Vortech idler pulleys seizing and belts breaking

[ft86me]

So the process to get to the belt if you guys don't mind.

[cb7tuner]

Lol, I like the vortech kit. Just a few little bugs to be worked out

[cb7tuner]

Originally Posted by ft86me

So the process to get to the belt if you guys don't mind.

Remove the blower, or at least all the mounting bolts enough to slide the belt past the mounting brackets

[ft86me]

Originally Posted by cb7tuner

Remove the blower, or at least all the mounting bolts enough to slide the belt past the mounting brackets

Thank you good sir !

[F1point4]

Originally Posted by ft86me

So the process to get to the belt if you guys don't mind.

I'm just walking through this in my mind. I think the rough steps are

1) remove the intake charge pipe from the throttle body
2) Take a 14mm box wrench. Come in sideways from the passenger side of the engine and place it on the tensioner pulley. basically under the dipstick
3) I believe you pull up to loosen tension
4) Slip the belt off the alternator ( I think there is a better pulley to do this from but i forget)

Install the opposite. I don't think you need to loosen or remove the blower to change the belt. Maybe i"m wrong

[Carwhisperer]

You fellas using aftermarket engine mounts? Assuming hopefully yes?

[v1ru5]

Originally Posted by Carwhisperer

You fellas using aftermarket engine mounts? Assuming hopefully yes?

I have perrin engine mounts, i'm 600 miles into the Vortech and have not have this issue yet.

[charged86]

Originally Posted by cb7tuner

Lol, I like the vortech kit. Just a few little bugs to be worked out

I do too. Just saying

[F1point4]

Originally Posted by Carwhisperer

You fellas using aftermarket engine mounts? Assuming hopefully yes?

Stock mounts but replacing them is high on my radar. May go "full" #racecar with cusco

[Adeets]

Originally Posted by Dezoris

I need to talk

I had the same issue, kept hearing a squealing that sounded like metal on metal contact, found that like 3 days after installing the kit, put zip ties under the support bracket so it couldn't shift down then tightened it up really tight.

I also found that the infeed tube was being pushed down slowly by the heat shielding on the bottom side of the hood, cut a 6x6 inch piece out and put wear tape around the infeed tube, if the pully makes contact with that tape, burning rubber will be smelled for quite awhile.

Been about 2 months now and no contact. But I still hear metal on metal contact when going from a flat straight to a upward hill... Been chasing it, I don't think it's in the engine bay at this point.

[Adeets]

Originally Posted by Dezoris

This was the noise I started hearing which maybe bearing noise from that pulley at this point.

That's not the noise I'm hunting after now.

[Dezoris]

As mentioned this maybe two issues or combined issues. First my noise has been there since the first build of the kit, I have had the discharge pipes off over a few times now.

Its possible that the pulley has bad bearings as the only time the sound gets prominent is when there is a lot of heat in the car.

Maybe the pulley has a wobble and then hits the pipe, I don't know but clearly if the pulley was rubbing all of the time it would have already broken through the pipe after 3500 miles of this.

Secondly, the effect of the hood pushing down on the pipe could be aiding in the shifting of the tube down towards the pulley.

So, this is not some alarmist post, just check your install and keep and eye on it.
Thanks CB7 for posting this up.

[cb7tuner]

Originally Posted by Dezoris

As mentioned this maybe two issues or combined issues. First my noise has been there since the first build of the kit, I have had the discharge pipes off over a few times now.

Its possible that the pulley has bad bearings as the only time the sound gets prominent is when there is a lot of heat in the car.

Maybe the pulley has a wobble and then hits the pipe, I don't know but clearly if the pulley was rubbing all of the time it would have already broken through the pipe after 3500 miles of this.

Secondly, the effect of the hood pushing down on the pipe could be aiding in the shifting of the tube down towards the pulley.

So, this is not some alarmist post, just check your install and keep and eye on it.
Thanks CB7 for posting this up.

No problem, not trying to start drama with Vortech, but i think the community should be well informed of all potential problems. Maybe these are all signs we need to put on smaller pulleys and up the boost!

[DJCarbine]

Originally Posted by charged86

Also if people start putting in metal pulleys and that pulley rubs the pipe it may rub through the pipe. So take care to anyone who installs a metal pulley.

The metal pulley would have more clearance, as it does not have the "guide" ridges that the plastic one has

Not sure how important they are in this application, also unsure if the metal pulley even fits. It might require lapping a few MM off the back as it is slightly wider. No clue about bearing quality, other than apparently there MAY be a quality issue if enough people are having this problem.