Easy to change the pulleys?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,804
Likes: 323
From: Fort Worth Texas
2017 Corvette of Year Finalist
2016 C5 of the Year
Easy to change the pulleys?
My 02Z has about 70k miles on it and sounds like one or a few of the pulleys are going out. and im sure the belts need to be replaced as well. My question is, is it hard to change out the pulleys? Just seems like the hood would be in my way.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
You said you think the hood would be in your way....So with a statement like that, I would have to say that for you.. it would be almost impossible for you to change them yourself...
How easy or how hard a project might be is very subjective.. to many of us, replacing the pulleys, all four of them is very easy. But to others it would be an impossible endeavor.. When you asked if the hood would be in the way, It was fairly easy for me to see that you do not know your way around an engine. Only because , working on these pulleys, you have to do it with the hood raised Up.. and out of the way.. you are not going to be able to get to the pulleys with the hood down.
" Just seems the hood would be in my way " your words.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 859
Likes: 1
Lol ^.
No, they aren't hard at all, especially if you jack the car up and can work from below for the lower ones (AC pulleys) but they can all be reached from above. Now, the harmonic balancer is a different story. IMO it's not hard to change, just time consuming because of what all you need to take apart to be able to access it.
No, they aren't hard at all, especially if you jack the car up and can work from below for the lower ones (AC pulleys) but they can all be reached from above. Now, the harmonic balancer is a different story. IMO it's not hard to change, just time consuming because of what all you need to take apart to be able to access it.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,804
Likes: 323
From: Fort Worth Texas
2017 Corvette of Year Finalist
2016 C5 of the Year
To answer your question and not be a smart ***..
You said you think the hood would be in your way....So with a statement like that, I would have to say that for you.. it would be almost impossible for you to change them yourself...
How easy or how hard a project might be is very subjective.. to many of us, replacing the pulleys, all four of them is very easy. But to others it would be an impossible endeavor.. When you asked if the hood would be in the way, It was fairly easy for me to see that you do not know your way around an engine. Only because , working on these pulleys, you have to do it with the hood raised Up.. and out of the way.. you are not going to be able to get to the pulleys with the hood down.
" Just seems the hood would be in my way " your words.
You said you think the hood would be in your way....So with a statement like that, I would have to say that for you.. it would be almost impossible for you to change them yourself...
How easy or how hard a project might be is very subjective.. to many of us, replacing the pulleys, all four of them is very easy. But to others it would be an impossible endeavor.. When you asked if the hood would be in the way, It was fairly easy for me to see that you do not know your way around an engine. Only because , working on these pulleys, you have to do it with the hood raised Up.. and out of the way.. you are not going to be able to get to the pulleys with the hood down.
" Just seems the hood would be in my way " your words.
Last edited by zdeckich; Jan 25, 2015 at 04:45 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Im just saying that the hood opens the other way compared to all the other cars im used to. Im used to standing in front of my car not on the side to change a belt or pulley. And didn't know how much room I would have. And no im no stranger to working on a engine. Just didn't know if there was any tricks to change the pulleys like from under the car for the AC pulleys etc. I like how you think you know someone when they just ask a simple question.
the Harmonic balancer has to removed from the bottom along with the steering rack. its slightly easier to get to the AC pulleys from the bottom but not totally necessary. three of the pulleys are removed from the passengers side of the engine, one is removed from the drivers side.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 3,311
Likes: 386
From: Toronto Ontario
They seem easy enough but don't mess with ANYTHING if you aren't experienced.
A wise man knows his strengths and weaknesses, taking on mecnanical jobs is one of my weaknesses so ive learned to leave that area to my mechanic.
Many of these forum guys are mechanics themselves, and they make jobs like an engine swap sound like baking a sheet of cookies.
Ive learned the hard way that if you even have to ask these questions, chances are you cant do it.
A wise man knows his strengths and weaknesses, taking on mecnanical jobs is one of my weaknesses so ive learned to leave that area to my mechanic.
Many of these forum guys are mechanics themselves, and they make jobs like an engine swap sound like baking a sheet of cookies.
Ive learned the hard way that if you even have to ask these questions, chances are you cant do it.
Last edited by 1Willy1; Jan 25, 2015 at 05:17 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 249
From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
You know many people are capable of learning by doing. There is nothing I'm not afraid of tackling, I can always get someone to help me out of a jam. I do work for dealers and have many friends who could help me if I need it. Had I ever done a clutch before, NO. Did I do it myself at home, Yes. And 30,000 miles later it still works perfectly. So if you help to guide someone on how to do a project, they just might learn something new. I felt very accomplished when I let my car off the jack when I finished the clutch. We should encourage people to learn on their cars and become one with their machine.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 697
Likes: 7
From: Kansas City Missouri
They are easy to do if you can jack the vette up. You will need to tape the new belt to the HB on the bottom so it will not slip off when you are working on the top. Also you need to put the belt over the pulleys and they apply pressure to the tension pulley and slip it over that last.
You can do it no problem.
You can do it no problem.
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Racer
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 479
Likes: 106
From: Beamsville Ontario
If you like a little bit of a challenge and especially like to save a pile of money it's doable. You will find it all metric, and tight quarters. I am not a mechanic by no means. I am in the middle of a harmonic balancer replacement and am just wrestling with a stubborn crank bolt. I am lucky, I have a lift. Can't imagine doing it on Jack stands...cudos to guys that do. The biggest challenge so far is remembering to close the hood when I raise the car to the top of the lift. I don't want to be digging the hood out my ceiling.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,015
Likes: 15
From: Loxahatchee Florida
I just did all pulleys and belts myself from the top. Patience, an exploded view diagram of belt wrap and pulley locations, the correct tools, and a drop light. Took my time and it came out perfect. Good luck!
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,643
Likes: 167
They are easy to do if you can jack the vette up. You will need to tape the new belt to the HB on the bottom so it will not slip off when you are working on the top. Also you need to put the belt over the pulleys and they apply pressure to the tension pulley and slip it over that last.
You can do it no problem.
You can do it no problem.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,804
Likes: 323
From: Fort Worth Texas
2017 Corvette of Year Finalist
2016 C5 of the Year
Will got it done today, took about 2 1/2 hours or so, went with the gator back belt and just the ac delco pulleys, glad I had my brother with my with his tiny arms to reach the ac pulleys my fat arm was a little tight in there lol. But sounds and runs great!
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