HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE TENSION WHEEL COMING APART? mINE LOOKS LIKE IT FROZE UP AND BROKE APART AND TORE APART THE BELT. iT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THERE IS ANY DAMAGE TO THE CRANK PULLEY OR TO THE S/C. IS THIS A PROBLEM THAT VORTECH HAS HAD WITH THEM?

ANYONE KNOW WHERE I CAN GET A TENSION PULLEY AND BELT BESIDES VORTECH?

THANKS,
JOHN

 

I have never heard this happen on the Vortech system but this seems to be a common problem with the ATI kit. In order to deal with this I contacted SD concepts and they made a custom sring loaded tensioner. I am not sure if they offer anything for the Vortech though.

 

I believe the Vortech kits use a Mustang 5.0 belt tensioner. You can get those at Autozone. I have the same problem with one of my kits. The bearing froze up and messed the pulley up. I need to get another tensioner also.

 

My stock Votech tensioner wore unevenly over time creating a ridge that would chew up belts. I found a metal pulley at an auto parts store which I believe came from a mid 80's mustang. It's just slightly smaller in diameter that the stock Vortech pulley. The bearing needed to be shifted about .200" to align the pulley properly. This is easy to do with a socket and hammer. Never had an issue since! The metal pulley bolts right onto the existing tensioner.