This was started on az2gnt.net but I wanted to bring it over here for more opinions. I want to fix my car but save others from the hassel as well that were thinking of the conversion. If you have this tensioner and it is working fine please chime in. All opinions appreciated. (read below)

You commented that your timing belt snapped after installing the mechanical tensioner. Please explain this further to me. Im beating myself over the head trying to figure out what the hell is making this noise after my TB change. Let me give you my symptoms first. Start the car after TB change and everything runs smoothly. Idles smooth, sounds good, no tapping, no clinking, nothing. then i give it gas and the clinking noise starts to appear and it is constant with a slight increase in repetition as i hold it at different rpm levels. (never went over 3k)

it definitely sounds like the noise is originating from the timing belt area. where you able to fix it? what was the cause? any idea why it snapped your belt?

did this noise appear after you first replaced your timing belt? because my engine was smooth and quiet until i did the belt change with the mechanical tenssioner.

my compression is good, timing marks alinged, no exhasut leaks found as of yet.
thanks

Reply: OK well when I first did the conversion it ran fine for about 2000 miles that is when I started to here the noise at idle it was faint and went away with throttle , so I thought it was a exh leak . but I also got a really bad clacking noise coming from the exh cam from 2000 to 3000 rpms . When Dave and I pulled the timing cover off we noticed that the belt had been rubbing do to the tensoner being to loose and allowing the belt to flap and make contact with the cover ( this also could have been from the hack job I did on the timing cover ) but none the less it was rubbing and then snapped, so I have decided to go then safe route and go back to hydraulic.

Reply: hmmmm, no mines definitely not loose. things tight as hell and it tracks good so i dont think it is hitting the cover at all.

plus my noise is more metallic sounding. this exhaust leak thing is new to me. how can exhaust leak make a knocking noise? i thought it would just hsss or something.

well for now i have to get the SFMU installed and get the thing running again. then hopefully i can determine what the hell is causing that noise before im stuck on the side of the rd somewhere.

Reply: well the clinking wasnt from it rubbing it was the spring in the tensioer

Reply: The spring in the tensioner. Hmm, Im not doubting you at all it just seems bizarre. the bearing just spins and a spring rotates on the inside to apply pressure on the belt. im just trying to figure out how it is making the noise and how it is effected by rpm change.

And then the biggest issue is how do you fix it? Is it improper torque on the nut on the tensioner? or is it just a simple fact that the mechanical tensioner idea is junk? and then in my case is the problem to much pressure?

you mentioned that you gave up on the mechanical tensioner and went back to the hydraulic one. Are both the belts the same size just in case i end up having to do that in a last min ditch effort? Or do i have to buy a whole new belt?
thanks, jason

Look at my post a few ones down w/ the subject: What kind of timing belt do you use, or something like that...we discussed the mechanical tensioner in my thread.

My opinion, its junk.

Also my opinion. After 3k I already put the factory style back on.

I have the mechanical style and have no problems with it. I did notice the first time I installed the new belt (the one that came with it) that I had a noise coming from the timing belt area, a high pitched whine, but I had the tensioner too tight.

i switched over to a mechanical tensioner last fall and im getting a high pitched noise near the exhaust cam gear too. maybe everyones right...

I am rebuilding now and have already purchased a Mechanical Tensioner some one please give me some good news on these... or should I just buy a new original tensioner?

Originally posted by Tpratt43
I am rebuilding now and have already purchased a Mechanical Tensioner some one please give me some good news on these... or should I just buy a new original tensioner?

about 10 posts down...

http://forums.2gnt.com/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=5&topic_id=108643&mesg_id=108643&page=