Is the 7.3L an "interferance" motor???

[Ditty]

OK...so about 10 mins ago, I got home and noticed that my EGT gauge was jumping around. SO I popped the hood to make sure the power cable was cool and I noticed three things:
1) the cable was a little loose; no big deal.
2) the nitrous port on the IC cold pipe is loose; nothing a little wrenching won't fix
3) and the MFing serpentine belt is starting to shred!!! (It's shredding on the outer edge...like a tooth is now missing.)

Question is: If the belt lets loose before I can go get another one, is my engine toast? Or am I worrying about nothing?
I'm going to eat my dinner and go get another belt ASAP...but what if it lets go before I can change it? (I'm planning on doing it tomorrow.)

Thanks

[Marty]

It'll run w/o it.. hope it doesn't take out the rad hose with it!

you just won't be turning the accessories.

[Ditty]

Thanks Marty! That's what I needed to KNOW.

[MrJohnWayne]

yeah it will run without it just be sure to watch the temp if it does throw it! While you are at it check the idler pulley and tensioner assy. My truck threw 2 new belts (like you described - 1 or 2 ribs were missing) before I figured the tensioner was bad and needed to be replaced.

it will run without it but you wont have a water pump without it. make sure that its just the belt and not a pully coming off. Check the ps pully for sure. Oh and you might as well put a tensioner on while your at it. There junk too.

[Ditty]

I checked it and it's just the belt that is goofed. All the pullys feel nice and tight. I'll double check 'em all when I install the new belt.

[alberta 7.3]

...and yes the 7.3 has an interference design, which we don't need to worry about unless one of the timing gears drops..

[Ditty]

I thought about that after I typed it all. I'm used to thinking about my 2.0L I4 in my Neon. The cams are driven off of a belt to the crank...so when it goes so does the motor. Thanks for the help guys. With Thanksgiving and all I haven't gotten around to getting to the store and buying a belt. I also have not be able to get under the hood and fix the nitrous fitting that is loose. I have noticed the EGTs getting high faster since it's loose. I've just been babying it and trying to stay under 600 deg on the Post turbo EGT.