My underive pulleys came in yesterday. Do i need a new belt to accomodate the pulley, or will the tensioner take care of that?

 

youll need a new belt bolt the pulleys on and use a string to measure the belt length then take about 1.5 inch out for tensioner compensation

 

Can i just get a belt from any auto store, or do you know of a website i could go to?

 

Nvm, i got it all figured out.

 

Gatorback belt from ftpp.net

 

Forgive me for sounding all noobish... but what is the obsession I seem to find on just about every forum I've been on with these Gatorback belts?
I just don't see how less surface area for the pulleys to grip can be any good for belt longevity or efficiency. I thought that design style kicked the bucked when Dayco went bankrupt for producing a **** product.

 

Dayco's belts were great! but noisy due to the reliefs in the ribs all being in a row. Those belts made kinda a zip sound but they lasted a long time. Goodyear took the idea (after they purchased Dayco) and offset the reliefs so the belt didnt make noise. The belt's grooves are not what grips the pulleys they just keep the belt on track so cutting the reliefs in them is no big deal. The tension on the belt is what does the work not the grooves. Gates does not use the relief method to relieve stress on the belt when it is wrapped backwards (grooves up) over a pully, they use a different material that is extremely flexable but rigid enough to hold the belt on the pulley. You can feel the difference in the belt material from the smooth to grooved sides. Both belts are good, I would not hesitate to put either on my car. It is just your call. Standard belts that use no reliefs and use the same rubber on both sides will crack after a few months to years of use. Missing grooves are bad and new belts are needed.

Massey

 

well... Not entirely true about the groves not being the part that provides grip. A belt can still be within tension specs and start squealing as the groves start to lose surface material and ride higher in the grooved pulleys, losing the larger contact area. We just had a factory rep come to our store to give us a belt depth gauge. The newest OE belts are designed to not crack or show the traditional signs of wear, even after 100k miles. Now the new OE belts simply lose surface material (off the grooved side) and must be measured to check and see how much life is left in a belt.

At least that was my understanding on the subject.

 

Well, i called summit racing racing and hteyre sending me a Gator so...i guess theyre recommended. Im guessing its high qualthy, it cost $30 haha