Did you ever wonder how to...
Did you ever wonder how to decipher the length of a serpentine belt? The markings can be confusing, but the bottom line is that the last-four digits identify the length. For our project, the belt sizes are 110.2 inches, which we'll use with a 3.70-inch supercharger pulley, and 112.4 inches. Eight-rib belts aren't available between these two lengths, so pulley and idler-wheel sizing, as well as placement, has to be spot-on for the eight-rib conversion. The longer belt works with the 4.25-inch blower pulley we're installing for daily street use and pump-gas performance.
By day, Dorian is one of ProCharger's top technicians. But after he leaves the office, he is known among 'Stang enthusiasts across the Internet as a principal in the Kansas-based, all-things-boost-related, customizing-and-tuning crew called House of Boost.
While props go to Dorian and House of Boost for suggesting we use an eight-rib belt for our Two-Valve supercharger upgrade, it is currently being tested and will soon be offered by ProCharger as an upgrade for its popular '96-'04 Two-Valve blower systems. As a norm, Two-Valve blower systems use a six-rib drive setup. The eight-rib pulley scheme enhances the integrity of the belt-using layman's logic, the wider the belt, the more strength and traction it has under high rpm. Belt life increases when slippage is controlled or eliminated. This type of enhancement is a big step compared to the six-rib drive, and it also features two idler pulleys sandwiched together to make the belt wrap almost completely around the blower pulley.
Hopping up the fuel system is the other side of our project's coin. The best way to fulfill our needs is to do away with the OEM returnless fuel system and install a new, return-style fuel supply. Aeromotive Fuel Systems covers this part of a big-power upgrade with its system made specifically for '96-'04 4.6-powered 'Stangs.
We've discussed the benefits of return-style fuel systems in other stories, but let's take a second to refresh your memory. The return-style fuel system's main virtue is it feeds injectors a continuous supply of constantly flowing, evenly pressurized, cool fuel. Consistent fuel flow into the injectors and intake ports is critical to ensure peak horsepower production on an individual cylinder and overall basis.
We were fortunate enough to have Dorian of ProCharger and Aeromotive's Jared Cox make the trek from Kansas to SoCal to install the new supercharger and fuel systems on our project car. A special shoutout of thanks also goes to Brian Schapiro and Mason "Mase" Rowland of B&D Racing, who graciously provided a workspace for our dream team at their Canoga Park, California, facility.
We know you're anxious to hear about our dyno tuning and the horsepower the upgrades produced, and those details are coming in a future installment of this series. For now, check out these latest happenings with our wild, Two-Valve tech effort.
We've talked about this before, and it has received a lot of wows from those who have seen it in person. You're looking at an eight-rib, 10 percent-overdriven, SFI-approved (18.1) 4.6 crankshaft dampener by Innovators West (PN 804; $425). This piece measures approximately 7.20 inches in diameter-as opposed to the stock balancer's 6.65 inches-and is used to spin a supercharger harder without needing a ridiculously small pulley on the blower or custom-length belts.
Take a good look at these two water pumps, specifically the length difference between the snouts. The shorter pump on the right is the original 4.6 unit and six-rib pulley. The one on the left is an S197 Mustang piece that bolts directly into our unit and features an eight-rib pulley that aligns perfectly with the F-1A's drive wheel and the other pulleys in the new system.
Dorian routes the 112.4-inch belt around the accessory pulleys. We're starting with the 4.25-inch blower pulley that should generate approximately 15 psi of boost to dial-in a solid, street/pump-gas tune. Note that the OEM-size idler wheel on the belt tensioner is retained with the eight-rib conversion, as it's wide enough to support the new belt size. An additional 3.00-inch idler wheel is used with the 4.25-inch supercharger pulley. The extra idler is bolted into the timing-chain cover on the driver side, just to the right of the water pump. It's removed and the front-cover's bolt is replaced when the 3.70-inch pulley is swapped on.