Okay, I’ve replaced my Opti, power steering pump and water pump with no problem. Everything went back together with no problem. Not bad for a first experience with an LT1, eh?

Here’s the killer though…

I can’t get the *$&#’n serpentine belt on. I’ve got a stock balancer and pulleys (they all look stock anyway), but the belt seems like it’s a tad lacking in circumference. I crank the idler pulley as far as it will go and the darn belt just won’t quite slide over the last pulley. Shouldn’t the belt be pretty loose with the idler pulled all the way over?

I’ve changed serp belts on other vehicles and it’s typically a one-man job and takes about 10 minutes. Is there some mysterious LT1 trick that I’m not aware of?

By the way, it’s a Goodyear Flextra 635K6 6PK1615. The number on the belt matches the number on the carton and the Goodyear book sez this is the right belt.

Any advice???

 

yea it should go on with little problem. Easiest way I found it was to have a person standing up, and as you pull the tension loose, the person pulls the belt over the alternator pulley.

If its really not going on, check the routing to make sure thats right...and make sure its on all the right wheels. You know on the bottom crank, you dont put it on the huge crank wheel thing, you put it on the pulley thats behind it. Know what im talking about?

 

the belt should also look like it has the shape of the routing. ITs tough at first but you get the hang of it. I've replaced mine like 4 times took me about 15 minutes the first time,I can do it now in under 1

 

I don't think I know what you're talking about, and that might be why I'm having this problem.

The only pulley on my crank hub is the pulley/balancer assy. Based on what I know of LT1s, which is next to nothing, the little pulley behind the balancer would be an underdrive pulley which I do not have.

I'll check the routing again. A serp belt install should be pretty straightforward, right?

Thanks!

 

http://shbox.com/ci/balancer_hub.jpg


Ok that is the crank hub. The belt does not go on that big wheel you see...it goes behind it. Behind it is the crank pulley, attached to that. See what I mean?

 

BlackTA,

Yeah, I think I see what you mean. So #42 in that diagram is the balancer, but also acts as the crank pulley?

Finn

 

The standard belt for an LT1 is not going to fit on this car.

Without giving it much thought, I go exchange the aforementioned belt for one that's about an inch larger in circumference. Crank the tensioner over as far as it'll go, still ain't gonna fit. (Shoulda measured first!)

Here's some background...

A previous owner had installed an underdrive crank pulley, which I removed. I then assumed that all remaining pulleys were stock so a standard belt should fit. It's not working out that way.

My alternator pulley measures about 2.5" diameter and the PS pump pulley is about 5.5' diameter. I didn't measure the A/C, tensioner or balancer, but I assume they're stock. Anyone know off-hand what the stock pulley diameters are?

My routing goes like this: Over the alternator, under the A/C, over the tensioner, around the crank under the PS and back to the alternator.


A serp belt should go on in about a minute, right? What the ***** am I overlooking?

Help!!!

Thanks,

Finn