Anyone know what I'm talking about here? Its what all the pulley are in front of is best way I can describe it. Well I have some extra cash and I was thinking of replacing mine. The stupid little nub or boss where the idler pulley attaches to was broken when I got the truck, but we put a longer bolt in it and it works fine. Doesn't wobble or anything, wouldn't know it was broken if I hadn't had to replace the bearings in the idler. I was wondering if I should replace the front cover to fix that little problem or is there a better way like brazing it or JB welding it?


Thank you!

(I've heard this has happened to some with a mustang 4.6 too.)

 

HI!... Which idler pulley is it? The one on the driver's side of the cover isn't really needed. I haven't run it for like 6-7 years.

Front timing chain cover :



This is how I ran my truck for years :



Actually now that I have no A/C or P/S and a electric water pump. I only need one short belt to just run the alternator while on the street. I won't need either idler pulley, just the belt tensioner.

 

Its the one above the tensioner in your pic neal, the one before the alternator. I noticed there isn't a whole lot of pressure on it and its held up for a year like this so far with no problems at all, always has remained very tight and snug, spins like a champ and has no wobble. Should I just forget about it?

 

bump

 

Anyone else run into this problem or should i not worry about it since i've not had any problems with this since the little boss broke?

 

HI!... You can always take the pulley off and grind down the boss flush with the timing chain cover. Then get a small piece of solid aluminum stock and have it tig welded in the same location. Then simply drill it out and tap it. No more than an hours work total. Or you can cut off the boss on the other side. That idler pulley is useless anyway and reweld it on the other side. Your looking at at 4-6 hours to change the cover due to the items you have to remove to get to it and you also have to buy new gaskets.

 

Ok scratch the idea of replacing the cover! lol. What do you mean cut the boss off on the other side? Not following you there. Do you happen to know what tap size I would need? I do know someone who can TIG weld and now that Efans are on the truck it shouldn't been too much of an issue because of the welcoming space! Thanks Neal, you've been awesome!

 

HI!... There is another boss on the other side for a idler pulley that really isn't needed.