Pulleys??

[broncojunkie]

I'm late to the party, but it's the tensioner that pushes the belt into the pulley. So delete it. Get a March alternator kit that has an adjustable bar. As an added bonus, you get to eliminate that tensioner, which will eventually fail. And it looks way better. I got the March brand kit and it's decent quality. My buddy bought the eBay copy and to be honest, it seems to be the same quality, but MUCH cheaper.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SBF-Small-B...8646259cfa9cd69473e99e&pid=100753&rk=1&rkt=1&

 

[broncojunkie]

There's also a kit that includes a matching power steering bracket.

 

[General karthief]

Original tensioner, 155k miles and going strong.

 

[mikestang63]

I'm late to the party, but it's the tensioner that pushes the belt into the pulley. So delete it. Get a March alternator kit that has an adjustable bar. As an added bonus, you get to eliminate that tensioner, which will eventually fail. And it looks way better. I got the March brand kit and it's decent quality. My buddy bought the eBay copy and to be honest, it seems to be the same quality, but MUCH cheaper.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SBF-Small-Block-Ford-260-289-302-5-0-L-Chrome-Aluminum-Alternator-Bracket-Kit/152016265083?_trksid=p2045573.c100753.m4841&_trkparms=aid=555017&algo=PL.CASSINI&ao=1&asc=43049&meid=8a6742de538646259cfa9cd69473e99e&pid=100753&rk=1&rkt=1&

Nothing wrong with an OEM tensioner. They rarely fail and do not need to be manually adjusted like the aftermarket rod type.

 

[broncojunkie]

Maybe I've just had bad luck with them. I've owned quite a few Fords of this era (mostly mustangs and thunderchickens) and I've replaced quite a few!

 

[mikestang63]

Maybe I've just had bad luck with them. I've owned quite a few Fords of this era (mostly mustangs and thunderchickens) and I've replaced quite a few!

it happens.. OEM ones or parts store tensioners? Funny thing is, I would rather use used/JY OEM parts than some parts store new ones- like this case.

 

[broncojunkie]

All oem tensioners, as far as I can recall. I've seen springs worn out, broken springs, pulleys wear out, and the case itself come apart. I've got a couple good oem tensioners in my parts stash right now, but I don't think I'll ever use one again. I like the March setup. I like setting the tension myself, it cleans up the front of the engine a little, and there's less moving parts to fail.

In the pic I posted of my 88, a previous owner had installed an ac eliminator bracket. It was the worst setup I had ever seen lol. By the time I got the belt off, I think I flung the tensioner into the woods by my old house.

 

[mikestang63]

curious- where is your fan shroud? Hopefully not in the woods next to the tensioner.

 

[broncojunkie]

curious- where is your fan shroud? Hopefully not in the woods next to the tensioner.

The fan shroud didn't fit too well with the new radiator. Instead of shimming the radiator to line up the shroud to locate it properly with the fan, I just left it off for now. I have a 3g alternator and electric fan I'm planning on using. I haven't got around to it, but it's on the list...along with a 5-lug swap, cleaning up some wiring in the engine bay, subframe connectors, and a few other odds and ends.