marshal135

So here's the latest joy joy of being a '68 BB owner, try finding a idler pulley assy??????
Mine has a hell of a grinding noise the bearing is gone.
The replacement bearing assy's are obsolete and all the major players are out of stock on this entire assy till?????
Can you say back order................... ARGH.
So getting to my ? Can I just reassemble the other belts and water pump pulley minus this pulley *** and belt?
I have a 427/390 engine w/ AC and P/S.
Thanks again forum.
Marshal

Sayfoo

2 thoughts here.
If the bearing is replaceable, you should be able to find a suitable replacement from a bearing supply house. Pop out the old one and take it in so they can measure it.
My '69 bb was missing the smog pump and ac compressor and did not have a idler assembly when I got it. The belt arrangement is a bit different. It is a bit of a project to get the right length belts to fit. You have a very limited belt adjustment, so the belts have to be just the right length.
The assembly manual has diagrams of different belt arrangements for differently equipped engines.

71 Green 454

Is the '68 idler pulley different than the '69 to '74's?

loup68

I agree with what SayFoo said about trying to get a bearing from a dedicated bearing supply like Bearings Inc. Good luck, Adam. Your friend, Lou.

marshal135

Bearing is unique assy with an attached shaft for pulley.
yea it is a one year only configuration.
I was wondering if I could update the entire away to the 69 and on away?
Thanks,
Marshal

71 Green 454

I see, it's another one of those '68 only items. I would try a machine shop to see if they could replace the bearings in yours.
Maybe the 69 and up would adapt to yours, you could try. Check post #7 in this thread:https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ock-belts.html

Have you tried calling Corvette Shop & Supplies in Tampa.....they might give you some guidance on repairing yours.
https://corvetteshoptampa.com/

Good luck.

71 Green 454

I just received this reply concerning the 1968 idler pulley: Thank you for your business and we look forward to serving you in the future!

www.motorcityvettes.com
Phone: 844.323.8388
Email: sales@motorcityvettes.com
Website: https://www.motorcityvettes.com/

loup68

Adam, I have both the 68 and the 69 AIM. It sure looks to me like the 69-up idler pulley assembly would fit. They look almost identical. The big difference that I can make out is that the 68 assemblies bracket is
a one piece stamping with that adjustment stud up at the top. The 69 unit has a flat metal adjusting plate and adds a spacer tube and a long bolt with lock washer and flat washer. Access to the bolt is through
four holes in the pulley itself. The upper adjusting stud has the same GM number 3925596. I do see that the water pump belt has a different number so I guess it must be changed also.
I hope that this helps you. Lou.

Jamess411

marshal135

Update:
I found the replacement bearing assy under GM#908076.
Clarks Corvairs had it in stock at 34 bucks.
Now hopefully the old bearing assy will press off the pulley and brkt.
Just thought I'd advise in case anyone else comes across this.
Marshal