The wife drove the vette yesterday. When she called me last night(worked a double shift) she said, "the vettes making a noise." I told her I would check it out in the morning.
So I get home, start up the vette, and there it is, the infamous squealing upon start-up.
No problem. Run to Autozone, get two new gatorbacks, idler pulley, and new tensioner pulleys. I'll fix that sumumabeoch good!
Removed the alternator belt, started her up. Squeal is still there. OK, got her narrowed down. So I remove the A/C belt, replace both pulleys, and start to put the new belt on.
ARGGGGGGGG damdamdam!!!!!!! Who ever designed this should be drawn and quartered! Anyway, after about an hour and a half of trying to get this dam belt on from the top, the bottom, and the side. I FINALLY came upon a thought. Took the belt away from both pulleys, routed the belt on the crank and the A/C compressor, then squeezed the belts together with a pair of small channel locks. Took the tension off the tensioner, slid the belts between the two pulleys, and slowly let the tension back on while releasing the belts with the channel locks. Simple as can be.
Why didn't somebody tell me this first!!!!!!
Anyhow, got the alternator belt on without a hitch, hit the key, and all is nice quiet and smooth again. New belts, and pulleys, so she is all set.

 

Glad you got it worked out. Been there!

Chuck

 

good fix

 

I just replaced my a/c belt, but the water pump was off at the time so granted it was much easier. It's a pain otherwise.

 

Great to hear.



I fought the AC belt and I found that it was easier to put the belt under the tensioner, release the tensioner while belt is under it then flip the belt up on the idler. It was a pain, the main belt was easy though.

 

Not bad

Try doing one on a ProCharger with the A&A Bracket

Thanks,Matt

 

Got one I can borrow to practice on man?

 

Thanks for the tip on installing the belts.

 

I have some belts waiting to go on. Great timing thanks.

 

My sinker car is squeak, squeak, squeaking too. There goes part of my weekend .

 

Hi There,
They can be a real pita.I know ran into the same problem you did.What a struggle.
Walked away for awhile.I think the key is to start the belt on the crank pulley first any way thats what I did & I used a helper to keep the tensioner compressed and I got it.
robsc501

 

 

Still waiting for that Procharger to practice on.

 

Replaced mine awhile back w/ the Gatorback and agree it was a Royal PITA mainly due to the location. Screwed around w/ it for an hour until I figured out that if I put it on the tensioner first, rotated the tensioner then slipped it under the top pulley all was good.