replacing serpentine belt

[97vulcan]

I was going to get a NAPA 6-groove V-Belt for my SVT. Has anyone had good luck with them? Do they last?? Or how about the Gatorback belt from Checker Auto?

Thanks,
Adam

 

[Ray]

personally? I prefer a gatorback, though I have no "negatives" about a Vbelt

 

[97vulcan]

Help!!! I am replacing the belt now, and I don't know how to remove it from around the tensioner pulley. Can someone please tell me what I should do??


Thanks,
Adam

 

[SVT3C]

You need to take the tensioner off.....

 

[catfish]

1/4in breaker bar turned clockwise.

Theres a square hole you need to engage it in, but there is almost 0 room (barely enough on mine to get the breaker bar in)

Probably best done from the bottom.

 

[97vulcan]

Ok, went with a gatorback belt. Was a PITA!!!! to replace belt on SVT. Now I have another problem. I have a vacuum leak, but I can't figure out where it is coming from. Its loud enough to hear when driving the car, and revving it in neutral, but I can't seem to pinpoint it. It is affecting my idle very slowly. Any suggestions? something I might've bumped when changing the belt?

Regards,

Adam

 

[Smalls]

break out the carb cleaner and start spraying it in all of the places where leaks can occur (intake manifolds are your best bet) you'll notice the sound of your idle changing due to the leak sealing up. takes two seconds.

 

[97vulcan]

upon further inspection, I just think its the belt thats making the noise. Anyone else have a gatorbelt on their duratec that can vouch for me??

Adam

 

[bensenvill]

yes the gatorbelts make a very distinctive noise.

and for other reference, there is a serpentine belt tool for loosening the tensoner [its just a flat bar with a socket extension on the end]... I couldnt even get close to fitting my breaker bar in, so glad I picked up this tool, its been very usefull.

 

[Redlineracer12]

I've heard of Gatorbacks making noise also...

I have a Dayco Poly cog, nothing special. If you have a small breaker bar you can get it in there carefully, otherwise many auto parts stores rent the tool you were referring to, specifically made for serpentine belt removal.

 

[Jorgen]

Gaterbacks are known to make a ton of noise. The Napa belt you were looking at is the one I put on my car when I dropped in my new motor at first it was tossing tons of black belt dust everywhere on that side of the engine after it settled in from a month or so of use I haven't seen anymore dust. But who knows maybe the guy gave me the wrong size somehow and it worked its way out.

 

[tigerbalm]

i put a gatorback belt on mine after i bought it and then it started to make a little noise. i'm guessing its all those little teeth on the belt moving through the air.