LT4 serpentine belt

[br96vette]

I am finding it impossible to find a serpentine belt to fit my 96 lt4. has anyone else had this problem? it seems to be in between 68.5" and 69.0" (1755mm is to long). i can use any input as i am at wits end.

 

[Dustoff529]

NAPA has them!!! I found them online:
NAPAONLINE®

I couldnt be further away, but acording the web site they DO have them

Charlie

 

[Hib Halverson]

Goodyear makes their "Gatorback" belts for that application.

I've got Gatorbacks on all my engines that use serpetine belts and they work very well. They run a bit cooler and have great durability.

You can order Gatorback belts and most Goodyear tire dealer and autoparts vendors which sell Goodyear belts and hoses.

 

[br96vette]

thanks guys been there done that my car does'nt seem to match avalible belts

 

[Hib Halverson]

When you say it doesn't "match" available belts do you mean that the belt that's on it now is some oddball part you can't match or....do you mean when you get a belt listed for a 96 w. the LT4 it won't fit?

 

[br96vette]

the original belt shredded, no piece big enough to measure or remove part number from. local aftermarket goodyear and other after market belts that i have tried so far are too loose (no tensioner pressure) or to tight (tensioner up against stop) and cannot install with out extreme belt streatching or prying. if i was to succeed on prying them on the tension would either wipe out bearings on alt,idler, or other compoents or break belt. if i could find a belt between 68.5 " and 69" i beleive it would work. belts listed for lt5(85.0) or lt1(66.7) are the listed ones available after going thru all bents on shelf plus 2 special order ones, i am waiting for oem belt from dealer, it crosses over by part number to the same after market (66.7) lt1 belt.

 

[Hib Halverson]

I'm going to suspect that something is not right with your engine's accessory drive.

How many miles are on this LT4?

Is there anything in the accessory drive that's no stock?

I'm 90% sure that LT1 and LT4 share their belt application.

 

[CAJUN C4]

I'm going to suspect that something is not right with your engine's accessory drive.

How many miles are on this LT4?

Is there anything in the accessory drive that's no stock?

I'm 90% sure that LT1 and LT4 share their belt application.

They Do...Same Belt.

 

[Hib Halverson]

Well then...something's gotta be wrong with the drive belt system on "br96vette's" car. Either it's got aftermarket pulleys, the tensioner is FUBAR or the drive belt system is in, someother way, defective.

 

[gmjunkie]

Well then...something's gotta be wrong with the drive belt system on "br96vette's" car. Either it's got aftermarket pulleys, the tensioner is FUBAR or the drive belt system is in, someother way, defective.

LT1 and LT4 are the same belt!! So.......
I'm going to fall off the Onion truck here and guess that he isn't routing it right!!

 

[CAJUN C4]

LT1 and LT4 are the same belt!! So.......
I'm going to fall off the Onion truck here and guess that he isn't routing it right!!

Very Possible...But Hib has a good point...Might be aftermarket Pulleys.

 

[Louis Bartay]

If the pulleys are stock, the belt is a pain to install so I purchased the long thin bar from Mid America made the job easier. And routt the belt so the alternator is last place for the belt to go on, and have some one push down on the install bar/lever while you push the belt over the alternator pulley. After 10 years and four belts it have gotten easier, .

 

[CAJUN C4]

"After 10 years and four belts it have gotten easier"

You've changed them on the average of every 2-1/2 years? Why are they not lasting any longer than that?

Should get at least 50,000 miles out of one.

 

[Louis Bartay]

I had Opti spark problems two times in 90,000 miles, water pump one time, belt 3 and now I had the LT4 Balanced and Bored with all new Forged crank and rods so I installed a new opti, water pump and belt, and plug wires for belt #4.

 

[JAKE]

On my 96 LT1, I always fabricate a tool to install the belt and I just used it, again, yesterday.

I use a wrench that's box end on both ends; not open end/box end. I then select a 1/2" drive socket that'll fit over the upper box end of the wrench. With a 1/2" drive extension attached to the socket, all I need do is pull from the driver's side and, yes, I install it on the alternator last.

Presto Chango.

Jake

West Point ROCKS!

 

[Curious George]

When I bought my '92 back in 2006, I replaced the serpentine belt with an OE belt. Slipped right on, no issues. That belt started to crack and show signs of accelerated aging recently, so I bought a "Gatorback" belt from Autozone. The Gatorback belt was so tight I could not slip it over the alternator as a previous member has reported. I ended up partially removing the alternator, from its mounting bracket, so I could slip the belt over the pulley, then mounting the alternator back in place. After bolting the alternator back in, I checked the tensioner pulley and everything seemed to be OK, it still had room to move and was not bound up. A buddy with an LT4 had the same problem, but he ended up prying his on (ouch).

CG

 

[sweabe]

Replaced mine last Sunday, I couldn't slip it over the alternator, however instead of over the alternator pulley, I slipped it over the power steering pulley, without having to pry it on.

 

[sweabe]

Forgot to say that I used a "Goodwrench Drive Belt" 6RIB-1698mm, #10230259.

 

[PLRX]

Goodyear makes their "Gatorback" belts for that application.

I've got Gatorbacks on all my engines that use serpetine belts and they work very well. They run a bit cooler and have great durability.

You can order Gatorback belts and most Goodyear tire dealer and autoparts vendors which sell Goodyear belts and hoses.

Agree, Autozone sells it.

"After 10 years and four belts it have gotten easier"

You've changed them on the average of every 2-1/2 years? Why are they not lasting any longer than that?

Should get at least 50,000 miles out of one.

Ensure your belt is the righyt belt and it is installed properly. Yes, 50,000 should be the minimum that a belt could last.

 

[Topless]

Not all belts are the same for LT1's. 92-93E use a double sided belt. Good luck finding one - Dealer only (or catalog).

George- did you swap pullies to fit a regular belt?