Since I'm leaning towards doing a cam job & my engine would be taken apart to install a few things, I'm thinking about getting a Prestone Water Pump (2.0 95-02 Dodge Neon) from Howell along with the timing belt and a new thermostat (to prevent long term maintanance). These 3 things can come as 1 package. FYI my car has about 68,000 miles on it.
1. Have u all heard anything good or bad about the Prestone Water Pump? How is it?
2. They have a 160 Degree Thermostat and also a 180 degree thermostat. Which one would be best & are they any good?
3. If the picture is accurate under Howell's website, it is a Dayco timing belt. Is that any good? Is it better, worse, or the same as the stock timing belt?
Thanks

 

I'd stay away from the 160 degree thermostat. it's just too cold, besides the intake manifolds on these cars are plastic and don't absorb and pass on heat like the old aluminum or cast iron intake manifilds were accustom to seeing on muscle cars. The engine needs to reach a good operating temp to work correctly.

My $0.02

Eric

 

What do u think of the 180 degree? I think these are supposed to be for performance.

 

I have a 170 degree in my car. I went a little lower, because if you drive the car hard, the thermostat may be a 180, which means that it will open at 180 degrees, but from all the heat of hard driving, if ot opens at 170, the actual combustion chamber temp about at operation temp.

 

Why do u think the dealership charges like $150 dollars just for the timing belt (not including labor)? Howell's timing belt costs like $50 dollars. I believe the t-belt from Howell is a Dayco.
Is one better than the other?

 

because they are the dealer. Autozone has it for like $25-$30. Autozone timing belt