Gates Racing Timing belt for a AU2 XR8

urbancowboy · 02-01-2010, 11:08 PM

Ive done some googling and cant to seem to find whether the Gates racing timing belts are available to suit my XR8! Does anyone have any info? I know there's some available on ebay BUT i don't know if the hand built motors use the same timing belt as the NON-hand built motors? I asked the seller on ebay and he responded by saying he didn't know!!!

Ive emailed rocket industries and we'll see if they can help me!

I'm getting my XR8 serviced very soon and want to throw on a new timing belt because i don't know when it was last replaced, also my idler pulley is squeeking a bit so its getting a new one of them too.

Also what are peoples opinions on who makes the best plug leads, im happy with TOPGUN, Split-Fire, or Bosch. They all cost about the same, Do they all perform about the same??? I've been informed that Bosch have a Motorsport range, does anyone think they'd be that much better than the competition? e.g. MSD make leads too, at a very high price! are they worth it over the others?

Thanks for your help and opinions

urbancowboy · 02-01-2010, 11:38 PM

So with some more research i've found that the XR8's use a 2415mm length belt, and that its different (longer to the non Tickford 5.0).

The gates online catalogue was pretty useless, but maybe i just don't know how to use it??

Windsor220 · 02-01-2010, 11:47 PM

Your AU Xr8 runs a chain not a belt. Never needs replacement.

Unless you are talking about the external serpentine belt. If it hasnt got any cracks in it, it will be fine.

MAV50L · 02-01-2010, 11:48 PM

Your not after a timing belt. You are after an accessories drive belt.
Windsors do not have a timing belt as they are chain driven.
MSD leads are expensive for a reason. they are good.

urbancowboy · 03-01-2010, 12:10 AM

Thanks people! I really should've registered that its timing runs off a chain! especially since i've been wanting to get a Peter Jackson style gear drive setup for it! Stupid stupid amateur oversight! This is my first Ford V8.

Ive just bought the gates racing belt from ebay, Which runs my accessories! and will replace the idler pulley too (that squeek has been really annoying me!)

as for the leads, I can get The Topgun 8.8mm leads from my work at a slight discount but still only a shade under $300! which is comparable to the price of the Spit-fire, and Bosch (always quality) in comparable sizes, but from memory MSD ones are up over $400. My basic question is are they worth $100 more? They are all pretty much going to last forever, So i will only buy them once.

It gets me to thinking about coils if i buy the MSD set! There's nothing wrong with the coils on my car now other than that they are stock, whats a ball park for MSD coils and leads? And is the spark amplifier/pulsator thingy system applicable to my XR8?

Thanks again people for your help.

Trace 347c · 03-01-2010, 12:54 AM

Hi mate, i got msd leads and coils from a1 in perth, think from memory the coils were $155 each and leads bout $300. And what a difference in power it made, bla bla bla. Sorry bout my sarcasm, only replace the factory sH^t if it needs replacing. I have found gates drivebelts to be crap, they tend to slip. Go with bosch. As for your tensioner, try to pull it apart yourself and replace the bearing, $20 max fix compared to over $300 for a new tensioner

Windsor220 · 03-01-2010, 01:09 AM

I dont remember paying for that much for MSD leads. Though they were under 200 from A1s.

urbancowboy · 03-01-2010, 12:20 PM

Thanks again for your input fella's, ive bought the Gates Micro V belt from ebay already late last night, and the same seller has the idler pulley for about $20, I dunno how much the whole tensioner assembly cost but i will find out at work on monday.

If the MSD leads are around that $300 mark then i will buy them ones i believe they are going to be the best on the market when you consider that ignition is their sole focus of business.

Im getting my XR8 serviced very soon, i have a road trip planned late January for Australia day, and i want to freshen everything up! I.e all this plus Irridium plugs, K&N panel filter, oil and fuel filters, fresh oil, etc. Im hoping this will get it to start first crank of the starter, and run a bit better!

Thanks again fella's!

**Peuty** · 03-01-2010, 07:29 PM

Send a PM to the user bottledup, he custom makes MSD leads for our 5.0L.

Also, how do you know your coil packs are fine? In my experience, they turn to crap at around 80-90 thousand. Don;t know how many kays yours has done, but it wouldn't hurt to change them if you have the cash. Chuck a new set of plugs in it too.

**Mont5.0** · 03-01-2010, 07:37 PM

geardrives you say? like the old style ones on old 351's etc?? May be a bit hard to come by unless you dont want to run aircon and powersteering?

Windsor220 · 03-01-2010, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peuty

Send a PM to the user bottledup, he custom makes MSD leads for our 5.0L.

Not so sure he does that anymore.

richo77 · 04-01-2010, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peuty

Send a PM to the user bottledup, he custom makes MSD leads for our 5.0L.

Also, how do you know your coil packs are fine? In my experience, they turn to crap at around 80-90 thousand. Don;t know how many kays yours has done, but it wouldn't hurt to change them if you have the cash. Chuck a new set of plugs in it too.

How do you know when coil packs are cactus?? mine are still stock with close to 120k on the clock...

RG · 04-01-2010, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richo77

How do you know when coil packs are cactus?? mine are still stock with close to 120k on the clock...

Then there is more than a fair chance they are cactus.

b2tf · 04-01-2010, 11:04 AM

DON'T use Top Gun leads. Theyre rubbish - I bought a set for my old XR8 and they were actually stuffed out of the box.

GK · 04-01-2010, 11:07 AM

They can't be catcus if the car still runs okay.

They might be far from optimum though and on the way out, but not catcus! LOL!

GK

RG · 04-01-2010, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GK

They can't be catcus if the car still runs okay.

They might be far from optimum though and on the way out, but not catcus! LOL!

GK

Not entirely true GK. The Motorcraft coil packs on the 8's are bloody temperamental. I've swapped a pair on an AUII XR8 where it ran fine but they were half melted where the boot fits on.

They are like shock absorbers, wear out over time so you don't really feel any difference until they are changed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by b2tf

DON'T use Top Gun leads. Theyre rubbish - I bought a set for my old XR8 and they were actually stuffed out of the box.

And even if they aren't like that out of the box they're rubbish. Eagle are a little better but for the small extra go for MSD.

richo77 · 04-01-2010, 11:18 AM

ok has anyone had experience with screamin' demon coil packs? BPT sell em $250 each... where can i get MSD for a good price in Perth?

cheers

RG · 04-01-2010, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richo77

ok has anyone had experience with screamin' demon coil packs? BPT sell em $250 each... where can i get MSD for a good price in Perth?

cheers

$250 each, bloody hell.

A1 Hi Performance (google it) is over there or any Autobarn or car parts place that deals with Rocket ind.

richo77 · 04-01-2010, 11:44 AM

MSD 8241 - $175 each from A1 - that'll do the trick, hopefully its just straight bolt on change over, no mods required?

b2tf · 04-01-2010, 11:44 AM

All autobarns have access to Rocket gear and the MSD8241 coils shouldnt cost you any more than $140-150 at the most.

richo77 · 04-01-2010, 11:50 AM

cheers for that!

RG · 04-01-2010, 11:58 AM

b2tf is correct with the pricing.

No mods required, they are a direct bolt on replacement providing you take note of where the leads go before changing them over. This is something Peuty forgot and the ensuing phone calls and PM's were hilarious.

CRAIGAU3220 · 04-01-2010, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b2tf

DON'T use Top Gun leads. Theyre rubbish - I bought a set for my old XR8 and they were actually stuffed out of the box.

Got them on my car.....sweet as.

blownv8au · 05-01-2010, 02:26 AM

urbancowboy i have a spare set of msd leads custom made by a1 only on the car a fortnight, there black leads with red ends l ordered red leads black ends so kept them on the car till right ones arrived and decided to keep them as spares but their doing nothing in the cupboard there yours for $150 plus post if your interested pm me. cheers preston

**Peuty** · 05-01-2010, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RG

This is something Peuty forgot and the ensuing phone calls and PM's were hilarious.

This is something that I do not recall happening....

RG · 05-01-2010, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peuty

This is something that I do not recall happening....

Rubbish.

**Peuty** · 05-01-2010, 03:43 PM

If I don't remember it didn't happen.

RG · 05-01-2010, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peuty

If I don't remember it didn't happen.

Rubbish, we all know it did. I still laugh when I think about it.

FTe_XR8 · 05-01-2010, 09:38 PM

+1 for the MSD coil packs, i got mine from summit with another forum member, they were about $50ea cheaper to my door than what A1 performance quoted me and their price was very reasonable. next on the list is a phenolic spacer but not until i get my car back from the darn auto sparkies!