I never had issues with my 8-rib set up, I did when it was 6-rib do to I had the non hd tentioner. I would check power steering pump play, I have seen the pump shaft worn out and caused the pulley move forward to much and cause the belt to walk out. here is a some pics of my 8-rib on my old car.

 

Dude, what is with using the file as a straight edge? I realize maybe you just grabbed something real quick to snap a photo.........but this thread is just screaming "step back, get the right tools (calibrated) and take a positive approach to this".

I did have to space some of my 8 rib stuff as well, and in one case took an idler pulley for a different setup and actually had to machine some material off of it to make it all work. Start with the pulley closest to the balancer and work your way out, one pulley at a time. Don't move to the next one until the one you are working on is right. Also, when you have to space stuff outward, just keep it in the back of your head how much tension is on this stuff. Space it out in a way that keeps everything rigid.

I wish you were near me so I could give you a hand. Hate seeing you have so many issues with this.

 

Lol it was just for a picture to send to iw. I have the laser alignment tool from gates. And I have it all setup perfectly...except this new tensioner. And the power steering shaft has maybe an 1/8" of play in and out but is solid up and down. Which is pretty normal from my understandings?

 

Well I got it on and seems to be better. Not so much bouncing at idle like the other tensioner had! Didn't take it out and get on it yet. What're your opinions on spacing out the smooth idler pulleys with a washer behind each one? There is a lot more room on the back side of the pulley than on the front side but there is clearance that the belt isn't hitting the lip on the pulley. Thanks guys!

 

I would think as long as its centered on the idlers with clearance on both sides you should be good.

 

They aren't centered... Just has a little clearance on the front side and a lot more on the back side. So I could put a washer behind both smooth pulleys and try and get it more even in the center.

 

By centered, I mean the belt not touching the edges. A spacer wouldn't hurt, but I thought the pulley was centered on the ledge of the bracket by a little raised piece? If you space it off that it may loose where it sits.

 

The passenger side one I can space out easier. It slides so a flat washer won't hurt how it sits. The drivers side one has the little raised lip it sits on. I can put a washer there and maybe a nylon or aluminum spacer inside the pulley bearing to keep it from moving?

 

I got stuck on pic of the file across the alternator and the blower pulley. It reminds me of a mismatch between LS front drive configurations (1/2" in this case). The altenator is not moving any further back so the blower pulley appears to be the problem, it has to come forward, but why. If the 6 rib was aligned and right, then the blower pulley dimensions would have to be wrong or pulley is backwards.

 

Ya it was off about a rib and a half with the laser tool. So in the pic below that one is the spacer my neighbor made me at 0.185" thick it brought the pulley out to line up perfect with the alt. And the rest of them too. I got 4 longer bolts for the blower pulley too since the spacer brought it out the bolts barely caught the threads and really didn't wanna strip out the blower snout!!