When to do your cambelt? Intervals

I'm restoring the engine bay over winter (1.8 clipper EX), one of the many jobs is fitting all new aux pulleys, whilst these are off I'm debating whether or not to change the cambelt, it had one 2 years ago and has done about 7000ish miles since, I know the mileage is low but just thinking time? Would you change it yourself whilst you were there? Cheers

Tricky one if it's only done 7k.
With normal use it would be 60-80k but I changed my at 50k because it was the original so I was looking at the age of it more than the mileage.

So depends on how it looks and how you feel about it.
But if you do change it make sure you do the water pump at the same time if not already done.

Many people forget or don't realise that they should change the pump at the same time!  

If the engine is out there is no simpler time to change it, if you leave the engine in id probably wait another two years.

Golf Cabrio said

Tricky one if it's only done 7k.
With normal use it would be 60-80k but I changed my at 50k because it was the original so I was looking at the age of it more than the mileage.

So depends on how it looks and how you feel about it.
But if you do change it make sure you do the water pump at the same time if not already done.

Many people forget or don't realise that they should change the pump at the same time!  

 This was my thinking to do the water pump and just the ease of doing the belt whilst I'm there makes sense to me even if it's premature 

volkswarren said

If the engine is out there is no simpler time to change it, if you leave the engine in id probably wait another two years.

 the engines staying in but just that whole assembly is stripped so just a thought for peace of mind really as I'd only end up doing it next winter anyway, do you change the tensioner or leave well alone if there's no issue with the one fitted?

Change belt and tensioner, it's as likely to fail as a belt.

For the price of a cam belt and tensioner I would change it while other stuff is out of the way.
Have you took the cover off yet and checked the seals?

volkswarren said

Change belt and tensioner, it's as likely to fail as a belt.

 okay cheers for that

mark1gls said

For the price of a cam belt and tensioner I would change it while other stuff is out of the way.
Have you took the cover off yet and checked the seals?

 This is my thinking, I've only got the top timing cover off as one of the crank pulley bolts is rounded and need to bring home some proper tools from work to sort it, the engine is pretty oily and grubby all round from the years I'm going to do the rocker cover and sump gaskets and clean everything up and go from there