Car has AC again and more boost (~2 psi). Dealership got AC belt done, but said it wasn't easy. He used a tool that didn't fit and a pry bar to work it on the AC pulley. $50 well spent. I wish I could get the 5 hours back I wasted on that SOB, belt.

On stock tune for now. Will datalog with wideband to check commanded vs actual air fuel using AFR error with HPtuners. I think the stock MAF may still be correct at the small boost increase,but think I'll hit peak torque limits that will close throttle.

Sweet, keep us posted. My mod path is going to closely mimic yours.

Has anyone found a tool for the ac belt? I have done 100 percent of the wrenching on everything in my signature, without any significant problems, but this belt has gotten the best of me. I removed and reinstalled my original belt a couple of times, it was a piece of cake to jump it on. This new belt is a COMPLETELY different story. None of the tools i have found will fit either the engine or ac pulley. Neither have holes or spokes for the zip tie method and the damn belt is just too damn tight to start enough to jump it on.

You are exactly where I was. I put 8 hrs of work into that belt, not counting all the tools I bought that didn't work. I drove my car without AC to the dealer and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I've never had something beat me like that. I'm sorry to tell you that is the only solution I have, take it to the dealer. Then $50 later you have air again and can get back to enjoying your car.

There are a few different iterations of the "stretch fit tool". There is the semicircle type which is what Gates recommends and a wedge type. I've used the zip tie trick too but all have been a PITA. Reusing the old belt never caused as much frustration just as you guys have mentioned above. There are a few instructional videos on YouTube. One guy with a 5th gen installed an AC belt with his sunglasses on...very irritating.

This is the newest version...hopefully, "new and improved".

im about to put a new ac belt on this weekend. I have always been able to walk them on, lets hope i can with the camaro. Do you guys work from the top of the engine bay or the bottom?

Can someone help me verify this is the correct belt. ACDelco 12685983 GM Original Equipment Air Conditioning Compressor Belt

https://www.amazon.com/ACDelco-12685...evrolet+Camaro

That's the correct part number. Best of luck with the install, I ended up using the tool referenced in post #10. It was still a major pain.

Walking belts onto a pulley is a bad idea. It damages the cords in the belt and shortens it’s life.

:confused: all stretch fit belts are "walked on" one way or another...there isn't any other way with no tensioner

I know, but I’m not a fan of stretch fit belts. Harder to install, usually can’t be reinstalled if you take it off, etc. I know it saves a few bucks for the bean counters, though. Just don’t like ‘em.
Some DIYers will try and walk a non-stretch belt onto a pulley, even using a screwdriver to pry it on, rather than properly loosening the tensioning mechanism. The machines I design have belt drives and we were having belt failures in the field. Come to find some inexperienced line workers and service techs were walking belts on and damaging them.

On this car, you have to follow the GM procedure. Put the belt on with the belt hanging off the back of the big pulley with a half twist. Turn the crank to walk the AC belt on.

You can find the GM page with these instructions on this forum.

I don't get the half a twist?

Page 4 shows the twist, I just dont understand how this helps?

https://www.chevrolet.com/content/da...n-12678596.pdf


https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...qvLIU4m1bWZ8eO

I tried this technique, didn't work for me, the belt just slipped, didn't have enough traction to walk on. I got the BMW tool from post 10 to work, but, if I ever need to install a new belt again, and my dealer will do it for fifty bucks, then I'll be visiting a dealership service department for the first time in my life, not counting a few warranty issues over the years.