Blacktop Alternator Belts
BobCat - 11/11/08 at 02:43 PM
Folks
I have just finished making my own alternator belt system for my Blacktop engine. The reason I made my own was that commerically I could only find the
Raceline version which is expensive and requires the cover be removed from the Cam Belt.
Having made mine I enquired from a mate about having them made up professionally. Including the Alternator bracket, adjuster and the wheel to take the
belt onto the water pump. it seems it could be done at a reasonable cost for small numbers.
So the next questions is there anyone interested. If there are enough people interested I'll put the drawings together and get some made.
Here is my version the production version will be all steel brackets.
Cheers
[Edited on 11/11/08 by BobCat]
Rescued attachment Zetec Alt Belt.JPG
coozer - 11/11/08 at 02:57 PM
Looks canny, any chew on getting the right belt?. Gives me some ideas for mine, with the alternator being under the water pump
Steve
whitestu - 11/11/08 at 03:11 PM
I did my own, which is the same as yours but without the extra pulley next to the alternator.
Stu
BobCat - 11/11/08 at 03:56 PM
quote:
Originally posted by coozer
Looks canny, any chew on getting the right belt?. Gives me some ideas for mine, with the alternator being under the water pump
Steve
Hi Steve,
This arrangement has been done before so there wasn't to much re-inventing to be done. The position of the alternator just required getting it
far enough forward and the pulley is in the same place as the power steer unit was.
As for the Alternator under the water pump, thats were the AC pump was. However I can think of several problems with locating it there.
1. A leak in the hose will kill the alternator
2. Its the hot side of the engine, if your pipes are too close the alternator will not last very long.
3. Depending on the car you could suffer a lot of road dirt, result as in number 2.
4. You will need 2 Pulleys and brackets plus the Alternator brackets. That a fair amount of work.
But it is do able is there a good reason for putting it there?
r1_pete - 11/11/08 at 04:07 PM
Very similar to mine, I've machined the alloy cover flat to clear the belt run, also need to be carefull with the alternator fouling carbs or
TB's.
Rescued attachment enginein1.jpg
SeaBass - 11/11/08 at 05:15 PM
That's very similar to the setup I've run on the blacktop for the last couple of years. During proto work I found that the Denso alternator
I had when swung as in the setup above didn't give much adjustment to the belt tension due to the pivot location. My solution was to add slots
for the main bolts in the assembly holding the top right idler. I then added a plate with precise holes for the bolts with a set screw and locknut to
add tension to the assembly... Tension is very easily adjusted then the two M12's I think they are are tightened fully. I'll add a pic later
if I can find one.
coozer - 13/11/08 at 08:30 AM
My reasons for putting the alternator under the water are.....
Its the same location as on the silvertop engine that I've been using and I thought it just as easy to put it back there. The other problem is it
will not fit on the inlet side due to a combination of chassis tube and steering extension.
for the milage i'm goign to be doing I dont expect dirt to be a problem, and obviously ford didn't putting it there on the Escort.
So, anyway, small amount of fabrication using A/C and PAS brackets and 1 idler.
Rescued attachment front.jpg
BobCat - 13/11/08 at 06:47 PM
Cool,
I can see the advantages of both of those designs depending on the space available.
Both of them involve removing the cover but with a cover plate, that might not be a bad thing.
I might do some re thinking for a commerical product.
Cheers
