I'm planning to have the dreaded timing cover leak addressed on my 2007 V8 Vantage at some point during the summer, and I've been wondering if there are any other obvious things worth doing while the front end is apart? The clutch is <5K miles old, so no need to touch that or anything in the drivetrain, and the car is in solid shape otherwise. I toyed with the idea of updating the suspension with a KW setup, but that would likely double the overall cost so not a priority for now. Is there any other 'low hanging fruit' that would be worth taking care of - things that are worth it for a 40K mile car, things I'll notice, or things that are basically a good idea and won't blow my budget up?

 

Replace the FEAD belt - upgrade to newer style pulley & belt if not already done.
Coolant drain / flush
Replace engine air filters
Clean the throttle body
Oil / filter change - I'm guessing they will have to do this anyway as part of the service you are taking it in for.

 

Thanks @kdm - normal service stuff will be taken care of but I didn't realize there was a newer style of FEAD belt/pulley. I also have the oil change kit ready to go - lesson learned from last year's service when it took some time to get the right filter. I'll also have them put in the replacement washer fluid reservoir I just picked up, since mine has a leak.

 

The revised idler pulley has raised side (old style is flat - no sides). It needs a different belt to match the revised pulley profile. It's supposed to eliminate the belt chirp users sometimes get when the engine is cold. Redpants has them listed on his site.

My original belt was developing some small cracks so decided to replace it with the updated style. I rarely had the belt chirp.

 

Engine oil pressure relief valve, earlier ones are metal and can be noisy on start-up when cold. Replacement is composite and requires front cover removal to replace. Cooling system thermostat, cause it's right there. Front control arm bushings, aftermarket polyurethane kits are available.
-James

 

hear! hear! on the themostat. '07's had a real problem with thermostats. if it's the original i would definitely, have it a new one put in. and i if the job entails removing the intake manifold, have them check the engine temp sensor for a loose connection. it's only visible and accessible if the manifold is removed and it cost me $1100 in labor just to have mine reconnected after it worked itself loose.

 

Oil and filter replacement part of the job, you must drain the oil to replace the gasket. I believe the coolant was also changed when mine was done a few years ago. FEAD belt and pulley highly recommended (mine had already been upgraded)

 

+1 on the thermostat. That was the first thing I changed on my car after I bought it. They tend to stick open and the gasket breaks apart. Definitely a good time to change it.

 

I already took care of the thermostat so all good on that front. I ordered the updated idler pulley and FEAD belt from Redpants. I'm still on the fence about a suspension upgrade - I have no interest in 'slamming' the car, but an ability to better handle bumpy roads would be good.

 

Y'know, I've been pondering how much work it would be to take a magnetorheological damper setup out of some other car and adapt it to the Vantage. Might be an interesting project.