New Belt Tensioner Issue

Aaron · Jul 21, 2016

So it was finally time to replace the factory belt tensioner on my '87 GT, as the bearing was squeaking on a regular basis. The old Ford tensioner was great in that it has a lip on both sides, and a bunch of grooves inside to help keep the belt in place.

Well the new pulley is 100% smooth, no guides, no ridges, etc.

My first thought was "how is the belt going to stay on this thing? Sure enough, after installing it and running the car for only short period of time, the belt tracks to the point where it's halfway off the pulley.

Even if it does stay on, we're talking premature belt wear for sure. I got the tensioner from Latemodel Restoration. It's 100% metal, so it's not some cheap piece of junk, or at least I thought it wasn't going to be junk. Any ideas?

Noobz347 · Jul 21, 2016

That is not the correct tensioner for your car.

Any pulley that is facing the belt will be grooved. That should have tipped you off immediately.

Return it, get the right one with the correct pulley.

Aaron · Jul 21, 2016

Noobz347 said:
That is not the correct tensioner for your car.

Any pulley that is facing the belt will be grooved. That should have tipped you off immediately.

Return it, get the right one with the correct pulley.

Hmmm...problem is just about everyone looks to be selling similar units, amd not just LMR. What the heck...

a91what · Jul 21, 2016

That does not look like the stock tensioner location. It is on the alternator bracket on the passenger side. What is the year engine size and model, any modifications that you know about?

Aaron · Jul 21, 2016

a91what said:
That does not look like the stock tensioner location. It is on the alternator bracket on the passenger side. What is the year engine size and model, any modifications that you know about?

It's a standard 1987 302 engine, with AC removed. I bought the car roughly 15 years ago with the compressor already removed, and always wondered how the AC would have mounted with the tensioner where it's at.

:Edit: I just looked at a bunch of engine bays and sure enough, the tensioner is attached to the alternator bracket. Never realized it. Well this sure throws a wrench into things.

I'll have to take another look tomorrow and see if I can move the tensioner to it's correct spot.

Gearbanger 101 · Jul 21, 2016

Noobz347 said:
That is not the correct tensioner for your car.

Any pulley that is facing the belt will be grooved. That should have tipped you off immediately.

Return it, get the right one with the correct pulley.

That's what you get when you order a replacement tensioner for these cars. Whether it's ford, or aftermarket....it's the same.

Aaron · Jul 22, 2016

Gearbanger 101 said:
That's what you get when you order a replacement tensioner for these cars. Whether it's ford, or aftermarket....it's the same.

That is what it looks like. Wish they still made the grooved style ones, but as long as it works, so be it.

So it only took me 15ish years to realize whoever removed the AC compressor must have figured out that they would not have to replace the belt to the shorter version if they moved the belt tensioner into the old AC compressor spot. Here's a pic of the engine bay. Yeah I know it needs cleaning

Looks like the screw hole and alignment hole are still on the alternator bracket, so after work, I'll have to run out, get a new shorter belt, and move the tensioner over to where it's supposed to be.

Thank you a91what for realizing what the issue was!

Noobz347 · Jul 22, 2016

Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww..... That is the chit of bulls.

@Dustin@LMR

Please tell me you guys have a better plan/product than what's in this thread???

Gearbanger 101 · Jul 22, 2016

Once he gets the pulley in the right spot, he's not going to have this problem anymore. His belt is coming off the pulley because of an alignment issue. Once he gets the assembly back in the stock location and things are squared up again, this will be a nonissue.

I've had my replacement tensioner on there for two years now and have never had a problem.

Foxybody95 · Jul 22, 2016

I have the same set up on mine, you cant move the tensioner back to the stock location, it may cause the belt to rub on itself and if not it will put too much tension on the power steering pump and eventually break the bracket holding it. Trust me I know from experience haha, whoever owned the car before you knew that and put that ribbed pulley on it and relocated it with probably the trick flow or march a/c delete kit. Just go to your local auto parts store they will have a variety of different pulleys find one thats 6 ribbed and the same diameter as your old one and you will be good to go

Aaron · Jul 22, 2016

Foxybody95 said:
whoever owned the car before you knew that and put that ribbed pulley on it and relocated it with probably the trick flow or march a/c delete kit.

The assembly I just pulled off looks to be the original Ford setup, so I don't think the ribbed pulley is aftermarket. Lets hope LMR isn't a pain with returns. If all I can go with is a new pulley, there is no point in keeping the entire new tensioner.

Foxybody95 · Jul 22, 2016

Aaron said:
The assembly I just pulled off looks to be the original Ford setup, so I don't think the ribbed pulley is aftermarket. Lets hope LMR isn't a pain with returns. If all I can go with is a new pulley, there is no point in keeping the entire new tensioner.

The ribbed pulley is aftermarket trust me that triangle shaped bracket the tensioner mounts too is also aftermarket

a91what · Jul 22, 2016

Or just move the tensioner to the right location and get the actual delete pulley....

iirc...... won't having a ribbed pulley on the stock tensioner cause the bolt to want to back it's self out... I understand it's on a bearing race but I would definitely check first to see if the "original" was threaded the opposite way.

Foxybody95 · Jul 22, 2016

I have the exact same set up on mine dont put the tensioner back to the stock location you will give yourself nothing but problems just buy another ribbed pulley every auto part store sells them

Foxybody95 · Jul 22, 2016

Yes the stock bolt is reverse threaded tighten it down as much as much as ya want and throw some thread locker on it just like it came from the factory, I'm not saying putting a delete pulley on is a bad idea I just think its unnessisary because the tensioner relocater you have works just fine

Aaron · Jul 22, 2016

So here is a better pic of the old tensioner assembly. Tensioner itself is Ford, and pulley could be aftermarket I guess:

Since the tensioner itself is good, I'll head out to Advanced auto or Autozone later on today and see if they have a pulley that matches what is on this today.

Foxybody95 · Jul 22, 2016

Aaron said:
So here is a better pic of the old tensioner assembly. Tensioner itself is Ford, and pulley could be aftermarket I guess:

Since the tensioner itself is good, I'll head out to Advanced auto or Autozone later on today and see if they have a pulley that matches what is on this today.

Ill show you a pic of mine if you want to ease your doubt stock tensioner pulleys on these cars are flat just like the one you bought because the stock location makes the tensioner push on te rear of the belt where it is not ribbed you can see that for yourself if you look how the tensioner mounts to the alternator bracket

Aaron · Jul 22, 2016

So I went to Advanced Auto and Autozone and came up empty. Nobody has a ribbed tensioner pulley. I know Foxbody95 said not to move the tensioner into it's original spot, but I wonder if this is not a bad idea, given I am having trouble finding a proper pulley. Here's the belt routing diagram off of my car for both with and without AC. As you can see, the tensioner is in the same spot for both applications.

Why wouldn't buying a shorter belt meant for non AC cars work here?

a91what · Jul 22, 2016

It will work.
Here is what you have I believe.
http://marchperformance.com/ford-289-302-351w-a-c-or-a-c-power-steering-eliminator-bracket-kit.html

Here is a replacement pulley but it does not look ribbed.

http://marchperformance.com/ford/fo...tine-pulleys/chevy-ford-tensioner-pulley.html

Here is what I would look for at the auto parts store.
Dayco part number- 89009 it may also be DAC-89009.... I went through this a lot when I made this.....
3 tensioners FTW!

Aaron · Jul 22, 2016

Wow man, that is crazy. I'm SURE that took some work!
Anyway, that Dayco pulley looks exactly like mine, and funny thing is that the Advance Auto Parts store I went to earlier has it in stock. Guess that is where I am headed.

Everyone, thanks for the help! Looks like I'll be all set tomorrow.

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