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timing belt

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Old Jul 10, 2004 | 06:23 PM
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timing belt

In the process of changing my timing belt. The book says I need a tension adjusting tool. Do I? If not is there anything I need to know about the tensioner.
 
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Old Jul 10, 2004 | 09:42 PM
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Dang crankshaft bolt finally got it off after I cut out the whole alarm system long story. Couldn't get my impact to take off the bolt so I put the breaker bar on it and I'm just moving the whole truck so the wife stands on the brakes but that didn't work either I think my clutch is going bad. I ended up putting the breaker bar on again and unhooking the coils and layed the breaker bar across the frame and tapped the key a few times boy I should've done that first. It's 90 here today I've been through 4 shirts and gave up for the night.
By the way does anyone want a free code alarm in a bunch of peices.
Still need a answer to the first post also.
 
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Old Jul 10, 2004 | 10:50 PM
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I assume it's a 2.3. No, you shouldn't need a tool for that, the tensioner is spring loaded, so I just like to let the spring push the tensioner against the belt, and then put a very small amount of leverage on it to increase the tension by just a few pounds over what the spring provides and then tighten the tensioner bolt. Of course, all my work on 2.3s was on racing engines, you would probably be fine with just the stock spring tension. -TD
 
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Old Jul 11, 2004 | 06:52 AM
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One other tip with timing belt tensioners, with the tensioner loose, turn the engine over a few revolutions (making sure it doesn't kick-backwards), then tighten the tensioner down. This will move all of the timing belt slack on the tensioner side....
 
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Old Jul 11, 2004 | 07:29 PM
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Got the timing belt on ok. Took it for a test drive and get back home and hear a clank when pulling in the alley I figure I left a tool in the engine compartment and how lucky I was that it dropped there. No such luck parts of my serp belt tensioner are laying on the ground so looks like tomorrow I go put $60 more for parts. I'm beginning to hope that it just dies so I can start rebuilding the 351 for it.
 
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Old Jul 11, 2004 | 07:51 PM
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Well, at least it wasn't the timing belt tensioner, so you don't have to do ALL the work all over again. Ain't cars fun?! -TD
 
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Old Jul 11, 2004 | 08:23 PM
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It's a pain in the butt. But I like driving it.
 
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Old Jul 11, 2004 | 10:24 PM
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Then I would imagine you'll REALLY like driving it if you put 351 in it! Why are you thinking 351 rather than 302/5.0? Do you just happen to have a 351, so that's what you figured you'd use? I've been reading up on V8 Ranger swaps a little, thinking about doing it myself. -TD
 
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Old Jul 11, 2004 | 10:42 PM
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Seems like everyone is putting a 302 in a ranger. I guess just trying to be a little different. I have a couple of 351w in the garage one has already been to the machine shop and back. I was thinking of building it to a 393 but I like the sound of 427 better. I keep thinking it would be nice to pull up beside a vette at a stoplight and smoke him. In my younger and dumber days I put a 350 in a s-10 and I never have felt anything with that much take off and power yet let alone bark the tires in 5th gear. I want a ranger that will pull the front wheels off the ground.
 
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Old Jul 11, 2004 | 11:31 PM
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Well, if you're just looking for the "Holy Crap!" factor when you romp on it, that would do it. I want to retain everyday driveability with mine, but have the V8 power and sound. I have the Tiger for the real power rush, and I'm familier with the 302 since that's the powerplant in the Tiger and I have a couple of them in parts. The 302 is lighter than the 351, and less work to install in the Ranger. Would be a blast either way though. -TD
 
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