Cant get the alternator belt to be tight. Help pls asap

[timmyr77]

Hi r3v. Just finished spring quarter so i finally had time to put my freshley rebuilt 2.7i in my e30. Got everything it. Put the block back together using all i components since its going in my vert. Got to the tightening the PS and alternator belts and the alternator belt has way to much slack. At first I thought my bellt was stretched so i bought a new one. Same thing. Then i read somewhere that you have to tighten the PS first and then alternator so i did. Now i just cant figure out what is wrong. Are any of the i and e brackets different for the PS and alternator? Im using the tensioning brackets off of my old i block. anyone run into this before? This is my last step before putting the radiator in, and starting the car so im pretty anxious to get it done, but cant do anything till i get rid of that slack.
Thanks Tim

[SmokeE30]

Hi r3v. Just finished spring quarter so i finally had time to put my freshley rebuilt 2.7i in my e30. Got everything it. Put the block back together using all i components since its going in my vert. Got to the tightening the PS and alternator belts and the alternator belt has way to much slack. At first I thought my bellt was stretched so i bought a new one. Same thing. Then i read somewhere that you have to tighten the PS first and then alternator so i did. Now i just cant figure out what is wrong. Are any of the i and e brackets different for the PS and alternator? Im using the tensioning brackets off of my old i block. anyone run into this before? This is my last step before putting the radiator in, and starting the car so im pretty anxious to get it done, but cant do anything till i get rid of that slack.
Thanks Tim

There are early and late design adjusters for the accessories I prefer the later style stuff, but I think either stuff should work.

Is your adjuster all the way out and still not making the belt tight?
In which case if your sure you have the right belt and pulleys on stuff (yes there are different pulleys too) I'm not sure what your issue might be because I can't see how anybody could route it wrong.

Or is the adjuster itself the issue, and not moving the alternator?
In which case just loosen it up and force it out to where it needs to go with a pry bar and then tighten it back up.

[timmyr77]

the adjuster bracket moves fine. I cant see how i could have put it together wrong either. This isnt the first time ive pulled and replaced the engine so ive been through the process before, and now its not working. If it helps im using late 87 vert parts on an 84 eta block. i didnt think it made a difference so i didnt mention it before.

[SmokeE30]

the adjuster bracket moves fine. I cant see how i could have put it together wrong either. This isnt the first time ive pulled and replaced the engine so ive been through the process before, and now its not working. If it helps im using late 87 vert parts on an 84 eta block. i didnt think it made a difference so i didnt mention it before.

Did both your donor motors use the early style cooling system/water pump? I think that pulley might change depending on what water pump you use.

[timmyr77]

i put the water pump from my 87 on the block since it only had 1k on it. But when you mentioned the different size pulleys i immediately started rumedging through spare parts and found a bigger water pump pulley. just put it on. Its super tight now. Will there be a problem with using that pulley on the newer model water pump?

[timmyr77]

Did both your donor motors use the early style cooling system/water pump? I think that pulley might change depending on what water pump you use.

Here they are. I completely forgot to check for a different one. Thanks for the help. I'm really tired right now from studying for finals so who knows how long it would have take for me to figure that out! Thank you !!

[SmokeE30]

No problem, glad you got it figured out, but hey I'd rather solve m20 problems than do college finals anymore that shit does suck but at least your almost done now