Anyone have issues with buying belts for the MTX?

[LJRuddy]

I finally got my 95 running today after it sat since november... Went to buy a new alt/AC belt as mine was broken. They sold me a 44.5" belt and when I went to put it on, it was about 2 inches short even after I completely took off the tensioner pulley. Went back and bought a 46 3/8" belt and it works fine. I could have gotten away with a 45.75" as I bottomed the tensioner out completely and its still a tiny bit lose.


So whats the deal with auto parts stores? Did something change in their computers? What size are you all running?

 

[stangeater]

Probably a ***** at the auto parts store.........

 

[LJRuddy]

Probably a ***** at the auto parts store.........

He was not. I was looking at the screen when he typed in the info.

 

[K-Dawg]

No. I'm surprised this isn't a more widely known issue on the forum. Almost all the stores list the incorrect size belt for the 94/95 alt/AC belt. The 89-93 MTX use a 44.5" belt and the 94-95 MTX use a 45.5" belt. I think my numbers are right.

 

[LJRuddy]

No. I'm surprised this isn't a more widely known issue on the forum. Almost all the stores list the incorrect size belt for the 94/95 alt/AC belt. The 89-93 MTX use a 44.5" belt and the 94-95 MTX use a 45.5" belt. I think my numbers are right.

I'll be sure to write that length down and shove it in my center console with all my other SHO notes. Now I know the correct length. Thanks.

 

[lowc]

ive never had a problem with ordering belts for my 92 and i use a local parts store every day
you never know thought it may have been packed wrong
ran into the same issue with my pass side lca today....right # wrong part

 

[KyngofPop]

Had this comPLETE issue about 4 weeks ago and I kept the belt container and the only bent that fit from Auto Zone was the 455K6. They listed the 450K6 i think and after nearly a days worth of trying other part stores the 455K6 worked sorta fine. I STILL get the alternator light at high RPM's and the alternator is a KNOWN good unit but there's no squealing anymore so I'm good for now. I even chanced my tensioner due to this mess smh!

 

[NiNeTy Fo SHO]

Yup...had the same thing about 4.5 years ago, gotta get he next longest one.

 

[CademiaX]

I had the same issue, they game me one that was too short at autozone.

 

[wingtip80]

Probably a ***** at the auto parts store.........

I was getting plugs for my old ford with a 351-m (modified). And the kid asked me if I modified it my self. It came up in the computer 351 modified. And he thought I did it:laugh_ti: I guess I put the change in the computer too.

 

[jonheese]

No. I'm surprised this isn't a more widely known issue on the forum. Almost all the stores list the incorrect size belt for the 94/95 alt/AC belt. The 89-93 MTX use a 44.5" belt and the 94-95 MTX use a 45.5" belt. I think my numbers are right.

See, this is the third time I've heard someone say this, but I upgraded my '90 to the '94/'95 3G alternator setup, and used the belt from the original '90 setup with no issues. The alternator was definitely the '94/'95 unit (had to do all the fun bracket swapping and head cutting), and it came with the pulley pre-installed.

Shouldn't my '90 belt have been 1 inch too short?

 

[zblackbeast]

Yeah.. remember when my battery exploded? Reason being was the PO put the wrong size belt on and a smaller battery.. wheni bought a new battery, i bought the correct size and the tensioner rubbed a hole in the bottom of the battery! All MTX's need 1 size bigger.

 

[LJRuddy]

See, this is the third time I've heard someone say this, but I upgraded my '90 to the '94/'95 3G alternator setup, and used the belt from the original '90 setup with no issues. The alternator was definitely the '94/'95 unit (had to do all the fun bracket swapping and head cutting), and it came with the pulley pre-installed.

Shouldn't my '90 belt have been 1 inch too short?

And the plot thickens... This is weird. Could it be the tensioner pulley? What about the AC pulley? Maybe one of those are a different size or located differently on the engine? If I remember correctly, the compressor is mounted to the same bracket that the Alt is, right? Maybe that bracket is different between generations?

 

[K-Dawg]

See, this is the third time I've heard someone say this, but I upgraded my '90 to the '94/'95 3G alternator setup, and used the belt from the original '90 setup with no issues. The alternator was definitely the '94/'95 unit (had to do all the fun bracket swapping and head cutting), and it came with the pulley pre-installed.

Shouldn't my '90 belt have been 1 inch too short?

http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=35104
http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=52674
http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=71541
http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=88363
http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=9989

I know that a 44.5" belt would not fit my 95 MTX. Maybe your used 44.5" belt was stretched just enough to work?

 

[jonheese]

And the plot thickens... This is weird. Could it be the tensioner pulley?

Could be, but I'm fairly sure the part number for the entire tensioner assembly is the same for all MTX SHOs.

What about the AC pulley? Maybe one of those are a different size or located differently on the engine?

Again, same part number for the A/C compressor, and I believe the pulley is normally included. I'm not aware of any differences in this between generations.

If I remember correctly, the compressor is mounted to the same bracket that the Alt is, right? Maybe that bracket is different between generations?

Yes, the motor mount bracket (which also functions as the mounting bracket for the A/C compressor and the alternator) and the compressor-to-alternator bracket are both definitely different between the '94/'95 MTX setup and the '89-'93 MTX setup. This is the biggest part of the upgrade procedure, and I have the '94/'95 brackets (necessary just to physically bolt up the 3G alternator).

I know that a 44.5" belt would not fit my 95 MTX. Maybe your used 44.5" belt was stretched just enough to work?

That is definitely possible, although that'd be one **** of a stretching. I didn't notice how far I had to move the adjustment on the idler, but I was putting it all back together at the time, and I had no idea the belts were any different across the generations, so I really wasn't paying much attention at the time. I suppose I ought to go out remove my belt and measure it... Maybe later.

 

[DavesNOThereMAN]

Thats funny cause I bought BELT 445K6 from Autozone the other day and its like an inch shorter and no way will it fit on my 94 MTX..

 

[KyngofPop]

Thats funny cause I bought BELT 445K6 from Autozone the other day and its like an inch shorter and no way will it fit on my 94 MTX..

Dude that is NOT the correct belt at ALL! I have the box for the correct one from Auto Zone here and it is the 455K6/6PK1155. That 445K6 had me changing parts that were not necessary and turned a simple belt change into an all day affair.