I'm having a weird issue and wonder if anyone has ever experienced the same thing?

I have a spare water pump housing, water pump, and neck/t-stat housing. I wanted to check the fitment off the car, and ran into an issue. I logically can only tighten the top water pump bolt and the air pump/pulley bolt off the car. The third, bottom bolt is the one that goes through the water pump into the engine cover.

The idler pulley hits the t-stat housing area, and I'm not sure how the heck the belt is supposed to clear under that area. It appears there isn't enough clearance there.

Anyone have this issue before?

 

you may have the backwards spacer issue this guy had

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generati...arning-798406/

 

This is a manufacturing problem with the thermostat housing not the idler kit. There is a larger tolerance in the casting of the thermostat housing, as there is with every cast part. Simply take a flat file and shave off a 1-2mm where the pulley is making contact. There is plenty of wall thickness to work with.

Install enough of these idlers and run into this issue once in a while

 

That looks more than 2mm, the whole pulley is tilted more than that.

 

Okay thanks, I thought I was going a little crazy there!

I have 2 t-stat housings to work with so I will try swapping the one out on the engine once I pull it out. The idler bracket may pull it down a little when the third bolt is attached to the engine too.

Belt clearance is ticket too...can I shave a little off under the neck, is there enough material there?

 

It is a sand casting, they are very thick. You can also loosen the three bolts and rotate the housing counter clockwise a millimeter

 

I had the same exact issue. I took a dremel with a cutting bit and shaved little by little.

 

I just use a flat file, a couple swipes back and forth has always done the job, never spent more than 5 minutes

 

I had the same issues with my idler pulley. as banzai said, just take a file and modify the t-stat housing.

 

Yep, I've installed a few, have had to do some minor grinding. Not a big deal. Just take time to make sure the belt has plenty of room so it can't rub against the t-stat housing, that's an easy way to kill a belt off fast.

Dale