DeTomaso Mailing List: August 2000, Message #3

>From a previous list item:

Idler Pulley  (3 1/8 Dia…..slightly larger than stock)  Factory Air #45902   
~$20  Auto Zone/ Kragens/Pep Boys

Pulley and bearing.

Also:

1) Get two cheap 11/16 in open end wrenches...the thinner the better.  These 
are usually open end on one end and box on the other end or 11/16 in on one 
end and 3/4 on the other.  Cut the 11/16 in open end off one wrench and the 
non-11/16 in or box end off the other wrench.  Take the 11/16 in open end 
that you cut off and weld it at 90 deg to the handle of the remaining 11/16 
in  open end wrench.  You should have a 11/16 open end at one end and a 11/16 
open end rotated 90 deg at the other end....all in the same flat plane.  This 
wrench will allow you to get at the adjusting bolt on the AC idler in one of 
the toughest spots to work on the whole car.

2) When you have the AC bracket off, take the nut on the back side and weld 
tabs to it so it can not rotate in the bracket channel.  That nut is 
IMPOSSIBLE to get to when it is all mounted in a Pantera.  If you can't hold 
the nut, you can't adjust the pulley.

3) Replace the removable bearing in the idler pulley or replace the whole 
pulley (they are available as stock Ford parts or from Pep Boys, etc).

Been there, done that.

SOB