Afternoon folks!

I can't seem to wrap my swap challenged mind around what I need to do to mount the idler. I have the 90 Astro w/o AC idler pulley. I scrounged around the junk yard looking for some type of mount but could not find anything suitable. I read Mickey's and Jose's thread and did not find any detail on how the pulley is mounted. Is as simple as a larger bolt, some spacers, etc? Do I need a special shoulder type bolt? I'm lost..... Thanks in advance for your help.



Pat

Pat, I removed the mount for the idler pulley from the Cadillac belt tensioner with a hack saw.
The stub is the correct dimension for the new idler pulley mounting hole.
I drilled out the stub so a 10mm bolt would go threw the center.

This was just short of 1/2". Some one here posted the space behind the pulley was about 1/2". Measuring the base of the stub, I added two flat washers behind it to make up 1/2".


This bolt threads into the upright brace behind the water pump housing etc, while the lower end of the brace mounted to the AC compressor. Notice that I had to remove a bit off of one water pump bolt

Jam nut on the back so the bolt doesn't back out and get loose


I had noticed that the off set wasn't the same on both sides of the pulley, one way was just a bit different. You might need to try both ways to see which way is best for your set up.

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 03-13-2010).]

Well great minds think alike Joe!

After roaming around the hardware stores and auto parts stores looking for something I could use as a hub or a shoulder bolt, etc etc. I basically did the same thing. I cut the hub off the original Caddy tensioner then drilled it all the way through and the tapped it with a 3/8" x 16 tap - I don't have any metric taps - then I went and picked up a 2.5" long grade 8 allen head bolt, some washers and a nylock nut. Then I drilled out the factory nut on the brace for the AC pump so that the 3/8" bolt would slip through from the back side, used some washers for sapcers and threaded the "hub" onto the bolt from the front. Then use a flat washer and the nylock to hold the pulley on the hub. After I got it all together, I discovered that I will need a 3" long bolt and I will drill out the original large cupped washer for the idler and install it before the nylock.

After looking at yours, I think yours is simpler and easier. I thought I had a really great idea here only to find out it's already been done. Thanks for posting it Joe - confirms that I am going in the right direction.

Here's a few shots of my version:







Pat

I am sure someone else has a different method to do this, I would be interested in seeing a few other methods to accomplish the same objective

I think I found one of those threaded rods with a flange nut welded onto it. So the nut would fit inside the bearing but the flange would keep the pulley from backing off, then using a washer on the other side of the pulley.

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-Kyle
Email: kakagiraffe@gmail.com
Aim: Littlechugger
1988 Notchback 4.9 V8, 5spd Isuzu, Spec Stage 4
True Dual Exhaust, Delta Cam (212,000 Miles)
1992 Honda Accord LX (196,000 Miles) 5spd

I managed to get it all mounted up and the belt on around dark......Now I have to get the right belt - this one is too long. I tried the AZ 798K6 and thought it was too short so I went and picked up this 805K6. I'll have to see if they have an 802K6? Thanks for the help!



Pat

quote Originally posted by josef644: I am sure someone else has a different method to do this, I would be interested in seeing a few other methods to accomplish the same objective

I found a brass bushing laying around that worked for me and cut some tubing the correct length:


Ideally, I was going to machine a standoff that fit the bearing and spaced the pulley out - but so far haven't done that...

quote Originally posted by Mickey_Moose: I found a brass bushing laying around that worked for me and cut some tubing the correct length: Ideally, I was going to machine a standoff that fit the bearing and spaced the pulley out - but so far haven't done that...

I took the pulleys to a hardware store and never did find a bushing that fit right. That's why I ended up using the 'stub' off the Caddie belt tensioner