After an Old Pac run on Tuesday night, I started hearing a horrible noise which varies with engine speed. I started fearing the worst, but the car felt completely normal on the way home, apart from the noise.
When I got home I removed the alternator belt and AC belt and I discovered a relatively minor, but nonetheless very frustrating failure of this part (I have an older revision of it on my engine):
https://rossperformanceparts.com/product/toyota-3sgte-3sge-metal-jacket-harmonic-damper/The outer metal pulley section for the AC belt only, had completely separated from the inner part of the unit.
The damper/pulley had lasted ~7 years and copped a lot of abuse, but it's still annoying when the part cost me ~$600.
Now I have to buy another one, and go through the hassle of removing and replacing it. At least the newer revisions of that part have a different design which should prevent the sort of failure I had, according to the owner of Ross Performance whom I talked to on the phone.
Before I begin the task of removing the crank pulley, can anyone confirm whether or not I'll be able to remove it without lowering the engine at all (to clear the chassis rail)? Note that the aftermarket pulley has the same outer dimensions as the OEM one.
If the answer is no, then how many engine/torque mounts need to be disconnected to allow the engine to drop sufficiently?
Remember that I only need to remove the crank pulley, I don't need access to the timing belt or anything like that.