just bought a (pretty pricey) Gates timing belt kit, water pump included. After putting the water pump on, I noticed that the tensioner is the later, post-97 one piece design. My engine is a 97 and has the two piece tensioner. Since I can't return the kit, could I just get the correct tensioner and use the belt, or is the belt different?

Belt is the same as far as I know.

The kits usually have a belt tooth count listed. Should be the same tooth count for both kits.

Verify that then get the tensioner pulley that you need.

You can reuse the old bar style tensioner. I've done it many many times. The belt is the same for every ej22 and ej18 from 90-98.

Thanks, although (silly me) I should have mentioned before, this is for an EJ25D

same deal, all the same belt and reuse the bar tensioner