PDA

View Full Version : Continuing to shred serpentine belts



CRUZTAKER
04-14-2010, 10:07 AM
Last fall prior to Indy I swapped my 3.3 Vortec pully to 2.9
Problems with belts quickly became apparent.
The gatorback that once fit the 3.3 was now a tad too short, and the only available next size up was too big.

I have the stock belt tentioner, and the fancy Zack additional tensioner.

The shop that did my work in Norwalk struggled for days to get the belts to fit and align properly. Eventually they claimed I was good and sent me on my way.
It was clear that just the short trip to Indy and back that the belt was already starting to fray.
I put the car in storage shortly thereafter and tried to forget my failure.

I have been forced to drive the MM for the last 8 days as a daily driver.
It was nice to be in it so often.
I totally forgot about the belt issue.

This morning on the way to work during my final exit ramp I heard a strange clicking sound. When I made it to the parking garage a short distance off the exit I heard gurgling sounds.

I stopped in the garage to find only half of my belt still on the car. The other 50% width had apparently just evaporated. Tearing up my hood liner in the process and yanking the oil line from it's fitting just under the big crank pully balancer thingy.

It puked all of my crank case oil onto the parking garage floor. :(

I am having it flat bedded home this afternoon.
Unfortunately I have no other option than taking back to those who screwed it up the first time.

I am going to have them put it back the way it was with the original 3.3 blower pully and re-tune it. Man they charged the crap out of me the first time...

I wish Zack were closer....:bigcry:

MERCMAN
04-14-2010, 10:10 AM
Give Mongoose a call, he had a similar issue and he fixed his!!

CRUZTAKER
04-14-2010, 10:12 AM
Give Mongoose a call, he had a similar issue and he fixed his!!

Mark told me the same...

I'll do that this evening.

THANKS!

Zack
04-14-2010, 10:14 AM
Mark told me the same...

I'll do that this evening.

THANKS!

Dont bother unless you are switching timing covers and ditching the 6 rib pullies for 8 rib.

What size belt is on there?

Pops
04-14-2010, 10:23 AM
Barry have you put a tensioner between the alternator and the power steering pump?

Zack
04-14-2010, 10:30 AM
Barry have you put a tensioner between the alternator and the power steering pump?

He has an idler there John

Pops
04-14-2010, 10:47 AM
Thanks Zack. I could not remember.

Zack
04-14-2010, 11:10 AM
Im pretty sure I had the blower bracket shimmed with washers so it was aligned just right. Who can remember back that far though.

FordNut
04-14-2010, 11:38 AM
Sorry to hear about your belt issues Barry. It's a PITA. I had my ProCharger setup configured with 2 different types of timing covers and contrary to popular opinion on which type cover works better, I had less problems with the single-bolt tensioner (the OEM Marauder version timing cover). I did have an 8-rib setup with both covers. Perfect alignment is critical in both position and angle for every pulley. I spent umpteen hours getting everything aligned and shimmed properly.

CRUZTAKER
04-14-2010, 02:44 PM
Dont bother unless you are switching timing covers and ditching the 6 rib pullies for 8 rib.

What size belt is on there?


Thanks Zack...I can no longer afford to put money in this car.
Timing covers and pully changes won't happen.
The belt that is on it now is the gatorback you put on back in the day.
Well...not the same one of course...I have shredded two since then.

We are finally on the last step of approval for an enormous loan for our home renovation that will enable my kids to not have to share one small room. They are more important than going fast anymore these days. I'm basically special fund-less at this point.

The Focus taking a transmission dump and needing entire new brakes last week took me over the edge. We can't foot more credit while the loan is in progress.

My best bet is to convince this shop that they did not align my pullys correctly and it has led to this most recent break down. Hopefully they have the class to fix this problem.

blazen71
04-14-2010, 04:20 PM
I re-aligned my Procharger this spring and the belt was rubbing on the corner of the valve cover. I have a 3.9 pulley, much larger than yours. i filed the valve cover till the belt cleared. Probably not your problem, but worth looking at.

FordNut
04-14-2010, 04:33 PM
I re-aligned my Procharger this spring and the belt was rubbing on the corner of the valve cover. I have a 3.9 pulley, much larger than yours. i filed the valve cover till the belt cleared. Probably not your problem, but worth looking at.

I had to do the same thing, cut a notch in the valve cover to clear the pulley. I did have the pulley with a lip on both the front and rear, some of the pulleys don't have the outer lip.

Watch the belt closely when the engine is revved. It may be jumping or making intermittent contact somewhere. It could also be flexing a bracket or pulley so the belt jumps a cog due to misalignment.