Kenne Bell + Gatorback = AWESOME!

usaf_branham

usaf_branham

15 Year Member
Oct 30, 2008
927
134
84
Boston
#1
I know Kenne Bell says to use the Gates Green Stripe 108 belt... But I decided to give the Gatorback a try...

I used to stay around 9 to 9.5 psi, had some belt squeel & slippage. I just hit almost 11psi at 6000rpm on a 9 psi pulley, and have no more squeeling. The only thing i noticed is that there is more of a whir with this belt. Its kind of noisy... however, i like it. Combined with the blower whine, it sounds sick. Now, its a waiting game, i have read that the gatorback wears out quick, but we shall see.

but for now.... Gatorback belts FTW! :nice:
 
#4
Have you ever replaced the belt tensioner? It seems to me like the belt shouldn't slip at just 9-11psi?

An extra 2psi can really make the difference between a car feeling quick and sick. :D
 
#5
Yeah, i replaced the tensioner 2 days after i installed the blower. The thing is... i was making right around 10 psi before i broke the tensioner in the first place. Even after i replaced it, the best i could pull was 10 psi (on the 9lb pulley) right around 5600 rpm and it would hold 10 until i hit the rev limiter at 6200 rpm. When I changed the belt there was belt dust all over my engine.

I usually dont run the car out to 6200, its only set that high to account for shifting at 6k on the strip. Today, on the 1st run with the new belt, i hit 11 psi and the rev limiter before i knew it. I guess it didnt help that it was around 28 degrees outside either (low IAT's!!!). I had the car (what felt like) nearly sideways in 4th gear on a back road near my house.

Ive got a RAM Powergrip showing up later this week, along with 3.73's to help with MPH (and traction) on the 1/4. Also, i have a new wheel tire combo on the way (thank you AM)... Before I replace the clutch, gears, and wheels/tires, I plan on doing a SICK burnout in front of the house and I promise I will have sound clips/video of it. :D
 
#7
darkside03gt said:
I have been running a gator back belt since the day I finished the install of my 2.1 and have zero complaints. Does anyone know why KB says not to use them?
Click to expand...

The Gates belt is a high quality belt. It has shorter ribs so that the grooves in the pulleys can tolerate dirt better (hence the dust on the engine), the belt stays quieter, runs smoother and stays cooler than the Gatorback. Any slipping is not a sign of a Gates belt in good condition. I run the Gates belt like I was told to by the engineers that designed the blower. :shrug:
 
#8
GDawg said:
The Gates belt is a high quality belt. It has shorter ribs so that the grooves in the pulleys can tolerate dirt better (hence the dust on the engine), the belt stays quieter, runs smoother and stays cooler than the Gatorback. Any slipping is not a sign of a Gates belt in good condition. I run the Gates belt like I was told to by the engineers that designed the blower. :shrug:
Click to expand...

Ah, that's what all the black powdery stuff is all over the engine bay. I've always wondered what that was....

I had an annoying belt squeak with the Dayco belt from Advance. A Gatorback has completely silenced that. I used to always get squeak when I changed gears and such, but I no longer get that either.

And when my Grandma got the 6 pound lower pulley, CAI, tune, and exhaust for her Lightning, the company that she bought it from said that nothing would beat a Gatorback. That's what's on it, and she's never had a problem.
 
#9
KB says that the blower requires a certain amount of slip. It's supposed to be the buffer that prevents damage and it's why you don't see cog systems on KB blowers. I personally would not run a cog system on a KB as they're pretty adamant about it wrecking the blower. I have however, run the Gatorback on the blower since chewing up the first OEM style belt after initial install. That was roughly 4 years ago. Zero complaints and I'm still on first Gatorback that I installed. It appears to be great shape with no signs of giving it up in the near future. I don't detect any slipping but I can imagine that it's allowing the slip required when the blower, "pushes back". What I mean is: It's not doing to the blower what cog system would.

My blower has gone from 6 lbs, to 9 lbs, to 10 lbs, to 14+ lbs (depending on ambient temp). The car is my 3rd vehicle so goes through some extended times of being in the garage and brought out occationally to extended times of being a DD (depending on circumstances etc). So I can't tell you how many miles I've put on that belt in those 4 years or how long it spent turning the blower @ what boost level. It's been mx free so far though.

As far as noise goes... It's pretty much been the belt I've run so I couldn't speak to noise differences. Of course, whatever noise it makes sounds, "normal" to me.

My setup is a 2.2L KB Blowzilla/Flowzilla on top of a Dart 347.

Hope it helps.
 
#10
sneaky98gt said:
Ah, that's what all the black powdery stuff is all over the engine bay. I've always wondered what that was....

I had an annoying belt squeak with the Dayco belt from Advance. A Gatorback has completely silenced that. I used to always get squeak when I changed gears and such, but I no longer get that either.

And when my Grandma got the 6 pound lower pulley, CAI, tune, and exhaust for her Lightning, the company that she bought it from said that nothing would beat a Gatorback. That's what's on it, and she's never had a problem.
Click to expand...

For realz?
 
#11
usaf_branham said:
I know Kenne Bell says to use the Gates Green Stripe 108 belt... But I decided to give the Gatorback a try...

I used to stay around 9 to 9.5 psi, had some belt squeel & slippage. I just hit almost 11psi at 6000rpm on a 9 psi pulley, and have no more squeeling. The only thing i noticed is that there is more of a whir with this belt. Its kind of noisy... however, i like it. Combined with the blower whine, it sounds sick. Now, its a waiting game, i have read that the gatorback wears out quick, but we shall see.

but for now.... Gatorback belts FTW! :nice:
Click to expand...



where did you get your gatorback?? I have tried to find them but nobody sells them. I have the gates that KB recommends and I dont really like them. I end up chucking one off the blower about every 6 months lol. and have had to unravel them from the pulleys a few times as well. makes a new belt swap take hours lol.
 
#13
PULMEOVR said:
For realz?
Click to expand...

LOL! She gets that a lot. Yes, she does. DDs it every day. Going easy on it, she gets 17-18 mpg, all the while cruising in style. And that truck is no joke as far as power goes. With traction, it'd walk my car.

Noobz347 said:
Walk into your favorite parts store and have them order one the length you want.
Click to expand...

Not true anymore, or at least not in my area. I went through this a little while ago, and NOWHERE (Advance, Auto Zone, Napa, Walker, or O'reilly) carries Goodyear Gatorbacks anymore. They all carry Dayco or Gates.

04GTMustang said:
where did you get your gatorback?? I have tried to find them but nobody sells them. I have the gates that KB recommends and I dont really like them. I end up chucking one off the blower about every 6 months lol. and have had to unravel them from the pulleys a few times as well. makes a new belt swap take hours lol.
Click to expand...

I got mine from Summit Racing for around $35 shipped. Cheaper than the parts stores around here wanted for a regular belt.
 
#14
sneaky98gt said:
LOL! She gets that a lot. Yes, she does. DDs it every day. Going easy on it, she gets 17-18 mpg, all the while cruising in style. And that truck is no joke as far as power goes. With traction, it'd walk my car.



Not true anymore, or at least not in my area. I went through this a little while ago, and NOWHERE (Advance, Auto Zone, Napa, Walker, or O'reilly) carries Goodyear Gatorbacks anymore. They all carry Dayco or Gates.



I got mine from Summit Racing for around $35 shipped. Cheaper than the parts stores around here wanted for a regular belt.
Click to expand...

good deal man thanks for the infor. oh and because i would be ordering it what size should i get? i really wanna try a gatorback. im tired or replacing gates every few months. kinda burning a whole in my pocket.
 
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