I'm too sick right now to make a decent reply, but I will say again, it's better to listen to a zetec owner when it comes to working on a zetec. I go by experience, you know actually doing the job, and hmm must be doing something right as my car runs fine. Anybody can look in a book and read how it's "supposed" to be done. Just like using spring compressors on the strut assembly before removing them from the car, well I guess since the book says to do it that way, that that's the best way to do it.
If you really want to waste time/money doing everything by the book then go ahead and do it that way.
You realize if you replace the timing belt with the cams locked (with any piece of metal, seriously, have you done a timing belt on a zetec?, just a strong piece of metal to hold the cams is needed, not some specially engineered thing) then the cam gears aren't gonna move while replacing the belt. NOW, if you can't fit the piece of metal in to lock the cams, then you could have to remove the gears, but that rarely rarely happens. Cam gears shouldn't need to be touched during a timing belt replacement. The tensioner keeps the belt free of slack once installed, soooo
What did you do with your zetec? Throw it away?
