84 Crank Pulley Below Crossmemeber, Help!
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Texas
84 Crank Pulley Below Crossmemeber, Help!
Hey guys, trying to replace my serpentine belt. One problem, the main pulley is below the crossmember. I can't find any info on this and it doesn't appear to be normal. 
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...202_143447.jpg
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...202_143447.jpg
Last edited by 84greenhorn; Dec 2, 2007 at 04:07 PM. Reason: photos
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 65,811
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
First picture didn't work for me, the second one doesn't tell me much. Anyhow, if the engine is indeed sitting too low, a major problem with the motor mounts is about all it could be.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,142
Likes: 0
From: Spring Grove Illinois
Was the car in an accident
Your avaitar shows a car prepped for bodywork... The pic does'nt show much but you should have clearance for the belt and the pulley..I agree in checking the motor mounts
but if they are that messed up the engine should have hit the hood 
Your avaitar shows a car prepped for bodywork... The pic does'nt show much but you should have clearance for the belt and the pulley..I agree in checking the motor mounts but if they are that messed up the engine should have hit the hood
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
The pictures are useless for me. One is a red X and the other is too dark and out of focus. When I changed the belt on my car, I had to twist the belt about 30° so I could ease it out between the pulley and the cross member by it's narrowest dimension (thickness).
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Texas
I apoligze for the photos guys, taken with a cell phone & uploaded. Car does indeed run, purchased as a project. I'm in the process of replacing the rack & pinion as of now. I've owned the car for about six months, I believe there was some front end damage at one time or another, one tie rod end had been worked over. The motor runs and the car has been driven, belt is in need of replacement though and no better time to do it than now. The pulley is definatley below the crossmember about 1/4 of an inch, tried raising the motor with no avail. All though I do not claim to be a mechanic, I know a belt change does not require engine removal. Thanks for the input
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Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,226
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From: Irvine Ca
Let me see if I get this right.
Under the pulley is the cross member and in front of the pulley is the tubing that contains the steering.
I am looking at my '84. The Bottom clearance is at least 1/2" and the Bar in front of it is almost 1" away.
From your picture it looks like is is crammed together somehow. And the comment about how does the car run?? That is because it looks from your picture that the pulley is contacting something.
I, myself looked to see of the paint was rubbed off the pulley from rubbing on the cross member.
Yes, something is amiss with that front end. Not saying that they car is a total wreck or even close.......You may have to run it over to a body shop and have the frame or cross member tweaked just a hair
Under the pulley is the cross member and in front of the pulley is the tubing that contains the steering.
I am looking at my '84. The Bottom clearance is at least 1/2" and the Bar in front of it is almost 1" away.
From your picture it looks like is is crammed together somehow. And the comment about how does the car run?? That is because it looks from your picture that the pulley is contacting something.
I, myself looked to see of the paint was rubbed off the pulley from rubbing on the cross member.
Yes, something is amiss with that front end. Not saying that they car is a total wreck or even close.......You may have to run it over to a body shop and have the frame or cross member tweaked just a hair
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,658
Likes: 4
From: Clifton Park NY
If I understand this correctly you can't remove the belt from the pulley because the crossmember is to close to the pulley?
When I first had my 84 I couldn't remove the belt because it was to close and my motor mounts were fine. What I ended up doing is used a 2 x 4 on top of a floor jack and put it up against the oil pan and VERY CAREFULLY jacked up the motor giving myself enough clearance to remove the belt. It didn't take much.
Since then I have installed the underdrive pulley's and no longer have this issue.
When I first had my 84 I couldn't remove the belt because it was to close and my motor mounts were fine. What I ended up doing is used a 2 x 4 on top of a floor jack and put it up against the oil pan and VERY CAREFULLY jacked up the motor giving myself enough clearance to remove the belt. It didn't take much.
Since then I have installed the underdrive pulley's and no longer have this issue.
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 13
Likes: 1
crank pulley and frame clearance too close
If I understand this correctly you can't remove the belt from the pulley because the crossmember is to close to the pulley?
When I first had my 84 I couldn't remove the belt because it was to close and my motor mounts were fine. What I ended up doing is used a 2 x 4 on top of a floor jack and put it up against the oil pan and VERY CAREFULLY jacked up the motor giving myself enough clearance to remove the belt. It didn't take much.
Since then I have installed the underdrive pulley's and no longer have this issue.
When I first had my 84 I couldn't remove the belt because it was to close and my motor mounts were fine. What I ended up doing is used a 2 x 4 on top of a floor jack and put it up against the oil pan and VERY CAREFULLY jacked up the motor giving myself enough clearance to remove the belt. It didn't take much.
Since then I have installed the underdrive pulley's and no longer have this issue.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,953
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From: Mission Viejo CA
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 13
Likes: 1
Motor mounts
It's time for new motor mounts. Your motor mounts are probably 34 years old! The clearance is tight on the '84, but it shouldn't be that difficult to change the belt! A smaller pulley will require a shorter serpentine belt, and will cause your accessories (alternator, water pump, a/c compressor, & p/s pump) to run slower, which may cause other problems. There are thousands of '84's running fine with the correct diameter crankshaft pulley! I can't see any reason the cracked p/s bracket could have been caused by this problem, although I did have to replace the p/s bracket on my '84, also.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,393
Likes: 2,741
When I had my engine changed 2 years ago I gave them new motor mounts to install. Maybe they didn't put them in? The belt was like that ever since they installed the engine. That's when it was first brought to my attention. They said they had to jack the motor up a hair to get the belt on which made no sense to me but since it wasn't hitting I rolled with it because I was broke at that point. Everyone else says the motor mounts too so I'll have to take it elsewhere and have them look at it and if it's the motor mounts then I'll have to take it as a lesson learned not to go to that mechanic anymore.
