Have they fixed the belt shredding issue with the Whipple superchargers yet? I am getting ready to make my decision between the Lethal Whipple HO kit and the Brenspeed Hellion turbo kit. I am leaning twords the Whipple right now for ease of installation with around the same hp as the turbo. But if there are still belt issues I may go turbo instead, I just worry about destorying my motor with the turbo. I've heard they are harder to tune and not as reliable.

 

As far as I know it has not been resolved yet. That's one reason that I'm leaning back towards the Saleen again. I love the Whipple, but don't want to be tossing belts, or worse, hurting my engine with it. The Saleens don't seem to have the same problems.

I'm staying clear of turbos although some people are having great luck with them. They can make some killer torque numbers, but I just don't feel as comfortable with the turbo as I do a SC.

 

I've been reading a lot about this belt issue lately but you guys need to know that I've had absolutely no issues with mine. And it's been on for around 13,000 miles. No walking, no shredding, no nothing. The belt looks as good as the day I put it on....

 

All of the twin screws have had belt issues... Whipple, KB and Saleen. It seems to effect manual trans cars more often, and doesn't seem to matter what boost levels or whether 6-rib or 8-rib. And most of the time, it is a bent (or broken) tensioner that is the culprit.

Fortunately, a beefier tensioner will take care of the vast majority of the belt issues. I've been running one of Adam's "Frankentensioners" for almost a year now, and I've only had to replace one belt in that time (6 months ago). And just this week, a new tensioner has become available as well. Check here for more details: http://www.s197forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2266

 

I've had no issues w/ mine guys. To be honest with you I guess I've been out of the loop because this is the first I've heard of any belt problems. Guess I need to do a search and check out some other threads about this issue.

 

Thanks for the additional info on the tensioners Don.

I've heard that the issue seems to be when the crank pulley slows down faster than the SC and accessory pulleys, like after letting up at the end of a WOT run, or between shifts at WOT. That would explain why it happens more with manuals than autos.

I know quite a few people are having issues, but it's good to hear that many are not. I'd love to go with the Whipple, so this has restored a little of my faith.

 

There is a stop tab on the factory tensioner that can bottom out on decel. It seems like this sudden jolt may cause some problems. One of the early fixes (including on mine last year), was to grind some or all of this tab off. That worked OK, until the factory tensioner would bend (or break). After I broke a tensioner at the track (right after a burnout) last November, I upgraded and haven't had any problems since.

Oh yea, don't waste your money on the Dayco tensioners. They are even weaker than the factory ones.

 

no issues with mine, but I also have a "frankentensioner"...it's somewhat of a conversation piece...hehe

 

Like Don said, I've heard the problem is more with Manuals when power shifting. I haven't had mine long, but I've had no problems.

I have an AUTO by the way.

 

How much are the frankentensioners??

 

I believe Adam is selling them for $200.00
Here is a pic of the frankentensioner that Ron (94tbird) was using.
As you can see it's 2 stock arms welded together.
It works quite well for the auto's as Dons' has held up quite a long time but guys with manuals such as Ron have broken these also since there is no reinforcement at the mainspring washer which is visible inside the arm with 2 notches in it.

 

I know of 3 auto's which have snapped tensioners 1 Saleen (GI Joe), 1 Kenne Bell 2.6 (qwikcobra), and 1 Whipple (169stang).

 

Of these that have snapped tensioners, how are they being driven? Are they running at the track constantly, or is this just a DD that had a major problem?

Thanks

 

 

i bent the franken tensioner, i broke the KB extreme tensioner in half. and numerous stock tensioners. Ive spent over $2200 in this issue. Ive been able to get about 5-6 powershifts out of each one before they failed. With Thumprrr's ive gotten over 200 powershifts and not 1 issue. He has solved all tensioner issues so make sure you pick one up if you got a manual tranny car and plan on going to the track!

 

MF??? You're looking in the wrong place : http://www.s197forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2384

 

True... my Frankentensioner has been on the car for almost a year now.


I bent/broke two factory tensioners and one Dayco, before I got the Frankentensioner.

 

Yeah, appearently I never got the memo. Thumprrr had already hooked me up with the link though.