[Z06] cheap fix for thrown serp. belts
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 184
Likes: 1
From: Providence Forge Virginia
cheap fix for thrown serp. belts
A few days back at VIR I lost my long drive belt . Luckily I brought a spare ! It did a weedeater job under the hood but all cosmetic....At least half dozen " Z " owners informed me this was a common problem and a C6 tensioner [ Gates 38328 ] at about $70.00 was the sure cure. Bought one and the pulley has tall sides to prevent the belt from walking off towards the front but the tensioner itself was IDENTICAL to the original. Well, today I researched further and found changing the pulley itself was all I needed to do. Ordered one today from local "parts" store. Gates, AC delco,et. al. part # 38008 for about $12.00 !!! A one bolt DIY five minute fix.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 184
Likes: 1
From: Providence Forge Virginia
Oak Tree it was !!! Fortunately part of the belt stayed on and got me to pit,,,last lap too ! Grooved pulley is Gates 38008 and lower idler pulley [smooth] is 38006 and you may want to have one of those in your spar parts box. Each should be $12-14 each.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,030
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From: Maryland
So 38008 and 38006 are the AC Delco part no.'s and are the only 2 parts we need? I think it's a good idea to do this ahead of time although like you, I have in the past just carried an extra belt.
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: May 2007
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From: Machineguns, because I don’t compromise
Hmm. nice tip..
I was going to mention that you check your harmonic balancer. A slight wobble can throw a belt, and we all know these balancers easily have seperation issues.
I was going to mention that you check your harmonic balancer. A slight wobble can throw a belt, and we all know these balancers easily have seperation issues.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 184
Likes: 1
From: Providence Forge Virginia
Had a wobble in balancer...GM says some wobble normal...changed tensioner and flushed P.S. fluid...restarted engine and 100% of balancer wobble gone !!!I have a guess why but don't KNOW for sure. I'm guessing wobble in balancer originated in power steering pump and was transmitted there by the belt as my fluid was black and smelled like bad tranny fluid smells...only a guess ?
