LT1 Serpentine Belt
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 17,708
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From: Closer to home
LT1 Serpentine Belt
I feel like a complete dumbazz.
I'm trying to replace the existing belt and can't get the new one on to save my life. I have bought three belts, the last one from a Chevy dealer, so I think I have the correct belt. It seems the new belt is just a shade too small.
Has anyone else had problems with this? Ideas?
I'm trying to replace the existing belt and can't get the new one on to save my life. I have bought three belts, the last one from a Chevy dealer, so I think I have the correct belt. It seems the new belt is just a shade too small.
Has anyone else had problems with this? Ideas?
Advanced
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 59
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From: Clermont FL
Re: LT1 Serpentine Belt (JJB)
Did mine two weeks ago. Very tight but it went on. The last pulley is the alternator. Make sure you have the tensioner as far as it will go, I used a 12" adjustable wrench. It was difficult to hold the wrench and work the belt with one hand. Get a buddy to hold the wrench. I almost gave up myself but it went on, just work it over the alt pulley.
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Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Canton GA
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Re: LT1 Serpentine Belt (BrentDev)
JJB - Serious question here.....
What year LT1? You realize that for a little while, (I know my 93 has it) the LT1 used a two-sided serpentine belt.
What year LT1? You realize that for a little while, (I know my 93 has it) the LT1 used a two-sided serpentine belt.
You should be able to get the belt on, the trick is to pull the tensioner all of the way (if you have a friend that owes you a favor, this may be the time to draw it). Make sure it is routed correctly also (study that drawing on the rad shroud). :cheers:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,620
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From: 20 forward gears to shift through in MD
Re: LT1 Serpentine Belt (JJB)
JJB it is very tight when putting on a new belt. My suggestion is to take a rubber mallet and tap the edge of the belt over the alt pully (after getting it just started onto the pully) but others swear that the last pully you want to put it on is the tensioner pully (smooth and no ridge). Your choice, but either way, if you don't have a belt tensioner tool get one, it will make your life easier.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,874
Likes: 1
From: Garden Grove CA
Re: LT1 Serpentine Belt (JJB)
One observation that I have made is that sometimes the belt is not "in" the pulley grooves, making installation difficult. I also made my own serpentine tensioner wrench that fully releases the tensioner while clearing everything in the way.
Good luck, once you get the belt on you will find it easier next time - it can be awkward.
Thomas
Good luck, once you get the belt on you will find it easier next time - it can be awkward.
Thomas
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 17,708
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From: Closer to home
Re: LT1 Serpentine Belt
Gents, thanks for the tips and encouragement. I thought it was just me.
That's an interesting angle of attack. I'm gonna try that.
...but others swear that the last pully you want to put it on is the tensioner pully (smooth and no ridge)...
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 180
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From: Coral Springs, Florida, USA Florida
Re: LT1 Serpentine Belt (92Shawnster)
JJB - Serious question here.....
You should be able to get the belt on, the trick is to pull the tensioner all of the way (if you have a friend that owes you a favor, this may be the time to draw it). Make sure it is routed correctly also (study that drawing on the rad shroud). :cheers:
You should be able to get the belt on, the trick is to pull the tensioner all of the way (if you have a friend that owes you a favor, this may be the time to draw it). Make sure it is routed correctly also (study that drawing on the rad shroud). :cheers:
I agree with this. Sometimes it takes 2 people -- one to release the tensioner all the way, the other to install the belt. I've got an eraly '93 with the 2 sided belt.
The other trick that I've used is to loosen the alternator bolts, and remove the front (lower? -- I can't remember) alternator bolt. This will allow the
alternator to drop a few inches. Then you can more easily install the belt.
I then took a large prybar and GENTLY repositioned the alternator & reinstalled the front alternator bolt.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 7,411
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From: Little Elm TX
Re: LT1 Serpentine Belt (foliva)
I've found that if you take out the single Torx bolt from the altenator and let it down some the belt goes right on. It's very easy to raise the altenator back up and get the bolt back in. Only thing, it requires you to have a T50 socket. (I think that's the right size) If you have that, then it's a piece of cake. :cheers:
[Modified by R94 LT 1, 3:57 PM 6/27/2002]
[Modified by R94 LT 1, 3:57 PM 6/27/2002]
