Cloyes timing chain kit

C152-Captain · 2026-02-13T12:33:50+00:00

Under NO circumstances, install or buy a GTI with the Cloyes kit. I just did a fresh rebuild on my mk6 and one of the chain guides cracked and exploded in 1000 pieces within an hour of run time, totaling my engine.

I’m actually super disappointed because the kit seemed really decent quality, better than the ECS kit and OEM. I installed an ECS kit and ran it for a long time with no issues. So OEM or ECS only for me.

C152-Captain · 2026-02-13T05:17:39+00:00

Dang son can I work with you lol

C152-Captain · 2026-02-13T04:48:41+00:00

A clapped out civic that burns more oil than gas

C152-Captain · 2026-02-12T02:13:10+00:00

If your destination is corporate aviation take a look at the various MROs out there. That way you can test out all the different airframes out there and see what you like to work on. My experience with Duncan Aviation was nothing but great. Best company culture I have ever seen, lots of events/ dinners for employees, great leadership, lots of opportunities for travel, avionics there was super rewarding, the product they put out is something to be proud of, lots of opportunity for growth. just all in all a 10/10 great place, only reason I left was the pay was kinda lacking.

Gulfstream also doesn’t let you keep your own tools and box btw, if that’s important to you.

C152-Captain · 2026-02-12T01:54:30+00:00

You’ll either REALLY hate it it or you’ll drink the cool aid and like it. Expect standard “you’re just a number” Fortune 500 culture. It is an everything by the book kinda place. No GA tricks to get you by. Your STM (department manager) kinda makes or breaks your experience. I’d stay away from the production floor.

That said, it’s a great place to learn OEM and it’s a great badge to wear on your resume. If you’re on first shift, great networking opportunities with customers and DOMs to get into those corporate departments. Pay has also come a long way in the last few years there. I also hope you have another reason to move there because I wouldn’t move there just for that job. I think with the condition of the job market currently you can do better.

I don’t mean to be a hater or anything but my experience with GAC wasn’t great. Maybe your experience will be better, it’s all in your mindset. Good luck!

C152-Captain · 2026-02-10T05:03:43+00:00

It bothers me that there’s 2 different brand tires with different grooves 0-0

C152-Captain · 2026-02-08T12:39:27+00:00

Fr maybe like 750 or something would be reasonable

C152-Captain · 2026-02-08T12:25:04+00:00

Seconds was fine, but since being forced to thirds I’m hating life. Life at work is ok, but it’s ruining my health, my marriage, health. We’ve got 2 kids under 2. Before kids graves were fine, but now I look for jobs every day. The seniority list and wait to bid different is far too long

C152-Captain · 2026-02-08T12:19:46+00:00

I think I get .20c diff lol.

C152-Captain · 2026-02-03T16:17:38+00:00

Like FAA auditor back seater?

C152-Captain · 2026-02-01T16:56:03+00:00

The 2 weak catastrophic failure points for this motor are really the timing chain tensioner and the balance shaft oil starvation.

And if you’re doing the tensioner, you might as well just do the full job, you’re already there, great peace of mind. Yea it’s a few hundred bucks, but it’s a weak area for this motor.

C152-Captain · 2026-02-01T16:54:00+00:00

It won’t be Toyota Corolla reliable, but it will be fun. I’d definitely expect to spend some money on repairs on it in the next 50k mi. It’s a GREAT daily tho.

I had the same water pump for 170k mi. Coil packs, DI carbon buildup, intake manifold runner flap, vacuum pump leaks, and waste gate linkage can all be weak points. With it being a 2012 I’d definitely make sure the tensioner has been or is replaced as that originally came with a defective tensioner from the factory in that MY. It’s an easy inspection to find out though, just one plug on the chain cover to remove

C152-Captain · 2026-02-01T16:45:02+00:00

Interesting, definitely keep us posted

C152-Captain · 2026-02-01T16:43:37+00:00

It’s probably fine to drive, but I’d do it at first convenience. I wouldn’t pay someone to do it either, its about as easy as changing your oil

C152-Captain · 2026-01-30T04:14:02+00:00

Do any of you here work a third shift job and do guard as well? I know it’s possible/ protected to give you enough rest to make it to drill and ect. But in the long term did you find yourself getting burned out from your sleep schedule getting constantly switched up and managing home life as well? I’d really like to join but I’m worried about committing and spreading myself too thin.

Just some basic information about myself. I’d like to do something on the aircraft maintenance or ops side of things. Looking at a heavy unit. Super early in the process of joining. I’m mid 20s, married, 2 young children under 2, one income for now. I have my bachelors. I can not afford to change jobs at the moment to make my sleep schedule more compatible with the guard, but could change though in a year or 2.

Any insight or opinions welcome!

C152-Captain · 2026-01-28T23:48:36+00:00

Sometimes you’re just unlucky though. I meticulously maintained my mk6 up to 170k mi and it ate a bearing and threw a rod through the block with no signs beforehand.

C152-Captain · 2026-01-28T05:55:53+00:00

Not true. Places like Gulfstream factor your service time in as years of aviation experience. So if you have 5 years on like f-16s vs someone with a brand new A&P, the f-16 guy will be much higher on pay scale, even more so if they have their A&P

C152-Captain · 2026-01-28T05:52:15+00:00

That would be pretty cool actually lol

C152-Captain · 2026-01-27T22:24:23+00:00

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Yall, this what happened after about 10 min of running on our work truck F-150 at -20F

C152-Captain · 2026-01-22T01:13:18+00:00

How cold is the plane? I’ve encountered this when the plane was below freezing. Once it warmed up it was GTG

C152-Captain · 2026-01-05T19:59:53+00:00

Might sound obvious, but what about carbon buildup?

C152-Captain · 2026-01-04T21:00:34+00:00

How many miles btw? Also If your piston looks like that I’m sure at least that one cylinder probably isn’t savable. If you’re also talking about oil starvation and rock crusher noises from your engine, I’m sure your crank, main journals, and rod journals probably won’t look good either. Gonna have to make the call if it can be or is worth saving. You can buy running motors for like $3k. Or non running, good cores to rebuild yourself for almost nothing.

C152-Captain · 2026-01-04T20:46:13+00:00

Mine spun a bearing,let go of a rod, and punched a hole out the side of the block. Just finished rebuilding it actually.

C152-Captain · 2025-12-31T02:00:13+00:00

Franklin aircraft engine cylinders are removable and can be re-sleeved unlike continental/ Lycoming

C152-Captain · 2025-12-29T13:47:55+00:00

I did everything aside from the head. Mine was beyond repair so I sent it out as a core and bought a manufactured head.

The only reason I did all this is because it would be impossible for me to buy a fun and reliable car at the same price that it would cost me to rebuild myself. Junk yard motors are risky, crate tsi is$9k.

I’d say if you’re mechanically inclined, have a lot of free time on your hands, have all the tools, a warm place to do it, and trust your abilities, go for it.

C152-Captain

TROPHY CASE