[stangman5]

I've been looking for a belt tensioner tool for the timing belt on my 2.3 '87 mustang. But have found nothing, so is their a way to put on the timing belt without it. I've done it before with pliers and a screw driver but most of the time I ended up slipping and cutting all my knuckles. Can anyone tell me how to get that damn spring and bolt on without cutting up all my knuckles?

[sgtb]

I replaced the timming belt on my '93 2.3L about a year or two ago. I don't remember needing any special tools or having any knuckle busting experiences. I think I just used a large flat tip screwdriver or a pry bar to get it tight. I believe that I had the pully on but loose, then put on the belt and then tightned it all up. Anyway, maybe the '93 is a little different than an '87?

The haynes manual I have (version with a copywrite '92) suggest a ford tool by the number:

Belt tension releasing tool T74P-6254-A

or a "prybar between the tensioner and pin"

I don't remember it being that difficult of a job, but maybe I blocked it out of my memory...

later.