Belt Woes.... anyone?

GTA_V6_Mustang

Active Member
Nov 29, 2004
1,326
3
39
Miami, FL
Ok well I had this same problem with the last stang. After deleting the water pump and adding aluminum underdrives after a while the 890K6 belt from advance that fit pretty tight during install stretches after a few weeks and starts to make noise. On the last stang I just put a belt from a lexus sc430 which was 888 gates and never had a problem again. But for some reason on this one the 890 from advance fits fine. but when I try to use the 888 from gates it doesnt fit. Too short by like an inch. I would love to get a quality 890 belt regardless of price but I cant find one anywhere. Any ideas?
 
Not sure it's any better. It's tougher and doesn't stretch as much. I actually used to prefer the drive rite on my car, because with the big cam, the gatorback was too inelastic, and would cause the tensioner to jump too much. But the gatorback definately doesn't stretch as much.

Kurt
 
I decreased the size of the pulley on my idle, and went to a shorter belt, and that worked better for me. I just go and look through the pullies at Advance, and pick the one I want.

Kurt
 
Try a 5060890 from Advance. It's the Dayco version of the gatorback. It's more solid, and doesn't stretch as much.

Kurt

Ok well I went with that belt seems much better then the drive rite one. And double the price, lol. So far has much more tension then the drive rite ever did so thats good. But if I do have a problem later on ill just do what was suggested and use a bigger pulley on the tensioner.
 
It's kind of a pain in the butt to change the pulley on the tensioner. If it's any bigger, you can't get the bolt out that holds the tensioner to the accesory bracket. So that means you have to take the pulley off first whenever you take the tensioner off. It's much easier to change the idler pulley (the one up by the ignition coil). I actually went to a smaller idler pulley, and then was able to find a shorter belt that worked better.

Kurt
 
It's kind of a pain in the butt to change the pulley on the tensioner. If it's any bigger, you can't get the bolt out that holds the tensioner to the accesory bracket. So that means you have to take the pulley off first whenever you take the tensioner off. It's much easier to change the idler pulley (the one up by the ignition coil). I actually went to a smaller idler pulley, and then was able to find a shorter belt that worked better.

Kurt

its one bolt. takes less than 1 minute to remove. not even close to a pain in the butt. the pulley only cost around $20. much cheaper than a new belt or belt and a pulley.
 
Yeah, but it's one bolt between the fan, the air box, and motor, where you always skin your knuckles. Changing the pulley at the top yields the same result at the same price without the hassle. You could always put a bigger pulley up there, same price either way.

Kurt