Myotis1134 Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 Does anyone know if there is a really heavy-duty belt tensioner assembly out there? Since I've had my euro I've broke four of the damn things. It seems like they make them really fragile, and I'm starting to suspect that it is on purpose. Does anybody make them out of steel? Or is there a mod I can do to the car that will allow me to use a newer/stronger tensioner setup? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian P Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 what year is your car, and are you breaking used OEM ones, or new aftermarket ones? The earlier 3.1's had relatively strong tensioners. The later ones usually seen on 3100's/3400's are a bit more problematic. The aftermarket ones made by Gates or Dayco are decent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 what year is your car, and are you breaking used OEM ones, or new aftermarket ones? The earlier 3.1's had relatively strong tensioners. The later ones usually seen on 3100's/3400's are a bit more problematic. The aftermarket ones made by Gates or Dayco are decent. x2! I've now seen 3 different versions on 2.8/3.1/3100/3400 tensioners. only the earliest type is durable. get one from a j/y off of a 93 and down car, and it must have a METAL pulley. that seems to be the best one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SigEpCutlass Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 The aftermarket ones made by Gates or Dayco are decent. The Dayco I have on my '94 3100 has been working well. No issues to report. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfewtrail Posted February 18, 2009 Report Share Posted February 18, 2009 The 93 and earlier original tensioners seem to be the best as Ken said. I have right around 260K miles on my '93 Grand Prix with the original belt tensioner on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myotis1134 Posted February 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 My car is a '91, and my options up here in AK are limited to Schucks/CSK, NAPA or Carquest. I asked all stores about their pullys, and was told that they are made of thermoplastic (which sucks). As I plan to install an underdrive pully setup this summer, do any of you think it is possible to modify say the alternator mounting bracket, so it could be manually adjusted, and just get a slightly smaller belt? With so many parts being made from billet these days, I'm surprised there aren't any out there, as a tensioner pulley made from billet, or anything other than fucking thermoplastic, would solve the whole breakage problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myotis1134 Posted February 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 I wandered off topic a bit. So ordering online seems to be my best option. Any website recommendations? Maybe gmpartsdirect? If I can find a decent vendor I'll get a couple just in case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted February 21, 2009 Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 would you like me to sell you the good used pulley style that is metal instead? the plastic is no major concern, btw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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