need some help folks.. couple of years ago I had a 93 crew dually 7.3 and it had a very nice serpentine tensioner assembly with a hydraulic plunger up towards the top. I remember it was a very secure setup and I never lost a serpentine belt.
fast forward : my new old 92 7.3 idi has the central located tensioner and it keeps giving me the fits.
1. first time it threw the belt found a stripped out tensioner bolt hole in the aluminum case. after several failed attempts I finally installed a metric heli/coil and that took care of it for a while. new tensioner from autozone and gates belt. 2 months later and 6000 miles.....
2. started getting a squealing noise from under the hood that increased with rpm. figured it was the air pump that drives on the backside of the belt. today it threw the belt and tore it to shreds. Not a problem I carry a spare belt. so I pull of the exit ramp and install the new belt a gates belt too. back on the road 3 miles it threw the belt again not destroying but cutting one cord off the new belt. I had my wife pick me up and I went to autozone and got a new tensioner and belt. upon removal I found the tensioner tab inside the spring area broken off thus decreasing spring tension. so I just installed the new parts it is working but for how long.
3. I would like to just install the better a/c bracket and newer tensioners with the shock arm. can anyone direct me in this or do I have to scour the bone yards? thanks all

 

I was able to just install the newer tensioner. You need to have two bolt holes right up by the inside edge of the ac compressor and it should go right on.

Here is the tensioner.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Genuine-Factory-Ford-7-3-7-3L-Turbo-Diesel-Belt-Tensioner-F4TZ-6B209-C-BT-33-/181803555923?hash=item2a54561c53&vxp=mtr

 

Here is a ton of information from a thread at another page. Maybe they won't ban me here!

Upgraded belt tensioner pic request

 

I have the open spring design on mine. what I read up on indicates the closed case design. on mine I don't think I would have the hole for the alignment pin on the case. maybe im wrong do you think I can retrofit the closed design. thanks

 

From what I understand, if you have the open spring, you are stuck with it unless you change out the ac bracket, like you asked about. Start hitting th junkyards and for sale forums and see what you can find. Good luck!

 

Why would you get banned? Are you Joe?