With help from Shadowman, I replaced my 3 drive belts.

[Pete S.]

During the yearly car preparations, I typically replace all 4 rotors, pads, fluid, along with an oil change, and from time to time flush the trans axle fluids. I know the GT Guys are scheduled to be with 100 miles next month, and I had purchased the accessory and supercharger belts from Torrie; buying the oil pump belt thru my local dealer. I think I was too late to schedule anything with Rich and Denis, and after looking at how little room there seemed to be and how complex it looked, I was hesitant to change the belts myself.
Then, I made a call last night to our friend Shadowman, and we talked for a while and he convinced me to give it a try; with the old “call me if you run into any problem and I’ll talk you through it”. First thing in the morning, I backed it onto the Race Ramps, and followed the book, for the most part. Though Shadowman suggested it might not be necessary to remove the engine access panel behind the sub woofer, that was my first step. Having not had it off in the past, I wanted to take a look.
Working on my back underneath the car, and not being a small fry, there was a bit of difficulty removing and later replacing the oil pump belt, and for me, through the passenger compartment was the only possible way to reach the top cover bolts. The large belts were surprisingly easy both to remove and replace. I remembered Shadowmans tips on the belts, and in the end, used a ratcheting tie down with one end wrapped around a nearby section of frame and the other to the breaker bar pulling on the tensioners as a final check making certain the belts were in their grooves.
In a few hours, taking several breaks along the way, the job was complete. I kept Shadowman informed of the progress with e-mails along the way, and as I was underneath the beast snugging up the last of the oil pump belt, he gave me a call checking on the progress. As he has always in the past, Shadowman has proved invaluable to me.
And finally, as always, if I can do it, anyone can.

Here are a couple of shots I took, of something.

http://1fordgt.com/2011/Ford_gt/February/3BeltChange/Garage001.JPG
http://1fordgt.com/2011/Ford_gt/February/3BeltChange/Garage002.JPG
http://1fordgt.com/2011/Ford_gt/February/3BeltChange/Garage003.JPG
http://1fordgt.com/2011/Ford_gt/February/3BeltChange/Garage004.JPG
http://1fordgt.com/2011/Ford_gt/February/3BeltChange/Garage005.JPG
http://1fordgt.com/2011/Ford_gt/February/3BeltChange/Garage006.JPG
http://1fordgt.com/2011/Ford_gt/February/3BeltChange/Garage007.JPG
http://1fordgt.com/2011/Ford_gt/February/3BeltChange/Garage008.JPG
http://1fordgt.com/2011/Ford_gt/February/3BeltChange/Garage009.JPG

Pete S.

 

[Kingman]

Pete, I know the feeling you are experiencing. The FGT is a fairly easy vehicle to work on, though it sure helps to have Shadowman on the other end of the line adding encouragement and guidance!:thumbsup

................but dude, what were all the pics of?:confused

Just bustin' chops bud!:biggrin Well done.

I bet it's beer 'o' clock in your garage. Invite some of the neighbors over!!

 

[pe2unia]

Nicely done my friend but this doesn't give you any reason not to come down next month.:biggrin See you soon!

 

[BlackICE]

In a few hours, taking several breaks along the way, the job was complete. I kept Shadowman informed of the progress with e-mails along the way, and as I was underneath the beast snugging up the last of the oil pump belt, he gave me a call checking on the progress. As he has always in the past, Shadowman has proved invaluable to me.
Pete S.

Pete, great work! :thumbsup

There just a few people I would trust working on my car, most are forum sponsors! :thumbsup

But, none are more eager than Shadowman to help an owner, walking them through the process without expecting anymore in return than a thank you. This is truly amazing, given that "time is money" it understandable and almost an industry standard whereby shops do not freely walk anyone through a repair, or upgrade process, just not "good business."

 

[Empty Pockets]

During the yearly car preparations, I typically replace all 4 rotors, pads, fluid, along with an oil change, and from time to time flush the trans axle fluids.

Dude, you SOOOOOO need to make BUYING A 'LIFT' your next project!!! :rofl

 

[SteveA]

Good story! Bill has helped me over the phone as well more than once.

 

[Chris A.]

Shadowman helps you get into areas you might not typically tread......as a result I love my car even more knowing that I've had a hand in keeping her on the road, making her faster and look even better.

All while he makes you feel like you're doing him a favor during the process.

 

[Waldo]

With help from Shadowman, I replaced my 3 drive belts.

Shadowman was a big help when I had to R&R my belts. :thumbsup

 

[Lorenzo]

Great job Pete, With Shadowman in the batters box it's a home run every time. He has went above and beyond for me time after time. A great asset to the Ford Gt community.

 

[Ed Sims]

Ok, I wish I could say that Shadowman helps guide me through working on my GT but I have the great fortune to live only 30 miles from his shop. So, I just simply take my GT to him! It's there always getting some mod or maintenance. I don't know what I would do without Shadowman!

Ed

 

[soroush]

pete, great story, and Im sure the feeling of satisfaction you get from doing it yourself can not be matched by having someone else do it for you.

I concure about your comments regarding shadowman, especially "call me if you get in a bind and I will walk you through it" I was going to post them(my story) here but I think I will start a new thread, I would like everyone to know that he has been there everystep of the way for me as well.!!!

 

[paul b]

I don't know if you have one, but I suggest to everyone to get a shop manual. Even if you don't do any work on your car they're fun to look thru and anyone working on the car would appreciate it.

 

[sandman]

From half shaft bolts to swapping transaxles Shadowman has always been there for me. On the phone with his "I'll walk you through it, it's no big deal" to "I'll be there in an hour and a half" when it was a big deal! I can honestly say without his help and friendship I wouldn't have half the passion or enjoyment that I've had from this car.

 

[soroush]

shadowman to the rescue once again!

As some know on our last trip to the texas mile we developed some problems with the nitrous system, basically it was a bad soleniod that was acting inconsistantly and made things very frustrating for me during the run down the straight. so I decided to replace it last weekend. we started to take the car apart to get to the soleniods and were able to pretty much replace everything rather easily and quickly.... or so we thought,

started the car and right away it was acting up not idling right and running real rough, I thought its just the cams and the computer needs some time to adjust since we had the battery disconnected, went for a drive and down the street I had a moment of "you idiot" I forgot to connect the Mafia, so I pulled over and connected the mafia thinking all is well. so the drive continues and we were ready to test the new nitrous system, get in gear and start my pull in second and as soon as the car hits 4-5000 rpm it just falls on its face as if the secondary injectors werent coming on, I come back home and my first instinct is to pick up the phone and call shadowman, to no surprise even though it had been more than a year since I had spoken to him he answered and our late night conversations resumed as if we had never stoped. after spending some time on the phone he instructed me to go through and check all the appropriate fuses, relay etc... as to eliminate all the possibilities.... with some luck we were able to find the solution and the car is back and happy :thumbsup thank you shadowman!

I should say that if not for shadowman I would not have never attempted any work on the gt, and hence my ownership experience has been great because I have the confidence to do any project on the car knowing that if I ever get in a bind he is only a phone call away!

the very first time I wanted to work on the gt I was so nervous and I had never spoken to shadowman before but being a newbe on the forum I quickly realized he was the go to guy for answers, so I picked up the phone to ask him a simple question about the muffler swap with the x pipe, and was hoping I could use some of his expertise to help me avoid any pitfalls during the procedure, well my simple question turned into an 1hr and half walk through the whole procedure and he would not hang up the phone until he was satisfied I knew what I was doing. needless to say I was very impressed and appreciative that someone would take that much time and show so much enthusiasm to a total stranger he just met over he phone!


well that was a long time and more than a few projects ago. I have no problem tackling any projects on the car knowing that I have my very own encyclopedia to everything gt

thanks again.

 

[BlackICE]

Well said Soroush!

I have had the same experience!

The Traction Control System would never exist if not for Shadowman! I am one of the few that fortunate enough to have one installed.

 

[MTV8]

started the car and right away it was acting up not idling right and running real rough, I thought its just the cams and the computer needs some time to adjust since we had the battery disconnected, went for a drive and down the street I had a moment of "you idiot" I forgot to connect the Mafia, so I pulled over and connected the mafia thinking all is well.

That is too funny. I told you the story of how I had forgotten to connect the MAF on my car after the exhaust install that same day you were working on yours. Glad you got it all up and running.

 

[AJK]

During the yearly car preparations, I typically replace all 4 rotors, pads, fluid, along with an oil change, and from time to time flush the trans axle fluids. I know the GT Guys are scheduled to be with 100 miles next month, and I had purchased the accessory and supercharger belts from Torrie; buying the oil pump belt thru my local dealer. I think I was too late to schedule anything with Rich and Denis, and after looking at how little room there seemed to be and how complex it looked, I was hesitant to change the belts myself.
Then, I made a call last night to our friend Shadowman, and we talked for a while and he convinced me to give it a try; with the old “call me if you run into any problem and I’ll talk you through it”. First thing in the morning, I backed it onto the Race Ramps, and followed the book, for the most part. Though Shadowman suggested it might not be necessary to remove the engine access panel behind the sub woofer, that was my first step. Having not had it off in the past, I wanted to take a look.
Working on my back underneath the car, and not being a small fry, there was a bit of difficulty removing and later replacing the oil pump belt, and for me, through the passenger compartment was the only possible way to reach the top cover bolts. The large belts were surprisingly easy both to remove and replace. I remembered Shadowmans tips on the belts, and in the end, used a ratcheting tie down with one end wrapped around a nearby section of frame and the other to the breaker bar pulling on the tensioners as a final check making certain the belts were in their grooves.
In a few hours, taking several breaks along the way, the job was complete. I kept Shadowman informed of the progress with e-mails along the way, and as I was underneath the beast snugging up the last of the oil pump belt, he gave me a call checking on the progress. As he has always in the past, Shadowman has proved invaluable to me.
And finally, as always, if I can do it, anyone can.

Here are a couple of shots I took, of something.

http://1fordgt.com/2011/Ford_gt/February/3BeltChange/Garage001.JPG
http://1fordgt.com/2011/Ford_gt/February/3BeltChange/Garage002.JPG
http://1fordgt.com/2011/Ford_gt/February/3BeltChange/Garage003.JPG
http://1fordgt.com/2011/Ford_gt/February/3BeltChange/Garage004.JPG
http://1fordgt.com/2011/Ford_gt/February/3BeltChange/Garage005.JPG
http://1fordgt.com/2011/Ford_gt/February/3BeltChange/Garage006.JPG
http://1fordgt.com/2011/Ford_gt/February/3BeltChange/Garage007.JPG
http://1fordgt.com/2011/Ford_gt/February/3BeltChange/Garage008.JPG
http://1fordgt.com/2011/Ford_gt/February/3BeltChange/Garage009.JPG

Pete S.

It was Shadowman that gave my dad the tip that the direction of rotation to adjust the tension on the oil pump belt was the reverse of the direction in the shop manual. Hope he advised you of the same.

 

[hollywoodstunts]

Shadowman has provided endless support and technical knowledge. He's like a walking, talking service manual.

 

[Pete S.]

It was Shadowman that gave my dad the tip that the direction of rotation to adjust the tension on the oil pump belt was the reverse of the direction in the shop manual. Hope he advised you of the same.

Well, I turned the outer piece in the direction of the arrow by pushing the tang and snugged up the bolt on the tensioner until the "scribe mark" was within the "viewer". So, I did it as the book said, which means maybe pulling it apart again. Of course, I have had concerns with the manual in the past . . . the 4 hour headlight adjustment!, that was a great learning experience. EP, I need a taller garage for a big lift; I have a lift that goes up 4 feet, but prefer the Race Ramps as the lift gets in the way, but it's good for brake work. John, I should still try and make it down next month, unless I really mess up the job and the car falls apart.


Pete S.

 

[AJK]

Well, I turned the outer piece in the direction of the arrow by pushing the tang and snugged up the bolt on the tensioner until the "scribe mark" was within the "viewer". So, I did it as the book said, which means maybe pulling it apart again. Of course, I have had concerns with the manual in the past . . . the 4 hour headlight adjustment!, that was a great learning experience. EP, I need a taller garage for a big lift; I have a lift that goes up 4 feet, but prefer the Race Ramps as the lift gets in the way, but it's good for brake work. John, I should still try and make it down next month, unless I really mess up the job and the car falls apart.


Pete S.

Pete,

Read post #10 in the following link. Please check with Shadowman before going at it again but he called my dad back to make sure he understood that the rotation to set the mark was opposite of the instruction in the manual. Please reply to this post as to what his response is.

AJK
http://www.fordgtforum.com/forums/s...be-changed&highlight=oil+pump+belt+adjustment