apollo30346

I went for a test ride tonight and was not even getting on it very hard and WHAM!!!!!!!!! WTF is wrong and waht is all that noise... I thought my new exhaust work came undone.... I stopped and the belt was on, but was kind of just hanging on.....I limped her home and found that the belt tensioner had broke....Well the little tit that goes into the grove where it bolts up...What would have caused this??? How much and where can I get one from tomorrow?

Thanks.... :eek: :eek: :eek: :mad

65Z01

Tomorrow could be tough. Try a local bone yard; if no luck give Contemporary Corvette a try (link on my site).

Bluevette85

Most parts stores sell the pulley but not the tensioner :( . You could try a shorter belt if you have to drive.

apollo30346

You have got to be joking....I have got to get this done today....I just have to find where to get it from....

Will one from any 350 cid work, like from a camaro, or does it have to be for the vette?

Thanks for the replies...

Sharky Guam

This is the first time that I have heard of one being broken. I have many times replaced bad bearings in the tensioner. But never have I heard of a broken casting. Most parts stores usually sell the pulley with the bearing already pressed in to it. But I would guess that you would have to either go to a dealer or a junk yard to buy the whole assembly. I am not sure if they interchange between different years. But some F bodied GM cars use the same tensioners. I would take your part with you and compare it.
Good Luck! :chevy

apollo30346

I think I broke it last week when I was removing all the smog junk... and I went to remove the belt and I think I pryed it the wrong way first and I thought I heard something that did not sound right.... I stopped and looked, but did not see anything wrong and I must have pryed the correct way and the belt came off.. Funny thing is when I put the car back together I went for a test ride and all was fine and I drove it to work yesterday and was fine. But, I wanted to take a ride last night with the top off... I must have had the bolt tight enough that it did not slip until then... Good thing I was right down the street.... I think it's time to sell...... :eek: :eek:

Wheelman

how do you remove the belt tensioner :confused:

Rick92

I just bought one at the last detail in Georgia They might be able to over night it to you. Also Ecklers is in Fla. Probably not any where near you though,hope this helps.

StealDads67

your not supposed to pry the belts.... thats a no no.... :nono: But I never heard of one breaking either, hope you have some luck finding one

Oh My

just for reference..i paid about 95 dollars for a whole assembly from the dealer ship. Takes five minutes to change out. Be sure to align the little marker in the right position and thats all there is to it.

apollo30346

Good news....I got one today from the dealer...$96.00 tax and all....took 10 mins, and she was running great....

Thanks to all for the help.....

your drinking buddy

How do you take the tensioner off?

_Nomad_

I picked up a new belt tensioner at the Chevy dealership also for about $80.00. It's different from the original one is. It has a plastic pulley instead of metal. :rolleyes:

apollo30346

Yep, thats the same one I got, but had to pay $96.00......No fair you got it for $80.00.... :D :D

ittlfly

Feel around the tensioner and you'll find a 9/16 in. bolt (as I recall) tucked up that holds it on. Be sure you line the peg up on the back of the new tensioner with the reciprcating hole on the block when installing. That keeps the unit from rotating when you install the belt. You might look that belt over carefully as it may have gotten chewed up. :)