FARGIN' SQUIRELS!!!!

[pete c]

Well everything's off of the front of the motor for my 60K bottom end. I just got done usin' the wife's hoover on some squirel's acorn stash. The valley between the heads was totally stuffed full of acorns. Not sure exactly how the little bastids got in there, but, I'm thinkin' about rigging some sort of screen to keep them out. I got a piece of quarter inch mesh that would do nicely. If any of you folks ever put your sho away for any period of time, I recommend afew bags of moth balls in various places under the hood.

Anyhoo, I got a few questions. The timing belt on this 93mtx w/93k looks brand new, which I guess is a good sign. The prior owner said it did get regular service, but, there are no receipts. The belt is a PowerGrip the numbers on it are KOA-A3527-00 and 155YG32. Is this the OEM belt? Would re-installing this apparently very good belt be a real dumb way to save 30+ dollars? I'm guessing it is. The T-belt idler spins smoothly, but, it does make a bit of noise and if I spin it as fast as I can by hand, it stops within 2 seconds. Basically, it seems like everything inside is still working OK, but, there is a bit of fine dirt in it.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. It going back together in the morning.

thanks,

pete

 

[sdpatt]

It was probably rats or mice that could fit in the valley. Squirrels are a little too big to fit through the runners. Or are they?

No, not replacing the timing belt would be a really bad way to save $32. The belts stretch over time, and the tensioner on the 3.0L is not designed to keep it in proper tension for more than 60,000 miles. Even it it did (as with the 3.2L), the elongated belt has lost the accuracy of the valve timing that allows the engine to produce its rated power. I see so many posts of folks willing to spend large amounts of money for the type of horsepower that can be recovered by just replacing the old timing belt.

I believe the KOA belt is the OEM and therefore has been in too long already. The previous owner may have had Ford replace the belt and that is also a good reason to swap it out. The reason the belt looks so good is that the timing belt covers are sealed to keep the dirt and moisture away from the belt.

You will find more power from your engine by just replacing the timing belt after all those miles. Even if the belt was replaced at 60K, all the effort in the belt change is the removal and installation of the front of the engine to get to it. If that has already been done, the belt change is trivial as is the cost of the belt.

That pulley may be fine as it has grease lubed bearings inside. It is the grease that is dragging the spinning pulley down so quickly. As clean as your belt area sounded, the bearings in the tensioner pulley should be fine. The fine dirt you mentioned is probably the rubber particles generated by the wear of the belt.

Do youself and your SHO a favor: replace the belt. The Gates T248 for $32.81 from RockAuto.com is a proven belt at a great price.

 

[pete c]

scott, If it was mice, they wuz big ones! There were quite a few large acorns, to big for a mouse to carry, I think. Could this little acorn stash cause an engine fire, if left long enough?

Yeah, the new belt's on order. I'm just such a tight wad bastard, I hate to throw out anything that looks like it's still new. The belt I ordered is something other than a gates, forget which it is, but hopefully it's got 60k in it. i 'spose the same applies to the cps, huh? It's out, so change it.

Well, hopefully some time around lunch, I'll be back on the road. Thanks for all the help.

Did you ever make that NE traveling 60k road SHOw?

Pete

 

[jthomas68]

Not on mine,but i`ve also found a mouse nest behind the waterpump

 

[sdpatt]

No, I haven't hit the road for the traveling SHO tour, but it is not absoutely ruled out. I am still without a job after 8 months.

Scott

 

[jthomas68]

Although i get Social Security benefits,i haven`t worked myself(which means no overtime pay)in over 2 years.I`ll hit the road with you Scott,you fix `em,and i`ll polish `em up!

 

[pete c]

scott, what do you do? I assume you are some sort of tech or engineer if you worked for raytheon. Things that tough in Teeehas? We still got yobs here in CT. C'mon up. I need a good local SHO guy.

 

[Off Road SHO]

NOOOOO! We need him in AZ! And now that Mr Thomas has decided to join in the tour all we need now is a large motor home with a nice air conditioned trailer with a lift in it and pop-outs on both sides so you can open the doors of the car inside the trailer. Oh well, it was just a thought.

Tom