# Interference style engines and timing belts **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [July 3, 2014, 2:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interference-style-engines-and-timing-belts/85762 "2014-07-03T02:15:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 1:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interference-style-engines-and-timing-belts/85762/21 "2014-07-04T01:22:33Z")
“most of the other users in this forum prefer chains.” Count me in the minority I like belts just fine I’m not sure if I prefer one over the other, though ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 2:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interference-style-engines-and-timing-belts/85762/22 "2014-07-04T02:21:52Z")
The first car I remember that used a belt was the Ford Pinto…You could change that belt in about 20 minutes…That little engine could be hot-rodded very successfully… Compression ratio is not at all dependent on bore and stroke ratios…It’s strictly a matter of combustion chamber volume which can be manipulated in many ways… ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 5:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interference-style-engines-and-timing-belts/85762/23 "2014-07-04T17:35:08Z")
“The engineering team designing the head probably has no idea whether the valves can hit the piston or not” Does anyone seriously think the head an piston on a modern engine are designed separately? This white paper gives some insight to what choices were made in designing the engine used for 10 years in some of Toyota’s most popular cars: [http://www.spyderchat.com/1zzfe.pdf](http://www.spyderchat.com/1zzfe.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![wesw](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wesw/32/2713_2.png) [@wesw](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wesw)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 5:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interference-style-engines-and-timing-belts/85762/24 "2014-07-04T17:55:35Z")
this is a stupid question but is a serpentine belt a timing belt? ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 6:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interference-style-engines-and-timing-belts/85762/25 "2014-07-04T18:08:08Z")
The only timing chain I ever had to replace was on a 1984 Chevy Impala V8. It got noisy and my mechanic recommended replacing it then rather than later. It cost $225 or so for a new heavy duty twin sprocket gear and chain set. ---
**Author:** ![wesw](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wesw/32/2713_2.png) [@wesw](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wesw)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 6:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interference-style-engines-and-timing-belts/85762/26 "2014-07-04T18:14:43Z")
I had to replace the chain and sprocket on my 75 ford 360 motor in 2010 0r 2011, the chain was still good, sprocket was stripped. parts were under 35 bucks but had to get parts for 73 motor, guy at parts store said ford used up leftover parts whenever possible in that era ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 6:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interference-style-engines-and-timing-belts/85762/27 "2014-07-04T18:39:57Z")
A serpentine belt isn’t a timing belt. The serpentine belt drive accessories, like alternator, power steering pump, and ac comp. ---
**Author:** ![wesw](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wesw/32/2713_2.png) [@wesw](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wesw)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 6:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interference-style-engines-and-timing-belts/85762/28 "2014-07-04T18:47:41Z")
thanks ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 7:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interference-style-engines-and-timing-belts/85762/29 "2014-07-04T19:42:11Z")
The timing belt drives the camshaft(s) and usually the water pump. It’s name “timing belt” is derived from its primary function of “timing” the camshafts relative to the crankshaft. The two belts, the timing belt and the serp belt, do not resemble one another. Because there’s no timing issue for the alternator, power steering pump, etc., the serp belt will be a form of “V” belt, usually a flattened form with multiple "V"s to enable it to bend readily in both directions. Slippage is not desirable in a serp belt, but it isn’t a disaster either. Because cam timing is critical, the timing belt will be a “cogged” belt, with teeth that engage the cogs on the crankshaft and cams to eliminate the possibility of slipping and maintain perfect timing. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 7:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interference-style-engines-and-timing-belts/85762/30 "2014-07-04T19:47:37Z")
Make sure you get the right one: ![](http://aastroina.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/serpentine-belt-gg1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 8:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interference-style-engines-and-timing-belts/85762/31 "2014-07-04T20:02:35Z")
Would that be considered a “toothed” belt? No extra charge for the tensioner? ---
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 8:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interference-style-engines-and-timing-belts/85762/32 "2014-07-04T20:05:13Z")
What kind of car is that? A Viper? Doesn’t look like a Cobra. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 8:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interference-style-engines-and-timing-belts/85762/33 "2014-07-04T20:08:38Z")
mountainbike makes a good point serpentine belts are sometimes referred to as cogged v belts or poly v belts ---
**Author:** ![insightful](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/insightful/32/2732_2.png) [@insightful](https://community.cartalk.com/u/insightful)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 9:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interference-style-engines-and-timing-belts/85762/34 "2014-07-04T21:21:04Z")
Don Prudhomme’s car: > **[Don Prudhomme](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Prudhomme)** > > Don Prudhomme (born April 6, 1941, San Fernando, California), nicknamed "The Snake", is an American drag racer. Prudhomme crewed for "TV Tommy" Ivo on Ivo's twin-engined slingshot in 1960. ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2014, 1:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interference-style-engines-and-timing-belts/85762/35 "2014-07-05T01:22:08Z")
That photo is of the Goodyear Anaconda. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2014, 2:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interference-style-engines-and-timing-belts/85762/36 "2014-07-05T02:46:08Z")
I think there is a constriction in the air intake. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interference-style-engines-and-timing-belts/85762.md?page=1)