Chain or belt drive cam

[ecoman]

Planning on getting a panel van and converting to a stealth camper;

1. Am I better getting a younger chain drive cam (i.e.Renault Master 2010 onwards) with high mileage or an older belt drive with lower miles?...I prefer a chain as its for life i.e. doesnt need to be changed on a regular interval like a belt.

2. What 2000 onwards makes/models have chain drive cam engines...I can only think of the new Renault Master/Movano/NV400.

3. I can seem to understand the new law that now states that I cannot convert a van to a camper and have it re-registered?..Can someone point me towards the DVLA/VOSA site that shows their new regulations in detail AND/OR help in my understanding.

Thanks

 

[witzend]

Hi Fiat 2.2 chain and others but unsure which models

 

[Teutone]

Planning on getting a panel van and converting to a stealth camper;

1. Am I better getting a younger chain drive cam (i.e.Renault Master 2010 onwards) with high mileage or an older belt drive with lower miles?...I prefer a chain as its for life i.e. doesnt need to be changed on a regular interval like a belt.

2. What 2000 onwards makes/models have chain drive cam engines...I can only think of the new Renault Master/Movano/NV400.

3. I can seem to understand the new law that now states that I cannot convert a van to a camper and have it re-registered?..Can someone point me towards the DVLA/VOSA site that shows their new regulations in detail AND/OR help in my understanding.

Thanks

I think you should buy by condition of the vehicle, not by the features.
How many miles are you planning to do? There are other factors to consider, like fuel economy. Great saving money by not having to change a cambelt but what if the economy is worse?
Look at the total cost of running a vehicle to decide.

 

[Sparks]

Post Deleted

 

[whitevanwoman]

My 2002 Mark 6 Transit has a chain It had 80k mileage on it at 10 years when I bought it.

According to my mechanic it is maintenance free, and so I never need to worry about the cam belt going.

 

[Daiboy]

My 2007 Transit apparently has a chain drive. I only know because I asked a garage if I needed to change it due to age rather than mileage.

Dai

 

[whitevanwoman]

Vauxhall Vivaro (Renault Trafic) has 72,000 mile intervals between timing belt changes. Just done mine at 141,000.

:scared::scared::scared: I'd have been wetting myself for every mile after 72001. I panicked when I realised that the cam belt was due a change at 60K in my Peugeot Partner, cos it was 72k when I realised. Have heard the horror stories about pistons going through engines etc.

 

[Blackwatch]

most light vans that have timing chain driven will need them chaining at anything from 80k and above .
main reason is the soft metal they made out of so they stretch then in turn wear the guides out.

this cost a lot more that timing belt to change and its the same scenario if they brake. valve damage as well as passably cam braking.


like its been said you need to find out which is going to be more beneficial to you and running costs........

 

[Bertilak]

Belts can be expensive rubber!

Also watch if there is a time limit recommendation on belt life: I know many of the 1.9VWs say change after 4 years, irrespective of miles.
Personally I think this is extreme but the OEMs set are risk averse to bad reutation, whilst liking the extra business in the service dept.
If you stick to this, at c£350-450 for a change (indy specialist) the belt could be costing more than your tyres!
The days of banging a new belt on for £25, and nudging the tensioner, are long gone, with the belt doing so many more things, and being kinked round more highly loaded idler bearings, waterpump spindles, many of which are "lubricated for life" (meaning then preventatively change the whole thing!).

On the oher hand, chains don't go on forever, and would usefully be changed on very high milers.
We can forget that 100K used to be OLD not very long ago, often we think of that as nicely run-in.

 

[Bertilak]

also, to answer question 2
2.5 litre VW T5's have the cam driven by a full gear train. Though good to drive, they can have a few other issues too.

On the subject of long term maintenance items, also investigate

1. if the turbo has variable geometry vanes in it (most modern smaller vans do, not sure about bigger than VW/Transit size. These wear out or coke up from 100-150K)
2. If it has dual mass flywheel, these can be £5-700 every 100-150K, 1.9VWs and Vivaro's are famous for it!

Maybe less sporty vans are a better bet, and it's all about how it's been driven...

 

[Mastodon]

AFAIK 3.0 renaults have a chain, but it still has a service life, movanos have the same engine I think. Just changed cam and acc belts on my 2.5 and they look hardly worn, however my golf was failed on MOT because the cam belt was overdue ( and the 'mechanic' wouldn't rev the engine to max for the emission test). I've also heard of the acc belt breaking and jumping into the cam belt trashing the head. Yes lots of folk get away with it but I bet you wouldn't fly in a plane with an overdue cam belt...

 

[Ron Bones]

Don't believe that Chains are maintenance free! We had an Old Merc 200 saloon with very low mileage and the chain snapped causing the usual bent valves etc. But the damage the spinning chain did to the engine bay was what wrote the car off! Belts are easier and cheaper to replace and should stop owners being so complacent about maintenance. I would as a rule do a belt change upon purchasing any used vehicle unless its lucky enough to have an interference free head but I don't know of a van that does. Personally I always buy vehicles based on my ability to maintain them, No ECU and simple electronics, definitely nothing with a Dual mass flywheel as mentioned below and as much space in the bay as possible. I've owned three VW T4's, all the simple yet effective 1.9TD variety. They tick all the boxes and seem to keep on going well beyond most TDI's if maintained.

 

[Sparks]

Post Deleted

 

[vwalan]

iveco daily can have chain drive . they used it on the 4x4 but lots have it on the vans . they still break though . the renault use that same motor .
its a myth that chains dont break they do and cause much more damage when they do.
think back to vauxhall cars chains used to break on them for a past time .

 

[snowbirds]

Pot luck

Hi ecoman,

I think its down to your personal choice when buying a second hand van and to how it was used and has it any service history with it.If it is well cared for with light use you may be lucky,but most panel vans are hammered with in an inch of there life.Most of the agency drivers I worked with did not check the engine oil or water and if I made a comment about it they would say "the driver that had it yesterday may have checked it".Just take a look on Ebay in spares or repairs there are loads of good vans and cars for sale with blown engines were the owners could not be bothered or thought I will get away with it.

Regards Snowbirds.

Planning on getting a panel van and converting to a stealth camper;

1. Am I better getting a younger chain drive cam (i.e.Renault Master 2010 onwards) with high mileage or an older belt drive with lower miles?...I prefer a chain as its for life i.e. doesnt need to be changed on a regular interval like a belt.

2. What 2000 onwards makes/models have chain drive cam engines...I can only think of the new Renault Master/Movano/NV400.

3. I can seem to understand the new law that now states that I cannot convert a van to a camper and have it re-registered?..Can someone point me towards the DVLA/VOSA site that shows their new regulations in detail AND/OR help in my understanding.

Thanks

 

[n8rbos]

You would'nt go far wrong with a ldv convoy between 98'-02, these had the ford ' banana ' engine in which has the cambelt and is virtually bomb proof, the belts are cheap and easily changed, however they are a bit sluggish and will possibly hit 65 but travel all day at 60. At the same time the ford engine was fitted with a turbo giving 100 bhp with loads of oomph but a dodgy electronic fuel pump ( most folk change to a bosch pump).after 02 chain driven duratorq turbo engines are fitted, these are superb enginnes but full of electronics. It is also recommended not to tow start chain driven fords because they can jump the teeth, if you have to then its advisable to do so from standing start in 3rd gear.regards clutches, kits are available to change from d.m.f. To 3 part clutches for a fraction of the price. Parts are a plenty full too. A forum dedicated to them and a free manual on disc .

 

[plum loco]

I do agree with the ford bannana engine.

 

[plum loco]

I do agree with the ford bannana engine.Yes i have heard you have to re register your self build camper to say it's a campervan on the log book,but mine is a self build and my insurer has insured it as a campervan,but it still says van on the logbook.

sorry misread the first bit you can't register as a camper ,but you can still insure it as a camper. try gov.uk .