[V8] squealing serp belt oddity

[Coleman, David]

SO - My '91 5-speed with 4.2 has been enduring a squealing serpentine
belt for several months.  In a nutshell:

*       It started squealing only at idle, and would go away with higher
RPMs

*       Broke under load, nursed back home, replaced with new, still
squealed

*       Replaced the coil spring behind t-belt cover with known good
used; squealing stopped for a month or so

*       Started squealing again, this time more apparent with higher
RPMs; nearly silent at idle.

*       Replaced shock absorber / tensioner with factory new; squeals
like a mofo still.

 

The shock tensioner is fully compressed (i.e. can't make the belt any
tighter), yet under load, I can watch from underneath the belt walk back
and forth across the lower idler pulley - like the belt is just still
too loose.  

 

Does anyone know if any of the pulleys (aside from the harmonic balancer
/ crank) are different sizes from 3.6 to 4.2?   The 4.2 belt is way too
big; the 3.6 belt is the one in question.    

 

If no one knows about the pulley sizes, perhaps the Gates number for the
next smaller size???

 

Any ideas welcome!

 

-DaveC.  (nice car except it's embarrassing to drive)


THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MESSAGE AND ANY ATTACHMENT MAY BE PRIVILEGED, CONFIDENTIAL, PROPRIETARY OR OTHERWISE PROTECTED FROM DISCLOSURE. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, copying or use of this message and any attachment is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify us immediately by replying to the message and permanently delete it from your computer and destroy any printout thereof.