Tensioner pulley rubbing on water pump bolt

WANTSOM · Post by **WANTSOM** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 7:41 pm

I'm using the Starion water pump with all the webbing ground down to allow clearance for the timing belt.

When I line up the tensioner pulley arm to do the timing belt, the arm is getting hung up on the bolt on the water pump. It is about 2-3mm short of any clearance hence I cant tighten the arm on the spindle on the main bracket. I eyeballed both the Starion water pump and a VR4 and they both have the same profile .

I've tried 2 different arms - each time I get the same result. I just dont have the clearance for the arm to swing freely and be locked down right.

Anyone had the same experience and come up with a cure. I'm thinking of grinding the head bolt down but its just a weird arse problem no one seems to have encountered before nor one I expected.

iXNAY · Post by **iXNAY** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 7:45 pm

pics?

i got a feeling you might have the bearing/auto tensioner not in quite the right position you should beable to have the timing belt all tensioned up and beable to pull the pin out and put it back in!

ill take a pic of mine or shannons engine tomorrow for you

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 8:55 pm

Greg,
I have to agree with Ixnay on this. You should be able to pull the tensioner pin out, and rotate the engine 3 times and be able to put the pin back in. Are you turning the tensioner bearing with the correct tool? (the offset bearing i mean)

Post a pic up and i probably will be able to work it out for you.

www.18u · Post by **www.18u** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 9:05 pm

Sorry Greg, I thought i was logged in. I didn't know i could post as a guest.

redzone · Post by **redzone** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 9:35 pm

this is why i used a dohc pump :)

WANTSOM · Post by **WANTSOM** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 10:26 pm

Thanks for all your replies but the pin isnt the problem. Its the actual arm the pulley bolts on to that is binding on the bolt of the water pump. I'll get a pic up tommorrow and post.

Redzone, I was contemplating using the VR4 water pump but decided against it as Merlin used the Starion pump without issues on his conversion and I need the water flow for a water cooled turbo and the Starion pump offered the easiest solution for that. Eyeballing the VR4 pump doesnt show any discernible difference around the area that I am having an issue with - go figure. Guess you see why I said its a weird arse problem to encounter but also why I thought Twin Cam Land would be a good section to have on the forum.

Cheers guys :beer

Entaran · Post by **Entaran** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 11:21 pm

Er. Both VR4 and e1-3 have watercooled turbo's mate. Pump has the outlets for it too.

OLD FART · Post by **OLD FART** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 3:24 am

redzone wrote:this is why i used a dohc pump :)

Dave don't both pumps use the same mounting bolt holes ???

redzone · Post by **redzone** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 6:09 am

^^^^ yep no issues bolting one on. just do what i did as shown in the twin cam thread i started.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 6:56 am

Just to add some info to this, i had this pump on my twincam setup before deciding to go with the vr4 serpintine setup. I had no issues, so i do believe a pic will solve Greg's dramas.

greenstaz82 · Post by **greenstaz82** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 8:19 am

running a vr4 water pump on my car , jsut had a bend made up to point the outlet out the right way . Also with the tensioner im using one thats had the guts of it drilled and taped out for a big alan key style bolt to run threw and act like a manual style one , doesnt take much for those hydrualic ones to to stuff up and jump a tooth ive heard .

Website · Post by **WidebodyWoody** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 10:34 am

The starion water pump has a nice chunk of metal protruding out that interferes with other parts of the engine, and thus the VR4 pump is an easier and safer solution.

S0LJAH · Post by **S0LJAH** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 2:05 pm

redzone wrote:this is why i used a dohc pump :)

im using the l200/starion pump with no issues at all
ground it down so everything cleared

and no annyoing water pipe routing

OLD FART · Post by **OLD FART** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 3:49 pm

S0LJAH wrote:
redzone wrote:this is why i used a dohc pump :)
im using the l200/starion pump with no issues at all
ground it down so everything cleared

and no annyoing water pipe routing

Staz pump in mine

WANTSOM · Post by **WANTSOM** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 9:35 pm

OK everyone, stop panicking

Its all good. Big thanks to Shannon today for a phone call that explained a few things and confirmed a long held belief that I am a dumb arse :)

Once I listened to his experienced words it was a simple matter of me just thinking the arm had to be placed in a different position to what it needs to be. Did as he said and it all fits good as gold.

(Just tried to post a pic of the engine to date but Photobucket is off line. Will get it done when able). :beer

Austarion

Tensioner pulley rubbing on water pump bolt

Tensioner pulley rubbing on water pump bolt

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