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| Forum name | Performance/Engine |
| Topic subject | PD Mechanical timing belt tensioner conversion write up. with pics!!! |
| Topic URL | https://forums.2gnt.com/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=i5&topic_id=96377 |
96377, PD Mechanical timing belt tensioner conversion write up. with pics!!! Posted by shazow1969, Feb-17-06 07:24 AM
Now this is pretty easy for anyone who has done a timing belt before but i'm sure there's a few guys here who can really use it. So here goes.
I had a bit of an advantage since my engine was out of my car due to a necessary engine swap. First thing to keep in mind is that you MUST have a crank shaft pulley removal tool before starting this or you will be very frustrated. I had to borrow one from a Dodge tech (lucky for me there is a Dodge dealership next to where I was working on the car). Moving on

1) Follow TM procedures for removal of accessory belts, crankshaft pulley, and timing belt.


2) While you have the timing belt off now is a great time to replace seals and other such items that might need replacement. I opted to replace the waterpump.

3) Remove all brackets pertaining to the OEM tensioner.

4) Replace Idler pulley with the one supplied in the kit, and reinstall any sprockets you may have removed (cam's & crank)
5) Install PD mechanical conversion bracket/pulley. I Used one of the motor mount bracket bolts to insure proper alignment of the bracket with the bolt holes in the engine block.

6) Route timing belt making sure your timing marks stay aligned. This is where it can get tricky. The belt was too tight it seemed to be able to go around all the pulleys. so I improvised a bit I loosened up the idler pulley and took up the slack at the crank shaft (by turning it clockwise 1-1.5 teeth) so that I could place some slack on the tensioner side of the belt. Once I got the belt around the tensioner I backed the crank shaft back up to TDC and torqued the Idler pulley back down.



7) Now that the belt is routed it's time to place that tension on to the belt. Loosen the retaining nut and use a 1/4" drive ratchet/breaker bar with 2" extension to place tension onto the belt at the tensioner pulley. Once you have tension on the belt, lock the tensioner pulley back down with the nut.
8) Turn the crankshaft over 2 full rotations to verify that the timing marks stil line up (don't worry about the timing belt looking like it's tracking to the outside of the pulleys, the motor mount will pull that into line). If they do move onto step 9 if they do not repeat steps 6-8 until they do.


9) Reinstall outer timing cover. I cut a viewing window in mine so I can check the timing at the crank shaft with out removing everything all over again (idea I borrowed from Driggs thank you Brian). Then reinstall motor mount to the block using the 3 bolts (this will also pull the tensioner bracket snug against the block and allow it to track in the center of the cam pulleys).

10) Reinstall crank shaft pulley. The RIGHT way to do this is to use the pulley installer tool. The guy at Irondaquoit Dodge here that I borrowed the removal tool from intructed me to "Beat" my pulley back on with a dead blow hammer Until I coult turn the crank shaft pulley bolt 8 rotations by hand. I decided that since I did not want to ruin my brand new AF/X UDP that i would protect it with a shop rag folded into quarters and go very slowly. This worked very well as a matter of fact. Once I was able to thred the bolt in 10 rotations, I used the impact gun & 19mm socket to draw it the rest of the way on.


*Side note* If installing an AF/X UDP and you did not recieve the belts as I did the belt numbers are as follows. ALT- 4050315 Dayco PS/AC- 5050500 Dayco I got both belts from Advance Auto parts.
11) Reinstall all brackets belts and other accessories you may have removed such as the PS pump.

12) Change oil and any other fluid you desire. Top off all fluids
Moment of truth. Hook the battery back up, slide into the driver seat and fire it up.
Any thing anyone else wants to add to this feel free I'm hoping that this will help out alot of people here.
-Kevin
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96406, RE: PD Mechanical timing belt tensioner conversion write up. with pics!!! Posted by jam013200, Feb-15-06 04:21 AM
Nice writeup, this is exactly how I installed mine. I was a little nervous at first when I turned the motor around and the belt started to come off the gears but once I bolted the motor mount bracket back up it stayed aligned. Thought I would mention it again so that people will know what to expect.
Again...nice write up Shazow.
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96425, RE: PD Mechanical timing belt tensioner conversion write up. with pics!!! Posted by shazow1969, Feb-15-06 04:48 PM
Thanks very much. After 3 days of driving the car now that it's finally back together I would like to say a couple more things on this part. It is a GREAT value and I simply love it. I Also love the modification to the outer timing cover as now I do not have to remove my UDP to check timing. The car runs great and the only complaint was that it sounded like a supercharger under my hood til the belt "Broke In".
-Kevin
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96426, RE: PD Mechanical timing belt tensioner conversion write up. with pics!!! Posted by Hamgumball, Feb-15-06 10:01 PM
Some of you have been having problems slipping on the timing belt because its too tight. In the instructions it says to turn it all the way counter clockwise to give it the most slack. But i found out that the most slack is a little before going completely counter clockwise. What I did was use a 1/4 inch socket wrench, put it on the tensioner and played with it until I got the most slack. I had trouble sliding the belt on at first, but if you use this way, you shouldnt have to lossen the idler pulley.
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96427, RE: PD Mechanical timing belt tensioner conversion write up. with pics!!! Posted by XMasta19, Feb-15-06 11:57 PM
...so you're saying none of us attempted loosening it up before sliding the belt on?
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96428, RE: PD Mechanical timing belt tensioner conversion write up. with pics!!! Posted by xcasbonx, Feb-16-06 01:02 AM
Nice writeup, but I didn't see anything in there with "following proper torque specifications". I wouldn't trust anything related to the timing belt unless it was torqued to the proper spec. Did the mech. tensioner come with any information regarding torque specs?
http://www.dsmregistry.com/detail.php?carid=1030
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96429, RE: PD Mechanical timing belt tensioner conversion write up. with pics!!! Posted by jam013200, Feb-16-06 01:09 AM
I believe the nut on the mechanical tensioner pulley that locks it in position (after you set tightness and align the spring) is suppose to be 33ft.lbs.
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96430, RE: PD Mechanical timing belt tensioner conversion write up. with pics!!! Posted by DarkOne, Feb-16-06 04:47 AM
Originally posted by XMasta19 ...so you're saying none of us attempted loosening it up before sliding the belt on?
If you did it like the writeup above, then no, apparently you didn't. He routed the belt before he even loosened the tensioner. That's.. backasswards.
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96441, RE: PD Mechanical timing belt tensioner conversion write up. with pics!!! Posted by XMasta19, Feb-16-06 08:50 AM
Originally posted by DarkOneOriginally posted by XMasta19 ...so you're saying none of us attempted loosening it up before sliding the belt on? If you did it like the writeup above, then no, apparently you didn't. He routed the belt before he even loosened the tensioner. That's.. backasswards. roger that....damn you're good :bowdown
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96447, RE: PD Mechanical timing belt tensioner conversion write up. with pics!!! Posted by shazow1969, Feb-16-06 03:26 PM
Originally posted by XMasta19Originally posted by DarkOne Originally posted by XMasta19 ...so you're saying none of us attempted loosening it up before sliding the belt on? If you did it like the writeup above, then no, apparently you didn't. He routed the belt before he even loosened the tensioner. That's.. backasswards. roger that....damn you're good :bowdown
Damn good catch Dino. I didn't even notice that (i was drinking while typing that up). Obviously you have to have the tensioner loose before routing the belt. Thank you for the correction. If only I knew how to edit older posts I would correct my mistake. Thank you for pointing that out.
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96462, RE: PD Mechanical timing belt tensioner conversion write up. with pics!!! Posted by DarkOne, Feb-17-06 05:37 AM
Copy it, fix the error, zip up the pics, and email it to me. dino@2gnt.com
I'll put it onthe main site. It's a good writeup to have.
Do a review on it, too, for the main site.
content, content, content.
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96464, RE: PD Mechanical timing belt tensioner conversion write up. with pics!!! Posted by 95_ESi_Person, Feb-17-06 07:01 AM
Originally posted by DarkOneCopy it, fix the error, zip up the pics, and email it to me. dino@2gnt.com I'll put it onthe main site. It's a good writeup to have. Do a review on it, too, for the main site. content, content, content.
The procedure for the Mechanical Tensioner should be included with that if you are putting this on the main site. Torque specs should be put in also.
I'm just adding my $.02, I mean, some of us who have done it may lose the papers with the tensioner's procedure and torque specs somewhere down the road, I probably will...
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96495, RE: PD Mechanical timing belt tensioner conversion write up. with pics!!! Posted by 95_ESi_Person, Feb-18-06 06:45 PM
We re-did mine today and found that the belt was not tracking right because the bracket that holds the tensioner was not sitting flush with the block because of the rear timing belt cover... Easily fixed with a knife and some carving.
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96574, RE: PD Mechanical timing belt tensioner conversion write up. with pics!!! Posted by shazow1969, Feb-22-06 09:15 AM
Originally posted by DarkOneCopy it, fix the error, zip up the pics, and email it to me. dino@2gnt.com I'll put it onthe main site. It's a good writeup to have. Do a review on it, too, for the main site. content, content, content.
Ok msm will do once I have enough time to sit down and do so.
-Kevin
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96498, about the accessory pulley... Posted by ner947, Feb-19-06 08:24 AM
The AF/X pulley will go on a lot easier if you pop it in the oven for about 30 minutes at 500 degrees (or as hot as it will go). This expands the aluminum enough so it slides on the crankshaft sprocket like butter, just don't forget to wear good oven mits.
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96559, RE: about the accessory pulley... Posted by 2point4, Feb-21-06 03:06 PM
off the subject but... i've always heard that it was a bad idea to beat the udp on with a hammer due to possibly causing damage to the thrust bearing. i've always grabbed a longer crank bolt from the local hardware store (12mm x 1.75 thread if i remember correctly) and torqued it on (after an oven session like stated above) or if you must use a hammer, i'd place a prybar between the crankshaft and the passenger side of number two piston and pry to passenger side to prevent the above stated damage. no?? back on topic... following the directions supplied by partsdino, at step 14 "rotate the installation shaft with 1/4 inch square key until the spring tang (see fig 3) alings with the arm nomial position notch, see fig 6. my notch is about 3/8 away from the spring tang alignment and it will not go any further. i've loosened the retainment nut and tried all sorts of rotations but still nothing further. anybody else have this problem?? wtf??
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96561, RE: about the accessory pulley... Posted by 95_ESi_Person, Feb-21-06 05:14 PM
Originally posted by 2point4 following the directions supplied by partsdino, at step 14 "rotate the installation shaft with 1/4 inch square key until the spring tang (see fig 3) alings with the arm nomial position notch, see fig 6. my notch is about 3/8 away from the spring tang alignment and it will not go any further. i've loosened the retainment nut and tried all sorts of rotations but still nothing further. anybody else have this problem?? wtf??
Did you loosen the nut and then turn the plate clockwise until it stops? Then put the belt on and try it, mine aligned perfectly after doing that. But you said you were following the directions, and if that is the case... I don't know.
If the engine is still in the car and you have another person helping you, here is a great tip: That rubber plug/grommet in the fender well, take that out, when I did it gave a PERFECT view of the alignment tang on the tensioner.
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96575, RE: about the accessory pulley... Posted by shazow1969, Feb-22-06 09:24 AM
you can do use a hammer, but if you do use something like the rag pictured above to soften the blow and make sure to use a dead blow hammer as pictured above. You only want to tap it on til you can turn the STOCK bolt (it's a hardened bolt and a few guys have snapped the longer hardware store bolts while tightening them because they are not as strong) in 7-10 full rotations before drawing it the rest of the way in with the bolt.
-Kevin
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96576, RE: about the accessory pulley... Posted by 95_ESi_Person, Feb-22-06 10:03 AM
heh, I used a 20oz or so hammer and beat the hell out of mine putting it back on... think I'm still good?
It was the stock one by the way.
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96579, RE: about the accessory pulley... Posted by destruckeclipse, Feb-22-06 10:38 AM
I used wood and rags as gaurds, but it didn't work so I beat it with a hammer with nothing else till it went in. No problems related to the pulle in anyway on my end. Next time I will have to try and heat it up like mentioned here.
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96583, RE: about the accessory pulley... Posted by 2point4, Feb-22-06 01:21 PM
95 esi person - good looking out bro, i put the belt on first and must have skipped step 8 for some reason... doops! thanks for the response though. finally got everything set up nicely. good unit imo.
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