Here's the deal. Last spring I replaced the water pump on my 84 SE. About 8 months later the pump is leaking again. So I figured, the belt must have been too tight. I got a new pump and a new belt, and put the belt on not too tight. Problem was that it would would squeal when I loaded down the electriccal system (headlights, stop lights, vent fan). So today I got around to tightening it. I tightened it just a little, but now after about a minute it starts to whine like a turbo spooling up everytime i rev the motor. I don't want to wreck my water pump again, so HOW TIGHT IS THIS DAMN BELT SUPPOSED TO BE? Any help would be appreciated. Thanx in advance.
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10:30 PM
PFF
System Bot
Synthesis Member
Posts: 12207 From: Jordan, MN Registered: Feb 2002
Originally posted by Posthumane: Here's the deal. Last spring I replaced the water pump on my 84 SE. About 8 months later the pump is leaking again. So I figured, the belt must have been too tight. I got a new pump and a new belt, and put the belt on not too tight. Problem was that it would would squeal when I loaded down the electriccal system (headlights, stop lights, vent fan). So today I got around to tightening it. I tightened it just a little, but now after about a minute it starts to whine like a turbo spooling up everytime i rev the motor. I don't want to wreck my water pump again, so HOW TIGHT IS THIS DAMN BELT SUPPOSED TO BE? Any help would be appreciated. Thanx in advance.
You should have 1/4" of slack, no more.
------------------ "I- will be watching over you I- am gonna help you see it through I- will protect you in the night I- am smiling next to you, in Silent Lucidity" --- Queensryche
1/4" slack when I push down how hard? That's about what I have now, but like I said, it started making a slight whining noise, which is coming from either the alt or w.p.
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10:40 PM
Synthesis Member
Posts: 12207 From: Jordan, MN Registered: Feb 2002
When you push down firmly, but don't put your body weight against it.... Some parts stores have a tension guage. It basically sticks onto the belt when it is completely loose, and as you tighten it up, the guage will then tell you when it is perfect.
Ok, thanks for the help. I guess it's not too tight. Just seems strange that it makes that noise. I guess if my waterpump starts gushing in a few weeks I'll know for sure . Btw, that's a nice looking car. How did you get 200+ hp out of it? is it a 2.8?
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10:58 PM
Synthesis Member
Posts: 12207 From: Jordan, MN Registered: Feb 2002
2.8 V6 punched .030 over. Forged flats, Aluminum alloy connecting rods, Crane cam, Stainless crank, Tuned intake and exhaust. Stock TB, stock plenum and exhaust tuned to fit. Chip, shaved heads, (.045) and Brazilian pushrods (Titanium alloy) 2 ounces a piece. Really saves on power. Now, to put on a reduction pulley set, and see what we can do. I have a windage tray as well. You hafta have one in the V6 or you have problems. 90 lb injectors too.... As for the noise, are the belts hard and cracked? When was the last time you changed them? Remove the belts and grab ahold of your waterpump pulley. Is it loose? If so, suspect the pump. Run the vehicle with every belt except the alternator belt (Not recommended for a long time) Does the noise go away? Toss on the alternator belt. See if it comes back.
[This message has been edited by Synthesis (edited 02-10-2002).]
I had a problem on my '84 SE with the water pump pulley not being aligned with the other pulleys (Don't have A/C either). Belt squealed quite a bit, then finally, it threw the belt during a dyno run. My battery had slid over into the water pump pulley while running a driver's school at Daytona (battery hold down experiment gone wrong). If you had to have the pulley pressed on (quite common on water pumps these days), it might be mis-aligned this way, or if something has bumped it too. If the belt starts 'curling' on one side, this is your problem.
If your belt is curling, pull the alternator... Look at the hole the long bolt goes through, if it is worn oblong in the mount or alternator, you found the problem...
You have no AC? do you have a 2 grove pulley on the crank and water pump? If so, and they are the same size on both, get a dual pulley for the alternator... I run 2 belts, as I eliminated my AC compressor, and my alternator does not squeel...
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11-Sept-01, The day the world as we knew it ended.
