Belt tensioner

[fretwire3d]

Hi. I need to put a new serpentine belt on my LT1, but it doesn't look like there is a 1/2" square drive hole any where on the tensioner. Do I just turn on the hex bolt that goes through the pulley or what.
Thanks!
Ken

 

[Ken]

There's a hole for the 1/2" drive, just look a little closer.

 

[fretwire3d]

Hi. I was in there this evening with a mirror and flashlight, but I'll look some more. Thanks.
Ken

 

[vms4evr]

Ken, (fretwire3d)
I just replaced the belt on my92. I never found the 1/2" drive sqaure hole that is refered to in the tensioner. But the hex nut on the tensioner was easy to get at with a belt replacement bar and a socket on it. I forget the socket size. The bar came with sockets and claws so it will do most cars. Made the job a snap. And using the hex nut on the tensioner to move it didn't loosen it or mess it up at all. That was 2 weeks ago.
Graham

 

[Ken]

Maybe those engines have a socket-type nut rather than the square drive. I've been looking online for pictures of the tensioners, but haven't had any luck so far, and my books are at the shop. :eyerole

_ken

 

[fretwire3d]

Graham, did you turn the nut that's on the pulley itself (the one that's in plain sight) or the one that's hidden a little and goes through the spring mechanism?

 

[fretwire3d]

I got my belt on this evening. I used the hex bolt through the pulley. Moving the tensioner this way tightens that bolt, if it would have been loose.
Anyway, thanks for the info.
Ken

 

[vms4evr]

Ken,
I just jumped offline before you asked but it looks like you hit the right one. Yes, I took the one in plain sight. There was just enough room moving the bar to loosen it before the bar hits the upper radiator hose. Not a big deal to replace at all. Now my daughters Grand Am, well that is another story...
Glad you got it done. Now you can forget about that part for a while. My belt was original and had 94K on it. I'm keeping it as an emergency spare for when I take road trips.
Graham

 

[Ken]

... keeping it as an emergency spare for when I take road trips.

Always a wise move to keep a spare belt with you, if you're running a serpentine belt system; you lose one belt with that setup and you're dead in the water.

_ken