302 accessory drive question.

[BrianT]

Putting a 302 in my Mark IV. I have all the original drive from 1983 mustang 302. I’m not using A/C, using a March bracket to move the power steering pump out of the way. I have the original brackets for the alternator and I have an odd pulley that sort of looks like a tensioner but isn’t spring loaded like I’m familiar with. Do I need to find a spring loaded tensioner to replace the odd pulley? What am I missing here? How do I apply tension to the belt? I feel like I’m missing something simple. This is my first engine build and the big stuff I’ve been able to overcome but these little details stump me.

Any help would be appreciated.

[jengum]

Do you have a photo of the original drive from the 1983 mustang 302? The odd pulley may be an idler pulley. You're building your own 302 short block engine?

There's all kinds of variations in the front accessory drive systems for a Ford small block like water pump, harmonic dampener, timing cover and power steering selections.

Did you try technical support at CVF Racing or March systems? You may be better off buying a coordinated system.

[kgkeys]

The base kits came with an "AC eliminator pulley" so you could use the stock tensioner. I used a March alternator bracket and a Crown Vic water-pump to eliminate all of that and the alternator has a turn-buckle to tension the belt. Yours will be a little different with power-steering, but March makes setups for that.

HTH,
-Kyle

227512227513

[TrackDay17]

You might call Forte and talk to him, his system uses an automatic tensioner.
Not sure what his system costs but lots of guys here have engines built by him with his pulley system.
I think Gordon Levy is a good resource too, I think GBranham used his stuff on his build.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Use an alternator bracket with turnbuckle that uses the alternator as the tensioner. They are available from multiple manufacturers...check Summit, Jegs, etc.

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/3R4AAeSwKohokuEW/s-l1600.webp

Jeff

[BrianT]

Appreciate the comments. I think I was confusing the tensioner with an idler pulley. The idler pulley just moves the belt to a position that gets more belt friction on the other pulleys?

I am having trouble uploading pictures. Another thing to look up how to do. What I am seeing is that the old stock brackets hold the alternator high and outside the valve cover, compared to the pictures you guys posted. Looks like I will be picking up another bracket as it seems like saving space will pay off later. I like the turnbuckle setup. These little things are adding up!

Again, thanks for the help! Much appreciated!

[narly1]

I'm surprised that nobody mentioned that the extra pulley may be needed due to the rotation (CW or CCW) characteristic/requirement of the water water pump.

Earl

[Jeff Kleiner]

I'm surprised that nobody mentioned that the extra pulley may be needed due to the rotation (CW or CCW) characteristic/requirement of the water water pump.

Earl

He said he's running PS in which case the FFR supplied pulley is not necessary.

Jeff

[narly1]

Ah, gotcha now.

I'm a Ford guy but if I have one criticism of their engines it's the myriad of variations for a given displacement. Timing covers, waterpumps, oil dipstick locations are the main ones that come to mind.

Earl

[Guardm16]

I fully agree with Narly1, so many options to the SBF front end.

I went with CVF. they have a lot of options.

https://cvfracing.com/ford/ford-289-302-351w-small-block/

[AC Bill]

Appreciate the comments. I think I was confusing the tensioner with an idler pulley. The idler pulley just moves the belt to a position that gets more belt friction on the other pulleys?

The idler pulley was used for certain configurations, to help insure better belt wrap on the other pulleys. Some donor 302 engines originally had AC compressor pulleys, air pump pulleys, power steering pulleys,, etc. (I got rid of that ridiculous alternator fan.)
I did away with all of them, and used a simple adjustable alternator bracket. No power being robbed. The water pump spins with little resistance, so the limited belt wrap has not been an issue, as some thought it might. 16 years and it's worked perfectly fine. A little upper body and arm workouts preclude the need for power steering..:)