Belt tensioner
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2021
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From: Hardee county
Belt tensioner Does anyone have a part number to a better belt tensioner? My 2004 5.3 stroker keeps throwing the belt and I’d really like to stay away from a manual tensioner if possible
If you find something that works, please post up about it here. After a couple thrown belts and a heavily shredded belt on my 434, I went manual and never looked back. Set it and forget it. I’m running Holley (C6 corvette) accessories for what it’s worth. The OEM tensioners aren’t designed to handle a quick revving build.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 49
Likes: 8
From: Hardee county
If you find something that works, please post up about it here. After a couple thrown belts and a heavily shredded belt on my 434, I went manual and never looked back. Set it and forget it. I’m running Holley (C6 corvette) accessories for what it’s worth. The OEM tensioners aren’t designed to handle a quick revving build.
Not the case. If anything, mine is set with less tension to the belt itself, than the OEM one. My belt isn’t loose by any means, but it’s just not quite as “tensioned” as the spring loaded tensioner had it.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2021
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From: Hardee county
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Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 49
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From: Hardee county
This might work. It has the truck spacing, but I’m not sure what’s on your pass side cylinder head…
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/i...iABEgJPOvD_BwE
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/i...iABEgJPOvD_BwE
I threw belts in rapid decel. No more problems since installing a manual tensioner.
I also switched to those gator belts or whatever they're called. Seems people report those belts don't get thrown quite as easy. Don't know if that is true but it's a nice belt either way.
Last edited by QwkTrip; Apr 2, 2022 at 02:21 PM.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 49
Likes: 8
From: Hardee county
I was concerned about that too so I spoke to my Dayco belt engineer (I have access to people like that) and he assured me the manual tensioner is fine. The belt does need to be tightened twice though, once upon install and then again after about 5-10 minutes of run time. The reason why is because the belt tension will relax as the belt ribs sink into the pulley grooves (it's not because of belt stretch). The second adjustment gets the belt back to proper tension and it will stay good for a long time.
I threw belts in rapid decel. No more problems since installing a manual tensioner.
I also switched to those gator belts or whatever they're called. Seems people report those belts don't get thrown quite as easy. Don't know if that is true but it's a nice belt either way.
I threw belts in rapid decel. No more problems since installing a manual tensioner.
I also switched to those gator belts or whatever they're called. Seems people report those belts don't get thrown quite as easy. Don't know if that is true but it's a nice belt either way.
FWIW, I've been running the Katech manual tensioner for the past 12 years or so. Car sees 7 grand+ and I've never, ever had a problem.
Make sure you are running a good belt likes Gates. Cheaper belts stretch, sometimes rather quickly.
Make sure you are running a good belt likes Gates. Cheaper belts stretch, sometimes rather quickly.
LS1 accessory and A/C belt tensioners on the 01 which has an ATI Super Damper. I've yet to throw a belt but I did have to buy a slightly smaller accessory belt than the stock one.