84MustangLX

so my timing cover has a crack in it. doing a new water pump. so i noticed it when i took the pump off. i believe my belt is too small. or maybe too big. i'm having a hard time figuring this out. my tensioner is older than i am. and i believe it doesn't do it's job anymore. i ordered a new tensioner and won't get it until monday. right now i'm using a 73 1/4" belt. i'm trying to figure out if there's too much tension b/c of the bad pulley or maybe b/c my belt is too small. and it's causing my cover to crack. b/c when we did the cover it was torqued down correctly so i know it wasn't loose. my car is factory no a/c and the only pullies on it are alternator/crank/water pump/power steering. shouldn't i have a smog pump pully somewhere in there? pleaseeeee help.

84MustangLX

to the top.

mustangsneverdie

serpentine or v-belt

84MustangLX

serpentine

mustangsneverdie

then the tensioner shouldn't be a problem

84MustangLX

yea but what about belt size?

mustangsneverdie

how hard was the belt to put on

Foxbody87

This should help.
http://www.cjponyparts.com/NewTech50Belts.aspx

84MustangLX

thanks Foxbody87 . i couldn't remember that site. cuz i saw it on here b4. i'm using a 73 1/4" belt. was pretty hard to get on. it just barely got over the alternator pulley. but i'm not using a ford racing a/c eliminator like it shows on the cjponyparts.com. i'm thinking my tensioner is just a piece of crap with way too much tension b/c the spring is seized. i'll let you fellas know tomorrow when i pick it up from the parts store. ups messed up my order .

mustangsneverdie

get a belt that's a little longer longer maybe a 73 1/2" a 1/4" can mean a lot