C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Seemingly easy question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 1, 2008 | 04:59 PM
  #1  
SVXr's Avatar
SVXr
Thread Starter
Instructor
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
From: UT.
Default Seemingly easy question

There are no stupid questions remember?

That said I cannot get my serp belt on the 96. I've taken out the idler arm and I still can't get the belt over all the pulleys. So I wanted to unbolt the Alternator to give me more room but I can't figure out what size allen wrench the bolt takes. 6MM too small, 7mm too large, 1/4 too small, 5/16 too big.

I'm stuck, any ideas?
Reply
Old Sep 1, 2008 | 05:05 PM
  #2  
86PACER's Avatar
86PACER
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,858
Likes: 7
From: Santa Maria CA
Default

Do you have the right belt, are you routing it correctly?




Reply
Old Sep 1, 2008 | 05:24 PM
  #3  
MikeC4's Avatar
MikeC4
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,510
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
Default

Do not remove or loosen anything to get the belt on. Either you have the wrong belt size, or you are not extending the tensioner enough
Make sure that:
- Put the idler arm back on before installing belt
- Remove air bellows from Throttle body
- Remove connector from Water Pump temp. sensor (be careful not to break this while moving the tensioner)
-The belt grooves are seated correctly in the harmonic balancer pully and all other grooved pullys.
- You are "pulling" the tensioner as far as it will go to give enough slack in the belt
-You route belt as per the diagram and slip it over the alternator pully last. Put some dish soap around the outter perimeter of the alt. pully to help the belt "slip" on. There will be some work to slip it over the pully, but not much. Put the belt in the sun for 1/2 hour if it is new.


Last edited by MikeC4; Sep 1, 2008 at 05:31 PM.
Reply
Old Sep 2, 2008 | 11:17 AM
  #4  
SVXr's Avatar
SVXr
Thread Starter
Instructor
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
From: UT.
Default

I'm routing it as the picture shows? I forgot about the soap trick I'll give that a shot. Thanks
SVX
Reply
Old Sep 2, 2008 | 11:24 AM
  #5  
Camaro350z28's Avatar
Camaro350z28
Pro
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 501
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver WA
Default

i would definitely make sure you have the right belt, because as long as you get the tensioner fully extended you should have no problem slipping the belt on
Reply
Old Sep 2, 2008 | 09:25 PM
  #6  
Ed Ramberger's Avatar
Ed Ramberger
Drifting
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,697
Likes: 493
From: Denver, NC
Default

When I recently replaced mine, I had a hard time getting it over the alternator pulley lip. It was easier for me to slip it over the edge of the PS pulley and walk it on.
Reply
Old Sep 2, 2008 | 09:30 PM
  #7  
engle1147's Avatar
engle1147
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,043
Likes: 8
From: Tampa Florida
Default

Originally Posted by Ed Ramberger
When I recently replaced mine, I had a hard time getting it over the alternator pulley lip. It was easier for me to slip it over the edge of the PS pulley and walk it on.


I go over the AC compressor pulley last.

Reply
Old Sep 2, 2008 | 09:35 PM
  #8  
SVXr's Avatar
SVXr
Thread Starter
Instructor
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
From: UT.
Default

Okay guys, I got it on. I had to pry the thing over the alternator with a screw driver. I still find it
hard to believe it is this tight but it was the same length as the old one so it must be.

I find it interesting that this was the last step in replacing the spark plugs and wires and yet it
became the most difficult. But she's running like a top now.

I still would like to know what size wrench is required to get the alternator off, just for when I
need to replace it. If anyone knows?

Thanks for all the help, SVX
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-8

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
Old Sep 2, 2008 | 09:42 PM
  #9  
jaa1992's Avatar
jaa1992
Le Mans Master
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,999
Likes: 14
From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '12
Default

I don't remember the exact size, bought a set of three torx sockets for brake calipers.
I think it was the middle sized one that worked on my alternator.
I'm pretty sure the big one works for the seat belt bolts.
Reply
Old Sep 3, 2008 | 06:48 AM
  #10  
pcolt94's Avatar
pcolt94
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,621
Likes: 207
From: Orlando FL
Default

Originally Posted by SVXr
Okay guys, I got it on. I had to pry the thing over the alternator with a screw driver. I still find it
hard to believe it is this tight but it was the same length as the old one so it must be.

I find it interesting that this was the last step in replacing the spark plugs and wires and yet it
became the most difficult. But she's running like a top now.

I still would like to know what size wrench is required to get the alternator off, just for when I
need to replace it. If anyone knows?

Thanks for all the help, SVX
I had a similar problem with I installed my last new belt. It was unbelievable tight and had to use a screwdriver also….against my better judgment because you can damage to edges of the belt. I had that darn tensioner pulled down full. It was a real effort and then success finally.
Reply
Old Sep 3, 2008 | 11:22 AM
  #11  
MikeC4's Avatar
MikeC4
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,510
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
Default

Originally Posted by SVXr
I still would like to know what size wrench is required to get the alternator off, just for when I
need to replace it. If anyone knows?

Thanks for all the help, SVX
torx T-50

Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Seemingly easy question





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:38 AM.

story-0
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Is the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 the best Silverado yet?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-16 08:01:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

Slideshow: 5 best and 5 worst Corvette daily drivers

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:32:13


VIEW MORE
story-2
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

Slideshow: The headlights of every Corvette generation explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:17:14


VIEW MORE
story-3
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-4
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-5
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE