Belt change - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

robbz28 · 11-04-2012

So I decided to change my belt today, I think the car had the original belt on it. It had GM on it and it was in quite sad shape (chunks missing). Anyway I got it all loose and the couldn't get the belt off of the top pulley...the upper plenum was in the way. Is this normal? I was not in a shop I was at my home and went ahead and drained some coolant and loosened the plenum and got it off and the new one on...but what a PITA!

Z51JEFF · 11-04-2012

The belt comes of without removing anything from what I remember.The only replacement Ive found that will go back on the car without any grief is the Goodyear belt.I had a Gates belt that would not go on the car regardless of what I tried.

Pete · 11-04-2012

Some are tight between the A/C pulley and intake the way i do it is i install that first,take the belt lay it on the A/C pulley kind of an angle and roll the belt in place if needed put some water on the back side of the belt so it slides on the intake.

Hope you understood what i just wrote.

Pete

scottfab · 11-04-2012

No, you should not have to loosen the plenum. I wonder if maybe
there is no plenum gasket? That may lower it just enough to make
the space be too narrow. Dunno......

robbz28 · 11-05-2012

There is a gasket, the only thing I can think is that this car was worked on by LPE, they could have very well "trued" up the surface on the upper plenum and that little bit of surfacing might be enough to make it that tight. I know there was no getting that belt off without loosening things up...no big deal, just annoying. Oh well, hopefully I won't have to worry about that again for a long time.

Blue Flame Restorations · 11-05-2012

The air horn is easy to loosen up. The screws are on the inside where it attaches to the throttle body. It doesn't have to be removed. That will give you the needed room for the belt. I had to do this on my 88.

robbz28 · 11-05-2012

Yeah, air horn probably would be easier, maybe next time! Thanks

11-04-2012	#1
robbz28 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Louisiana Posts: 74	Belt change So I decided to change my belt today, I think the car had the original belt on it. It had GM on it and it was in quite sad shape (chunks missing). Anyway I got it all loose and the couldn't get the belt off of the top pulley...the upper plenum was in the way. Is this normal? I was not in a shop I was at my home and went ahead and drained some coolant and loosened the plenum and got it off and the new one on...but what a PITA! __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] 1991 ZR1 #144 421 rwhp 392 rwt 2012 Toyota Tundra Crewmax 4x4 5.7 liter 1967 Ford Mustang resto-mod coupe 289 (Sold)

11-04-2012	#2
Z51JEFF Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fremont,Ca Posts: 3,072	Re: Belt change The belt comes of without removing anything from what I remember.The only replacement Ive found that will go back on the car without any grief is the Goodyear belt.I had a Gates belt that would not go on the car regardless of what I tried.

11-04-2012	#3
Pete Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Chicagoland,IL Posts: 2,679	Re: Belt change Some are tight between the A/C pulley and intake the way i do it is i install that first,take the belt lay it on the A/C pulley kind of an angle and roll the belt in place if needed put some water on the back side of the belt so it slides on the intake. Hope you understood what i just wrote. Pete __________________ '91 #1635 PoloGreen 350 LT5 11.09 @ 129.27 11.04 @ 128.86 474RWHP 400RWTQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFNFOhGGlR4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlRIOMwaDYY https://sites.google.com/site/peteszr1garage

11-04-2012	#4
scottfab Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Portland Oregon metro area (Washington side) Posts: 3,207	Re: Belt change No, you should not have to loosen the plenum. I wonder if maybe there is no plenum gasket? That may lower it just enough to make the space be too narrow. Dunno...... __________________ Scott Vett owner since 1979._It's about the car and the people

11-05-2012	#5
robbz28 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Louisiana Posts: 74	Re: Belt change There is a gasket, the only thing I can think is that this car was worked on by LPE, they could have very well "trued" up the surface on the upper plenum and that little bit of surfacing might be enough to make it that tight. I know there was no getting that belt off without loosening things up...no big deal, just annoying. Oh well, hopefully I won't have to worry about that again for a long time. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] 1991 ZR1 #144 421 rwhp 392 rwt 2012 Toyota Tundra Crewmax 4x4 5.7 liter 1967 Ford Mustang resto-mod coupe 289 (Sold)

11-05-2012	#6
Blue Flame Restorations Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pendleton, IN Posts: 3,904	Re: Belt change The air horn is easy to loosen up. The screws are on the inside where it attaches to the throttle body. It doesn't have to be removed. That will give you the needed room for the belt. I had to do this on my 88. __________________ 1988 KOH Prototype EX5023 sold 1990 ZR-1 #444 Convertible 1990 ZR-1 Black #966 1991 ZR-1 Quazar Blue #296 1957 Duntov SS Project

11-05-2012	#7
robbz28 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Louisiana Posts: 74	Re: Belt change Yeah, air horn probably would be easier, maybe next time! Thanks __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] 1991 ZR1 #144 421 rwhp 392 rwt 2012 Toyota Tundra Crewmax 4x4 5.7 liter 1967 Ford Mustang resto-mod coupe 289 (Sold)