View Full Version : Will this clear hood?
Working on the serpentine belt and want to incorporate a tensioner. Here's a mock up using the factory unit and wonder if the alternator will clear. The highest part of it sits about 2-3" above the stock valve cover. I may be able to modify the alternator mount to allow it to drop over towards the middle just a little more and pick up an inch or so.
Original design
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a358/coyote5150/9906A24D-2A53-424D-A60A-159C7ED53B6A-10427-00000653CED41331_zps150a45a4.jpg
With tensioner
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a358/coyote5150/6ABDA604-33BD-470C-86A6-422D13CB036F-10427-00000653D491D298_zpsdce02ffa.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a358/coyote5150/AA9F6A15-EE8A-44CF-B05A-46FC38195D14-10427-00000653D9734124_zpscaafdee6.jpg
snakebit31
12-04-2013, 10:55 PM
My alternator and AC compressor are on opposite sides from yours, but my AC does not appear to be higher than you alternator, and it clears fine.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v451/snakebit31/coupe%20photos/98d9bc99-a49b-43b6-afbc-bc737acca598_zpsfb5bbc92.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/snakebit31/media/coupe%20photos/98d9bc99-a49b-43b6-afbc-bc737acca598_zpsfb5bbc92.jpg.html)
Looks like I'm good to go with this. Think it's worth the effort and expense to add the tensioner?
turbonut48
12-05-2013, 10:54 AM
Even it its lightly tensioned, it will help take any vibration out of that long belt run.
The Nut
Tim it's hard to tell from the picture but as the belt stretches will that tensioner cause interference with the water pump pulley
John Dol
12-05-2013, 05:46 PM
I've got this March set up and it does not use a tensioner.
http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae46/jdcoupe1969/Enginedone003-1.jpg (http://s956.photobucket.com/user/jdcoupe1969/media/Enginedone003-1.jpg.html)
John
loeffler1
12-05-2013, 05:57 PM
Why do you need a tensioner if you have an adjustment on the alternator?? I think it takes away from the looks of the belt system, like John's all black, red and silver system for instance. I like pic #1 much better.
John - What's in all those FFR boxes??
Tim it's hard to tell from the picture but as the belt stretches will that tensioner cause interference with the water pump pulley
I can fab the tension mount so it won't hit. The hole to locate the tensioner can be clocked in any position.
Why do you need a tensioner if you have an adjustment on the alternator??
It may make it run smoother as The Nut mentioned earlier.