After a bit more than a year without a 'modern' car,we've just bought a 1994 Rover 620SLi. The car has a believable 54,000 miles backed up by all MOT's and service history, but there's no record of a timing belt change.

Our previous 620 never needed the belt changed in the time we owned it, having just been done before we bought it. Looking at the owner's handbook, it's pretty woolly about belt change intervals with several contradictory numbers, and makes little reference to the balance belt.

So I'm going to change the timing belt as a matter of course. But do I need new tensioners, ie the full kit, or just the belt? And what of the balance belt - change at the same time?

Sorry if these are obvious questions. I think I know the answers, but I'd rather assume nothing and ask those who know....

Cheers,
Bill.

Well, when I was changing mine I changed whole set because I thought it is good thing to do, due to time passed on the car. Materials tend to loose their specifications in time.

Bill Welcome .. Change the lot .. Consider water pump also ? (although mine is orig @ 154k) - depends how long you intend to keep it. 54k is still running in. Your belts are probably 16 yrs old.
Incidentally changed my lads belt/tens. this year (Nova 90) - original belt ! (20 yrs/ 50k) and water pump .. see
https://picasaweb.google.com/sailing4us/CamBeltAltBeltVauxNova14SR?authuser=0&feat=directlink
Ensure all parts are top quality, as original stuff is excellent. (so much cloned stuff around of dubious quality it seems).

Job quite straightforward.. Your crank bolt may be a tad tight (16yrs original?) to crack (I used impact wrench on mine, first change, had some ingress/corrosion). We couldn't shift using extension bar. Some folk use heat/torch, however not keen at all on that method. Consider change pwr. steering & alt belt at same time. Also check condition of seal around cyl. head cover (as you need to remove to release upper cam cover). Mainly age related, as seal tends to go brittle/crack and seals can also leak into the spark plug holes. You may see very very slight oil weepage/leakage on front of head cover , where obviously it gets hotter.

Thanks for that. I'll start getting the bits together, identifying decent quality parts is a familiar issue - I work with classic cars and you wouldn't believe how much junk we get fobbed off with!

Cheers,
Bill.