DCx

iTrader: (12)

anyone ever shorten the legs on a 5.3 belt tensioner to match the length of a LS1 style tensioner?

water pump spacers + ls1 water pump + 5.3 tensioner = too long

I'm cheap. if this can be done i will remove the tensioner from my ls1 camaro and hack saw the 5.3 unit to match.

LXguy

iTrader: (5)

Which accessory spacing are you using? Truck?

Which thickness of water pump spacers?

You mean the pulley on the tensioner is too far forward?

davidws6

iTrader: (36)

Might be easier to space out the tensioner without the water pump spacers ?

In the case of shortening the tensioner, you should have a nice flat machined surface or the belt will probably walk off.

garys 68

iTrader: (1)

I made my own accessory drive years ago. It doesn't take much of a misalignment to throw a belt. Ruin a $20 trying to save $30 on a tensioner? Also, some truck tensioners have a flat base, no legs to mill off.

DCx

iTrader: (12)

you guys are right. i can get a gates tensioner from ebay for $33.

Im running an ls1 intake manifold, truck cable throttle body, 3/4" dirty dingo spacers, ls1 car water pump, and a 5.3 balancer. Accessory drive is a billet setup from LS Brackets that mimics the Ls1 F body but does away with the power steering pump by using an ribbed idler. set up for the 5.3 belt line.

my 5.3 tensioner has two small legs. looks a lot different than the ls1 unit. installing it looks like it will stick out a lot further than the crank pulley. i don't have a belt to verify this tho.

Adam123

iTrader: (1)

I cut mine to fit a car water pump. Wasn't hard. I used a grinder to cut mine down and a sand paper grinder to feather it out and a little at a time to get the alignment right.