Rebuilding the LT5 Belt Tensioner Using Guts from L98 Tensioner

[hotroddaddyo]

The link posted to Eckler's website claims to fit both.... base and ZR-1.
(Ecklers current in-stock tensioner does NOT fit the LT5, you can however use the guts to rebuild yours - ZBrink)

[Russ]

Winter projects on the Z, will include a tensioner rebuild for my 91 @ 64,000 kms and upon reviewing this thread all the knowledge one requires has been shared by those who went before as expected, thanks guys for making it possible for the rest of us. Has anyone actually verified the Eklers claim of fitting the LT5 or is it still a donor part we are dealing with?

[chopped39]

Did anyone save pictures of rebuilding tensioner? I have a new l98 tensioner coming that I found on Ebay for $35 and Mustang pulley. I have install hundreds of tensioners but never rebuilt one. Any help would be great. If it does not work I will drop off by Marc and let him do it. Thanks

[ZBrink]

Originally Posted by chopped39

Did anyone save pictures of rebuilding tensioner? I have a new l98 tensioner coming that I found on Ebay for $35 and Mustang pulley. I have install hundreds of tensioners but never rebuilt one. Any help would be great. If it does not work I will drop off by Marc and let him do it. Thanks

I believe Phil (@Jagdpanzer) knows how to do but I'm not sure he has photos.

[Dynomite]

L98 Belt Tensioner Conversion

Mark Haibeck Reconditioned Belt Tensioner

Google Says......
The belt tensioners for a 1990 ZR1 Corvette through 1995 ZR1 Corvette are considered the same, as there were no significant design changes to the belt tensioner system throughout the C4 Corvette ZR1 production run from 1990 to 1995; meaning you can generally use a replacement belt tensioner from any year within that range on any car (1990 to 1995 ZR1 with LT5 Engine).



The ZR1 (LT5) Belt Tensioners (1990-1995) apply pressure to the smooth side of the Serpentine Belt Clockwise around the Belt Tensioner Attachment Bolt (as shown above on the LT5 Engine). The Standard C4 Corvette (L98) Belt Tensioner applies pressure to the smooth side of the Serpentine Belt Counter Clockwise around the Belt Tensioner Attachment Bolt (basically the L98 Belt Tensioner is flipped upside down in the photo above but on a L98 Engine).

The L98 Serpentine Belt Tensioner is on the left in the two photos below.
The LT5 Serpentine Belt Tensioner is on the right in the two photos below.



The puiieys in each Belt Tensioner are the same size. The photos were taken at an angle to show the two leaf/coil springs are loaded in opposite directions in each Belt Tensioner

Post 156 - Replacing the Serpentine Belt

Post 275 - The Best Belt Tensioner Pulley

[ZBrink]

Originally Posted by chopped39

Did anyone save pictures of rebuilding tensioner? I have a new l98 tensioner coming that I found on Ebay for $35 and Mustang pulley. I have install hundreds of tensioners but never rebuilt one. Any help would be great. If it does not work I will drop off by Marc and let him do it. Thanks

I edited the original post tonight for clarity and context but unfortunately we do not have additional photos of the process at this time. This post has additional pictures but the Op ran into a lot of issues with his rebuild: https://www.zr1.net/forum/showthread...ht=Dayco+89298

[Dynomite]

Was the original post you edited yours?

You posted that if you choose to make posts which spin topics out of control, or if you edit your posts multiple times over in order to manipulate the conversation, Moderators may close those threads and your posts within those threads may be deleted. So....I guess any post can fall into that catetgory (which is a very broad category without specific definition) and end up deleted. closed or in your case "Edited"

Post #45 above was edited several times as I happen to have both LT5 and L98 Belt Tensioners ......both Jerrys Gaskets and Haibeck Automotive know how to modify the LT5 Belt Tensioner (as I do) and offer that service.....I do not offer that service 👍

The purpose of post #45 was to explain in some detail the basic function of the Belt Tensioner on the LT5 and L98 which I am very familiar with both 👍👍👍

I am suggesting here that Jerrys Gaskets or Haibeck Automotive can rebuild the Belt Tensioner of the LT5 completely with new parts rather than require someone to buy a L98 Belt Tensioner to rebuild their own LT5 Belt Tensioner. Trying to follow the rebuild details prsented in this thread is a bit difficult partly because of lost Photobucket Photos (which I was in the process of explaining in a since closed thread closed as I was explaining) 😁

The rebuild process is a bit complex in regard to understanding which parts should be replaced with new parts and where to get those new parts😜

[ZBrink]

Originally Posted by Dynomite

Was the original post you edited yours?

No, the post was not originally mine but from 2013, long before I was a Member. As shown in the edit comments, I made edits to the post title, numbered Op's steps for clarity, and deleted outdated information that would otherwise confuse people in 2025 and beyond.

A lot of the old "how to" posts have great information buried within them but are often difficult for new members to find and follow and at times have incorrect information. I've asked for help in creating new write-ups from old threads but thus far haven't received any offers to help in this endeavor.