[mike55]

i just finished mocking up the front dress on a ford 5.0 engine. i have an frpp (edelbrock) max flow water pump and frpp billet aluminum v-belt horsepower pulleys. i haven't properly installed the water pump yet i.e. gasket to timing cover and torqued down the bolts; but i measured from the face of the damper (torqued properly) to the face of the water pump pulley flange and found the distance to be approx. 3 1/8". i believe the spec is for 3 1/4". with the gaskets installed and everything tightened down, i should move closer to 3 1/4" as required.

so my question is, what is the tolerance for proper or acceptable alignment? is 1/16" + or- ok? 1/8"? 0"? it would seem to me that v-belts are more prone to jumping their groves than serpentine and / or wearing; so i'm sure it makes a difference.

any insight will be appreciated.

mike