Vortech idler pulley mounting

97drop

New Member
Established Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2011
Messages
21
Location
Canada
Hello, I have a 97 cobra with a vortech t trim kit I’m installing. In one of the diagrams there is the idler spacer pulley and what appears to be a smaller spacer on the other side. My kit came with the longer idler spacer but not the shorter one. I can’t source one or find the part number? I’m still awaiting a reply from vortech but was hoping someone here might know. Thanks!
upload_2021-6-3_0-37-15.jpeg
 

omj

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Sep 9, 2006
Messages
1,253
Location
Oak Ridge
Make sure your spacer isn't stuck to the bracket. That's where mine usually is.
 

97drop

New Member
Established Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2011
Messages
21
Location
Canada
Good to know, I was hoping that would be the case but doesn’t look like it
 

JGDogg10

Active Member
Established Member
Joined
Aug 3, 2012
Messages
105
Location
San Diego
Sorry I went out fishing today and got back late! I’ll look in the morning and let you know
 

97drop

New Member
Established Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2011
Messages
21
Location
Canada
Ttt if anyone knows where to track this piece down I would greatly appreciate it. If someone even has the dimensions so I could try to have it machined I’d be very grateful, thanks!
 

1996MysticSnake

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2007
Messages
1,039
Location
PA
That spacer is only needed with the newer style idler and bracket. I don't run that spacer on mine cause i run the older style idler. Vortech went to a different style idler because the early gen ones were blowing the bearings out. The newer idler had a larger diameter bearing so they use that adapter to make it work. Personally i didnt like the new style idler cause it was plastic (not metal like the old one), single bearing (not double like the old one), and it was larger which made an already tight fit worse.

What i did was knock the bearing out of the gen 1 idler and put ones in that were rated for double the speed compared to what vortech supplied. You can buy the gen 3 parts kit but it's expensive 4FK100-004 Mounting Hardware Kit for 1996-1998 Ford 4.6L 4V Mustang Cobra

Good bearings for the gen 1 idler are SKF Explorer 6001-2RSL, you need 2
 

omj

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Sep 9, 2006
Messages
1,253
Location
Oak Ridge
That spacer is only needed with the newer style idler and bracket. I don't run that spacer on mine cause i run the older style idler. Vortech went to a different style idler because the early gen ones were blowing the bearings out. The newer idler had a larger diameter bearing so they use that adapter to make it work. Personally i didnt like the new style idler cause it was plastic (not metal like the old one), single bearing (not double like the old one), and it was larger which made an already tight fit worse.

What i did was knock the bearing out of the gen 1 idler and put ones in that were rated for double the speed compared to what vortech supplied. You can buy the gen 3 parts kit but it's expensive 4FK100-004 Mounting Hardware Kit for 1996-1998 Ford 4.6L 4V Mustang Cobra

Good bearings for the gen 1 idler are SKF Explorer 6001-2RSL, you need 2

Do you have a pic of the gen 1 setup?
 

1996MysticSnake

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2007
Messages
1,039
Location
PA
I don't, it's just a sightly smaller idler without the stepped spacer in between the idler and the vortech bracket.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk
 

omj

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Sep 9, 2006
Messages
1,253
Location
Oak Ridge
Here's the bracket, I have. I assume it's a gen 1 since it has a metal idler and the front boss is part of the bracket.
4FR111-061.jpg
 

Users who are viewing this thread



Top