[Juiced1]

I've seen dealers charger a lot more then $50 for that belt change.



We find that certain belts are easier to install then others. Do not buy a Gates belt or any other aftermarket belt. They are way to difficult to get on. Reuse the old one as long as you can and if you need to replace it get the Delco or GM part only.



We use a generic belt stretch tool over the ac pulley. It doesn't fit right but with two people you can make it work pretty quick. One holds it on and one spins the crank. For a good laugh jump on ebay and look up belt stretcher. Did that by mistake the first time lol.

[Choda]

Factory crank pulley does have openings to use zip ties. It works. Took more time getting the zip ties in there than actually walking the belt on. Did it myself w a brand new Ac delco belt.

I zip tied the belt about 5 o clock on the back side of the crank pulley. Left the top of the belt off the crank. Put the belt on the top of the Ac pulley. Pushed hard w my thumb to keep the belt on the Ac pulley and turned the crank clock wise. You can see the belt was pulled from the back side to the front but once I cut the zip ties and turned it over another 1/4 it aligned nicely.

[L78toLT1]

Good job, Choda. Looks like the way to go for the guys with the factory LT1 pulley. I don't think this will work for the LT4 though.

[cmitchell17]

Anyone ever figure out a tool that will work with what we have? I spent about 2 hours or so and a lot of wasted energy and hand damage, but I eventually got my original belt back on that's actually already been split half way down it from trying to walk it on the compressor pulley side.

I got mine by putting the belt square on the AC pulley first then putting the other end between the damper and engine and turned the crank (which isn't easy unless you have the fuel pump disconnected). The belt will definitely try to slip off the side of the damper as you are turning it trying to walk it on but I just held it with a screwdriver and kept pushing on it to where I turned the engine enough to where it stretched the belt enough to have enough friction so it wouldn't slip off. Then just kept turning and it walked on, but then it looks like the part of the belt that was split was twisted so hopefully that works its way back to normal or hopefully it doesn't break somewhere and I'm without AC but I've got bigger problems that that right now.

[SSUNDVL]

I rent the red stretch belt remover/installer tool at oriellys and usually have to use a pry bar too, never a fun process and last time I did not cut the belt and just reused it.

[Evansa22]

Just Ran into this same problem, oreillys tool worked great getting the belt off. However the installer was a conplete no go. Kept messing with it for a while then finally tried this and it worked pretty much no problem. Got the belt on the balancer groove first with it hanging off the side of the ac compressor, put the belt fully in the groove of the ac pulley where it first touches the pulley (about 11 o'clock position) . The rest of the belt kinda hangs off the side. Put all my pressure on the spot where the belt was in the groove and started turning over the engine really slow. If you can keep enough pressure on the belt where its in the groove, it will pinch itself in place and keep it from sliding as it walks itself on. The belt on the balancer may walk over a little but I just slowly worked it back the other direction so they were both fully seated.

Turns out there's no tool necessary if you figure out the trick. Both the lisle and oreilly tools didn't work for install.

[cmitchell17]

Originally Posted by Evansa22

Just Ran into this same problem, oreillys tool worked great getting the belt off. However the installer was a conplete no go. Kept messing with it for a while then finally tried this and it worked pretty much no problem. Got the belt on the balancer groove first with it hanging off the side of the ac compressor, put the belt fully in the groove of the ac pulley where it first touches the pulley (about 11 o'clock position) . The rest of the belt kinda hangs off the side. Put all my pressure on the spot where the belt was in the groove and started turning over the engine really slow. If you can keep enough pressure on the belt where its in the groove, it will pinch itself in place and keep it from sliding as it walks itself on. The belt on the balancer may walk over a little but I just slowly worked it back the other direction so they were both fully seated.

Turns out there's no tool necessary if you figure out the trick. Both the lisle and oreilly tools didn't work for install.

Which way are you turning the crankshaft when you do this? Are you saying the belt is fully on the groves of the groves closest to the engine on the crankshaft pulley when you start?

[kropscamaro16]

i had my dealer replace my serpentine belt/idler a year or so ago under warranty and i bought a new ac to replace at same time lol charged me about $75 or so i just paid it

[Evansa22]

Originally Posted by cmitchell17

Which way are you turning the crankshaft when you do this? Are you saying the belt is fully on the groves of the groves closest to the engine on the crankshaft pulley when you start?

Manual said clockwise. The belt was all the way around the pulley on the crank in the grooves. Then I put the belt all the way in the grooves in one spot on the ac pulley. Tried to get a clear picture but didn't get pictures before I put it all back together.

Sorry I can't figure out rotating the pic but if you turn it 90* counterclockwise, that's looking straight at the belt. Second picture hopefully clarifies it.

[Choda]

Originally Posted by Evansa22

Manual said clockwise.

have you tried my way?

[cmitchell17]

Originally Posted by Evansa22

Manual said clockwise. The belt was all the way around the pulley on the crank in the grooves. Then I put the belt all the way in the grooves in one spot on the ac pulley. Tried to get a clear picture but didn't get pictures before I put it all back together.

Sorry I can't figure out rotating the pic but if you turn it 90* counterclockwise, that's looking straight at the belt. Second picture hopefully clarifies it.

Thanks, I am still a little confused since if you turn it clockwise and you only have the 12 o-clock top part of the belt fully on the grooves of the AC pulley it would just compress the belt and not do anything. If you did the same thing but with the 6 o'clock part of the belt on the bottom of the AC pulley it wouldn't do anything either because that part of the belt would be leaving the AC pulley if you are turning everything clockwise?

[Evansa22]

Originally Posted by Choda

have you tried my way?

No I didn't try your way but looks like it works well

Originally Posted by cmitchell17

Thanks, I am still a little confused since if you turn it clockwise and you only have the 12 o-clock top part of the belt fully on the grooves of the AC pulley it would just compress the belt and not do anything. If you did the same thing but with the 6 o'clock part of the belt on the bottom of the AC pulley it wouldn't do anything either because that part of the belt would be leaving the AC pulley if you are turning everything clockwise?

Belt goes on at about 11 o clock position on the ac pulley. As I rotated the crank, the lip on the front of the ac pulley wedged the belt on and locked it in place. The belt just continued the lock itself on and went on. Sorry if I'm not clearly explaining it but I'm open to help with anymore info I have

[EDFHOBBIES]

I watched Boggi with All Girls Garage do it in person as they worked on the wifes SC install. I also included the video the producer sent me but sometimes Discovery channel blocks it so I took screen shots for ya...




no tool needed thin metal is all!

1. find a piece of thin metal that pliable ( i used a band clamp) Pictured
2. Place it between Harmonic balance and AC pulley (pictured)
3. Draw it around the ac pulley by turning the crank bolt (pictured)
4. Use cheat bar if need be (pictured)
5. Once its around all the way use a pry bar (pictured)

6. Reinstall by placing the belt on the crank pulley 1st then turning engine over by hand as you guide it around the AC pulley by your fingers (may take 2 people) 1 to turn crank the other to put pressure on belt so it can be started.. Can also start the belt and the metal tool at same time to make it less harsh on the belt jumping the lip of the AC pulley.

[EDFHOBBIES]

I trimmed it down for yall!!