I recently purchased a Dayco timing belt kit for my Feb 98 WRX. The car is a GC8K. The Dayco kit (KTBA074HP) has a totally different timing belt tensioner and a larger pulley than on my car. The kit is meant for Feb 98 WRX. But it seems like my Feb 98 WRX has a different timing belt tensioner and pulleys.

Is this normal? I assume I should be sending this back, but what kit would I buy as my car as an 02/98 build date.

Early wrx have the bottom tensioner. Anything after 2001(bug eye )has the tensioner with the idler attached. Either they have sent you the wrong kit or you have a 98 wrx with a 2001+ short block installed at some time

__________________
Marti


Car: C Red S13 Silvia 2.3l 400+rwhp-SOLD
Daily ae82 4age corolla (light mods)-Sold
Daily:SWB GQ Patrol
Will be a 03-04 STI next

That is strange. The history on the car makes no mention of any engine transplant. I also took it to the same service center (as the previous 2 owners - had a full service history) for many years (it was brought new from them). They never mentioned anything about an engine transplant. Is there any way that I can verify this such as an engine number or something? If so, where do I find the number?

The pulleys consist of 2 idlers the same size, a toothed idler and a pivoting tensioner (above). Note that the car does not have the small idler (to the right of the tensioner) found on later models. I would be very surprised if this car had anything but the stock motor. I purchased the car with fairly low kms on it about 10 years ago from the 2nd owner. The car has zero modifications, stock as a rock.

I think Marti has his years wrong. My MY98 had the same tensioner as you have pictured above. Pretty sure my V3 STI also has the same one, I think 97 was a year that was a free for all in the parts bin and 98 onwards had this style.

Yeah sorry I was a few years off

__________________
Marti


Car: C Red S13 Silvia 2.3l 400+rwhp-SOLD
Daily ae82 4age corolla (light mods)-Sold
Daily:SWB GQ Patrol
Will be a 03-04 STI next

Thanks GX-REX. I hunted down a manual a 99 and it shows the same tensioner setup. Dayco do not seem to have the "kit" for this model. They have the kits with the correct tensioner, but apparently all include the smaller timing belt idler. A bit strange.

That's no problem. The small idler is an additional one. If your car does not have the thread for it you just disregard it. It's after the last camshaft in order of rotation so it has no effect on timing, it just minimised some of the belt whip when fitted.

The DAYCO kit you need is the KTBA161H, as dtrally stated if your car does not have the small roller than just leave it in the box, no issue. The reason DAYCO put it in the kit is to cover off all variants in that year range covered by the kit, some will need it, others wont. Same with all the oil seals provided, just use what is required for your application.
You can get on their website and look at all the products with photos included for each part in the kit if you really want to, its a good site, you just need to register.

Paul do you work for or sell DAYCO?

__________________

221.7KW-ATW 498.5NM MMS ROLLER DYNO & BUILT BY STi NINJAS, BUILD #318/600

EBISU SUBARU, SHIBUYA-KU TOKYO

Both I am thinking. Paul.Kelesi@dayco.com

__________________
[I]and then we discovered it wasn't the Robot King after all, it was the real one. Fortunately I was able to reattach the head.[/I]