IHADAV8.com - Turbo Buick Tech, and Nonsense

Tech Area => General Buick Tech => Topic started by: Forzfed on August 11 2015, 10:27:57 PM

Title: Belt tensioner?
Post by: Forzfed on August 11 2015, 10:27:57 PM
My belt tensioner went on my high milage car.  Anyone no the best place to buy a new one? 
Title: Re: Belt tensioner?
Post by: daveismissing on August 11 2015, 10:39:58 PM
Good luck.
The guy that made those billet ones was more recently selling them on ebay for much less than the original group buy. I think they were actually canadian.
....
edit: well at least his Mtl cousin is, I asked for some contact info
Title: Re: Belt tensioner?
Post by: daveismissing on August 11 2015, 11:06:08 PM
A reminder of the state of things:
http://www.ihadav8.com/forum/index.php?topic=4161.0 (http://www.ihadav8.com/forum/index.php?topic=4161.0)
Title: Re: Belt tensioner?
Post by: Forzfed on August 12 2015, 02:39:29 PM
Good luck.
The guy that made those billet ones was more recently selling them on ebay for much less than the original group buy. I think they were actually canadian.
....
edit: well at least his Mtl cousin is, I asked for some contact info

Did you get any contact info?  Would be much appreciated!  I have a line on one for sure and possibly another.
Title: Re: Belt tensioner?
Post by: Scoobum on August 12 2015, 03:48:56 PM
I have a belt tensioner here that has an 'ear' broken off. Can it be welded back on? Sorry for the hijack.
Title: Re: Belt tensioner?
Post by: Forzfed on August 12 2015, 03:52:05 PM
Just spoke to one buddy and he said there was a guy in the city that rebuilds them.  He got him to do the one on his GN.
Title: Re: Belt tensioner?
Post by: Scoobum on August 12 2015, 03:59:21 PM
Just spoke to one buddy and he said there was a guy in the city that rebuilds them.  He got him to do the one on his GN.

At least we know where to send them. :)
Title: Re: Belt tensioner?
Post by: gusszgs on August 12 2015, 07:09:10 PM
I think Earl knows how to redo them. Just have to locate the right bearing
Title: Re: Belt tensioner?
Post by: Charlief1 on August 12 2015, 10:42:25 PM
If it's just a bearing, Earl found a replacement for it. I think he posted the info in the how to section over at TB.com.
Title: Re: Belt tensioner?
Post by: Forzfed on August 12 2015, 10:59:17 PM
I think Earl knows how to redo them. Just have to locate the right bearing

If it was just the bearing then that would be no problem, but it isn't the bearing. :(

Title: Re: Belt tensioner?
Post by: daveismissing on August 13 2015, 12:43:29 PM
this was the ebay one - no current listing
http://www.ebay.com/itm/181611488945?rmvSB=true (http://www.ebay.com/itm/181611488945?rmvSB=true)
Title: Re: Belt tensioner?
Post by: daveismissing on August 13 2015, 12:45:05 PM
this might be the group buy one
http://www.ebay.com/itm/86-87-BUICK-REGAL-GRAND-NATION-PONTIAC-89-TTA-Billet-Tensioner-w-out-pulley-/271884484673?hash=item3f4d940041 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/86-87-BUICK-REGAL-GRAND-NATION-PONTIAC-89-TTA-Billet-Tensioner-w-out-pulley-/271884484673?hash=item3f4d940041)

edit:
Yah pretty sure it is and they seem to distance themselves from the core mustang business

http://www.thumpracing.com/pr/index.htm (http://www.thumpracing.com/pr/index.htm)
Title: Re: Belt tensioner?
Post by: Forzfed on August 13 2015, 01:31:08 PM
this might be the group buy one
http://www.ebay.com/itm/86-87-BUICK-REGAL-GRAND-NATION-PONTIAC-89-TTA-Billet-Tensioner-w-out-pulley-/271884484673?hash=item3f4d940041 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/86-87-BUICK-REGAL-GRAND-NATION-PONTIAC-89-TTA-Billet-Tensioner-w-out-pulley-/271884484673?hash=item3f4d940041)

edit:
Yah pretty sure it is and they seem to distance themselves from the core mustang business

http://www.thumpracing.com/pr/index.htm (http://www.thumpracing.com/pr/index.htm)

I just bought that one!  And I'm going to have my old one rebuilt.  Sent him an offer last night, got it for a little bit less. :cheers:
Title: Re: Belt tensioner?
Post by: earlbrown on August 13 2015, 02:26:17 PM
If it's just a bearing, Earl found a replacement for it. I think he posted the info in the how to section over at TB.com.

Pretty sure it was a ''how to'' on TBS.com. 

    Interesting trivia:  When I was trying to match them up it was after the cold war ended.  When I got the box of bearings they were some sort of package of military surplus from Russia.  The bearings were individually sealed and have the weird Russian letters on them with no normal numerals. 

Months later I tried to remember who I got them from so I could see what other cool stuff he might have liberated from some defunct base.  :)

 What's really cool is they also fit square body S10s, round body S10's, and Ford Exploders.
Title: Re: Belt tensioner?
Post by: dyermullet on August 18 2015, 01:38:00 PM
Do a search on tb.com  I read there are two companies making them now, I don't remember the details.

I bought one on ebay that was a leftover of the original group buy.  The stock metal pulley rubs on the body of the tensioner, not enough clearance.  I compared it to 2 factory ones to confirm.  I marked the interference area and I plan to use a die grinder to clearance.  Just haven't had time to finish working on it.

Moral of the story don't expect it to just be a bolt on. 
Title: Re: Belt tensioner?
Post by: Forzfed on August 18 2015, 09:32:49 PM
Got my billet one today.  Must say, it is a very very nice piece!  :rock:
Title: Re: Belt tensioner?
Post by: Just a Six? on August 19 2015, 05:46:31 PM
Just spoke to one buddy and he said there was a guy in the city that rebuilds them.  He got him to do the one on his GN.

At least we know where to send them. :)

I had 2 welded & they both broke with installation so I vote No!  :068:
Title: Re: Belt tensioner?
Post by: TURBOPOWERED68 on August 25 2015, 10:40:41 PM
Just spoke to one buddy and he said there was a guy in the city that rebuilds them.  He got him to do the one on his GN.

At least we know where to send them. :)

I had 2 welded & they both broke with installation so I vote No!  :068:

Would freeing up the tube in the broken ear help in not breaking it again ?
just about every one that i have seen broken has the pin crushed and the nut sitting on the body.
mine has been broken for a very long time, i have been contemplating on having it welded, IF i do get it welded i WILL loosen the pin some how  (but not too much) in hopes of not breaking it again.
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