Galant VR4 Gates Racing Accessory Belts

[FlyingEagle]

Looking to replace all three accessory belts on my engine.

Timing belt is new OEM.

My motor is a 6 bolt, GVR4 import with a C53A AC compressor (uses same as, GVR4 tensioner assembly circa 91.06.1-92.05.3).

Found the Gates Racing belts (Blue top surface) in the following flavors:

A/C - AcDelco 4K360 installed now
K040360RB (C53A length) E.L. = 917 mm
K040365RB (GVR4 length) E.L. = 928 mm

ALTERNATOR
K040390RB E.L. = 993mm

Non-Racing series Not Blue top
POWER STEERING
9265 AUTO V-BELT XL E.L. = 673mm


GVR4 specification for belts per ASA:
AC to CK = MB439336 = 920mm effective length 4PK920
ALT to WP to CK = MD187458 = 995mm effective length
PS to WP = MD178430 = 660mm effective length



Have any of you installed these belts and if so, how are they doing so far?

My motor will see mainly street use but I like the idea of a belt designed for a higher output engine.

I can go with OEM belts too.

Gates lists the belts as remaining stock only, and I have leads at my fingertips currently.

As a side note, what belt tension checking tools are people using currently?

I'd like to invest in one or two for work and home use but haven't seen a belt tool used in a long time ... back to the V belt style days. Not sure what tensions are mandated on these little style belts, as I go by feel/stretch distance and ear (time to check tension and pulleys on higher mileage systems).

Here's a few tensioner checkers and the belt/pulley wear indicator, I found online:

Gates:
Wear indicator tool - Click me
Tension tester 100-320LB Gates 91132 Belt Tension Tester
Tension tester #2 Auto and LD 50-150LB Gates 91107 Belt Tension Tester
Tension tester #3 30-150LB Carbon Drive Gates Tension Gauge

 

[FlyingEagle]

Also found it interesting that there is an OEM heavy duty replacement utilizing Kevlar, which is designed for the Evo9 but it fully 4g63 backwards compatible:

Per RTMRacing:
Click

I would have gladly paid $20 more to get the uprated version.
I'm running OEM out of the bag, so I'm not worried but I don't find out about new things until much later.

 

[raptorWagon]

I just simply see no point to a kevlar belt, it is a consumable after all. Regardless of how fancy and "updated" it may be, it will still be replaced every 60k miles.

 

[FlyingEagle]

I've put

 

[FlyingEagle]

Got the belts and they look good. Came with a pair of Gates Racing stickers for effect. Maybe this will help my car go like a banshee and not sound like one!

I'll update when it is warm enough to fart around with this stuff in the garage.