsms then the 90-92 dsms?

[shott17]

No. 6bolt's are all the same kit.

[dsmcoder]

Okay so this kit http://www.store.partsdinosaur.com/product274.html will work for my engine as long as my oil pan matches the picture of the 6bolt oil pan correct?

[shott17]

Yes. Though I would not buy it to put on any DSM of mine. I would go OEM pulleys and or kevlar for the timing belt.

For approx 60 bucks more, you will get all OEM stuff PLUS a brand new OEM hydraulic tensioner from a reputable vendor.

I would also put an OEM water pump on it. Ive never had a aftermarket/reman last.

[dsmcoder]

Can you show me this kit, that includes oem hydraulic tensioner and water pump for 60 dollars more?

[shott17]

It does not include the OEM pump. That will be seperate. My point being, I would shop around a bit and use quality stuff. Or you may be replacing/rebuilding a head sooner than you want.

And I can't directly link you to a source as it is a conflict of interest for me in my position.

[dsmcoder]

I talked to parts dinosaur and he said a lot of his stuff in the kit is from the same oem manufacturer with the same casting numbers including the Balance Shaft Belt Tensioner Bearing, Timing Belt Tensioner Adjuster, Timing Belt Tensioner Bearing, and the pci belts are made by gates in the USA or UK with direct oem replacement numbers on them.

[DSM Loki]

http://www.streettunedmotorsports.co...g_belt_kit.htm

Comes with a balance shaft eliminator too, which I strongly recommend.

[dsmcoder]

What does removing the balance shaft do, any pros and cons of doing it?

[DSM Loki]

Without the balance shafts in there you get a bit more oil pressure, a bit less parasitic drag on the engine, but most importantly, you don't have to worry about 6lbs of metal spinning at twice the RPM of the engine possibly failing and destroying your engine, turbo, etc.

Also, the most common timing belt failures I've seen were caused by a balance shaft belt coming apart and feeding itself between the crank sprocket and timing belt.