Alternative Cambelt Choice For Low Mount Tensioners?

[Sandell]

I am building a RB30/26 engine and have now come to the part where I should mount the cambelt. I thought I had ordered one that would make it possible for me to use the tensioners in the original low position, but it was a T291 I got. And that would be way too loose to make it work.

Since my engine is quite finished with the head, crank and sump mounted, it is a little hard to get it to a mechanical shop to get a new hole drilled and tapped for a top tensioner mod. So I have been thinking about an alternative.

I have read about the T306 belt here at SAU, it should fit lenghtwise but my concern is that it only is 23mm wide. Is this an issue at all? I'm thinking that it may walk around front and back on the crankdrive, but that might not be a problem?

My other option that I have investigated a little is the T139 belt. It's for a Hyundai Sonata V6, 1" wide (25.4mm) but only 149 teeth. Is this too short? If it is, I'm thinking that I could just buy a smaller diameter tensioner since the ones I have now are old anyway.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

[Adriano]

Its really not a drama to drill and tap the top tensioner hole with the engine together

[Sandell]

I'm thinking that I would need some kind of fixture to get it completely straight, but sure, the tensioner itself would maybe make itself square to the block.

[fletch rb30]

Cut the belt that is too long and fit it to the motor with the cut ends at the top.

Cable tie one end to a cam pulley and stretch the belt tigh so it overlaps the tied end.

Mark the belt where it meets and you can count how many teetch you need.

Look up econobelt online and order a belt with that many teeth and 1 inch/25mm wide, 8mm htd profile

job done