Vortech water pump and tensioner pulley issue

Crooner88 · Feb 26, 2025

Hi, i am new to this group, it seems like with all of you guys i will probably find a solution to my problem... i decided to install a vortech v1 kit on my 1988 notch and i am now a bit lost with this issue: factory no a/c car, tensioner pulley contacts the water pump pulley.. had to remove and reinstall the water pump pulley to get the belt in place. Once the tensioner is on it is tight like a guitar string and contact the water pump pulley...surely not the first who had this situation, how did you resolve that ?

Noobz347 · Feb 26, 2025

Get a belt that is 1/4 to 1/2 inch longer than your current belt.

Crooner88 · Feb 26, 2025

Noobz347 said:
Get a belt that is 1/4 to 1/2 inch longer than your current belt.

If i put a longer belt ( now 85 1/4 ) it will not resolve the tensioner touching the water pump pulley problem, i am currently watching threads from TOOLOW91 about this subject, think about ordering a 93 cobra water pump pulley and clock the tensioner drilling a hole in the plate

Noobz347 · Feb 26, 2025

Not to go too far off-topic (still considering your issue) but wanted to ensure you were aware of this:

Toolow is a pretty smart feller... If he's got a solution that works, you can be pretty confident that it does or he wouldn't have bothered talking about it.

Crooner88 · Feb 26, 2025

If you are talking about the missing nut i knew it was missing, still in the installation process but thanks for caring about it, very appreciated

TOOLOW91 · Feb 26, 2025

Crooner88 said:
If i put a longer belt ( now 85 1/4 ) it will not resolve the tensioner touching the water pump pulley problem, i am currently watching threads from TOOLOW91 about this subject, think about ordering a 93 cobra water pump pulley and clock the tensioner drilling a hole in the plate

You can re clock the tensioner first and then just try that . Might need a shorter belt at that point to keep it tight

Crooner88 · Feb 26, 2025

When i installed the belt with zero tension on it, i had to remove wp pulley and slip the belt on than reinstall it because it was too tight... when i put the tensioner on the belt there is wayyyy to much pressure on it, like a guitar string as i said, i am worried about it being too tight even if i just reclock the tensioner

Noobz347 · Feb 26, 2025

It does sound like it's tight enough to start eating accessory drive bearings.

Crooner88 · Feb 26, 2025

TOOLOW91 said:
You can re clock the tensioner first and then just try that . Might need a shorter belt at that point to keep it tight

Noobz347 said:
It does sound like it's tight enough to start eating accessory drive bearings.

Exactly, but i don't know if i reclock the tensioner with a longer belt if it will be tight enough because reclocking tensioner bottoms it out.

Noobz347 · Feb 26, 2025

What if...

You increased the belt length a tad and re-clocked the tensioner so that it pushes the belt [up] instead of [down]?

It would slightly decrease the belt-wrap on the PS pulley but you've got plenty.

Would that put it in the way of the blower belt?

Crooner88 · Feb 26, 2025

Noobz347 said:
What if...

You increased the belt length a tad and re-clocked the tensioner so that it pushes the belt [up] instead of [down]?

It would slightly decrease the belt-wrap on the PS pulley but you've got plenty.

Would that put it in the way of the blower belt?

Yes, reclocking it upward is the plan, i think i might have to try a couple belt length to make it work !

Noobz347 · Feb 26, 2025

Crooner88 said:
Yes, reclocking it upward is the plan, i think i might have to try a couple belt length to make it work !

I played a similar belt-game when I setup my Kenne Bell so, I feel your pain. lol

AeroCoupe · Feb 26, 2025

Thread 'Those with Vortech and no A/C... I need pictures'

Aug 3, 2005

My mustang isn't going to be my daily driver anymore so I'm going to ditch the A/C. I never use it anyway even though it's fully functional. The only thing is that I want to see how the engine bay looks lacking the a/c compressor and lines. I'd also like to see some of the delete pullies you guys have and how they look. From what I've read, with a Vortech supercharger, there's no way to get rid of the a/c unless you use a delete pulley. Thanks

Vortech 1986-1993 Entry Level Mustang 5.0L V-3 SCi Standard (5-6 PSI) Complete System, Polished

No POWER ADDER company produces more products for the '86 - '93 Fox Body Mustang than Vortech. For more than 20 years, we have demonstrated our product leadership with our wide range of super-efficient centrifugal superchargers. From complete, 50-state emissions-legal, 6-psi starter systems to...

www.lethalperformance.com

View: https://www.reddit.com/r/Foxbody/comments/18b4b5b/is_there_an_ac_kit_for_an_8993_mustang_w_vortech/?rdt=37858

Kid wita 5oh · Feb 26, 2025

I had a similar belt issue with mine, I have AC but no PS so it's a similar belt routing...my solution was to wrap the belt the other way off the crank..( you'll need a different size)

May solve your issue like it did mine

Crooner88 · Feb 26, 2025

Noobz347 said:
What if...

You increased the belt length a tad and re-clocked the tensioner so that it pushes the belt [up] instead of [down]?

It would slightly decrease the belt-wrap on the PS pulley but you've got plenty.

Would that put it in the way of the blower belt?

Yes, reclocking it upward is the plan, i think i might have to try a couple belt length to make it work

Kid wita 5oh said:
I had a similar belt issue with mine, I have AC but no PS so it's a similar belt routing...my solution was to wrap the belt the other way off the crank..( you'll need a different size)

May solve your issue like it did mine

Do you have a picture of this ?

TOOLOW91 · Feb 26, 2025

Crooner88 said:
Exactly, but i don't know if i reclock the tensioner with a longer belt if it will be tight enough because reclocking tensioner bottoms it out.

Mines been bottomed out forever.

85GTStangGuy · Feb 27, 2025

Kid wita 5oh said:
...my solution was to wrap the belt the other way off the crank..( you'll need a different size)

Crooner88 said:
Do you have a picture of this ?

I'd like to see a pic of that belt routing also.

TOOLOW91 said:
Mines been bottomed out forever.

So it's kinda more of an idler really, rather than a tensioner?

Kid wita 5oh · Feb 27, 2025

I don't have a picture on my phone and the car is tucked away in for the winter right now...I can try to take one at some point

But basically the belt would come off the driver's side of the crank pulley and around the water pump, then the pass side would go to the alternator...

And as I'm looking at the OPs picture his PS pump may not be high up enough to make a difference like it did on my car

Basically it let me to run a shorter belt than the other routing would allow and kept the tensioner in a different spot....

Crooner88 · Feb 27, 2025

TOOLOW91 said:
Mines been bottomed out forever.

I see that on your pictures, as long as it's tight enough the key is to have the good belt length, i'll try some

TOOLOW91 · Feb 27, 2025

85GTStangGuy said:
I'd like to see a pic of that belt routing also.

So it's kinda more of an idler really, rather than a tensioner?

Correct , I used to have to walk the belt over the water pump and I got tired of that so I used a small block Chevy alternator bracket and bent it like the Vortech mount and now I can manually tension the alternator

Vortech water pump and tensioner pulley issue

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