Cam belt tensioner change?

[batchman]

Hey all, hope everybody's doin' okay out there.

Was talking with someone who mentioned a change to the tensioner as a part of why the 60k interval moved to 100k.

Anyone know what this update is? I'd sure like to get 100k out of my next 60k if you know what I mean...

Thanks,
- Jeff

 

[SHOTIME]

Hey Jeff,

The ATX's have a hydrolic tensioner. Which replaces the MTX tensioner.

You really cant interchange the two.

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Eric
mailto:[email protected][email protected]</A>
http://people.ne.mediaone.net/billebobob/index.html

 

[sdpatt]

Jeff,

The difference that was referred to is the one between the 3.0L and 3.2L engines' timing belt tensioner design. The 3.0L uses a tensioner where the initial tension is applied by a spring and locked in place by the bolt through the tensioner pulley. This set up is unable to retension the belt when the belt stretches (minutely) during its lifetime. This design requires a 60,000 mile change interval.

The 3.2L engine was a later product and incorporated a gas piston (picture below) to apply a constant tension to the belt over its lifetime. The initial belt tension is applied by the gas piston and maintained throughout the lifetime of the belt. This allows a 100,000 mile change interval for the 3.2L engine.

I have wondered if the tension of the 3.0L's belt could be reset every once in a while to safely extend the change interval to 100,000 miles. It only takes a few minutes to do. All you do is position the crankshaft damper to 60 degrees before top dead center (yellow mark on the damper lined up with the 0 degree mark on the tiing belt cover), pop the small access door off the middle timing belt cover, loosen the tensioner bolt a half turn to re-apply the spring tension to the belt, retorque the bolt then reinstall the access door.

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Scott

1991, 253K miles, glass hood, police grill, SVO shifter, Catz fogs,
K&N, 73mm MAF, Superchip, PP Y-pipe, Borla cat-back, 190 lph pump
Eibach/Tokico/polyurethane, SHO Shop front & rear strut braces,
16x7.5" Moda R1, 225/55ZR16 Bridgestone RE730, -1 deg camber x 4,
Class II hitch, Silver award at the SHOklahoma Car Show

 

[Rob94]

Scott,
I'm your guineau pig......I'll be due for timing belt change in about 10k.....I'm gonna try to just re-tension the belt instead....if it snaps, oh well....non-interference engine, right??

------------------
Rob
White 94MTX
K&N Filter otherwise stock

 

[white94sho]

I have a 1994 atx with 127,000 on it if timing belt has been replaced and the water pump is still good and I'm not sure what if anything was done or needed to be done at 120,000 when is the next time I will have to do a service unless something breaks that is, 180,000 or 200,000. Since I have had the car less than a month like three weeks and have already put close to 1,200 miles on it. And since we put like 17,000 miles on my brothers 1992 mtx in one year, I would like to know what I'm in for with an ATX.
Thanks,
Mark

[This message has been edited by white94sho (edited 12-18-2001).]

 

[SHOTIME]

Umm... Didnt I answer his question in my two - three line sentence?

The history was nice though scott

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Eric
mailto:[email protected][email protected]</A>
http://people.ne.mediaone.net/billebobob/index.html

 

[fredhurderjr]

Long day Eric?

FWIW, I was on Gates' website the other day, and they recommend 100,000 miles on either the MTX or ATX belt. So, I guess Scott's adjustment plan could work fine if the manufacturer feels the belt quality is good to 100k.

I guess the question is, will the CPS, water pump & the accessory belts cooperate to 100k? If not, might as well swap the timing belt while you're in there.

 

[SHOTIME]

Two words, Finals SUCK

------------------

Eric
mailto:[email protected][email protected]</A>
http://people.ne.mediaone.net/billebobob/index.html

 

[sdpatt]

Fred asks: "I guess the question is, will the CPS, water pump & the accessory belts cooperate to 100k? If not, might as well swap the timing belt while you're in there."

The water pump seals can last longer than 100,000 miles if you use the Dex-cool silicate free, long-life antifreeze. The CPS may last the life of the car (I said "may"). The accessory belts on the MTX also have a manual tensioner that can easily be adjusted to keep the tension sufficient to prevent slippage. The front main seal never leaks THAT badly. Yeah, I guess the MTX could go 100,000 miles between changes, but every time I replace my timing belt the engine sounds and runs tighter. Also, accessing the parts lets me see firsthand what their condition is on my very "mature" engine. But then, my labor is free.

Scott

 

[pjtoledo]

Interesting that Gates recommends both engines going to 100k miles. By the way, the ATX and MTX belts are identical. I have several used ones from each.
Perry Toledo,Ohio

 

[fredhurderjr]

Eh? The belts are identical? Why are there 2 Ford P/N's then?

 

[batchman]

Great info guys, thanks <sniff> I love this forum.

I don't think I can talk the wife into a 3.2L swap just to get the longer interval

. But I have a much better understanding now, and may try a re-tension at 170k assuming my upcoming 120k nails all those pesky issues and they stay nailed.

And Mark, if your cam belts and valve lash were done at the correct 100k, I think all you have to worry about at the 30k intervals are fluids. Your next major service would be at 200k.

Thanks again,
- Jeff


[This message has been edited by batchman (edited 12-18-2001).]

 

[sdpatt]

The same belt is used on both V6 SHO engines. In the picture below, you can see the two white lines on the belt. One is for aligning the 3.0L and the other is for the 3.2L. The belt is the same length. Same Gates part number: T248.

Scott