LT-1 Tensioning Pulley Replacement?

[Man From Knobstock]

Mine is chirping, and I purchased a replacement. Before I dive in to this I gotta know-- Do I really need need to purchase the "special" GM 15mm wrench in order to remove it?

[sdstick]

Never knew there was a special GM 15mm & I've had 3 or 4 tensioners on, off & apart.
So.....assuming your not trying to rebuild the tensioner portion itself....no

[Badass94Cad]

Originally Posted by sdstick

Never knew there was a special GM 15mm & I've had 3 or 4 tensioners on, off & apart.
So.....assuming your not trying to rebuild the tensioner portion itself....no

x2

Special wrench? LOL...never heard of it.

[Man From Knobstock]

According to eHow.com (never used this source before) the procedure is:

"The tensioner on the LT1 engines is located on the front of the engine below the alternator. The tensioner is spring-loaded on one end and has a pulley on the other end. The tensioner cannot be rotated with a basic ratchet and socket. You will need a serpentine belt removal tool, which is a flat bar with a place for a socket on the end....Slide a 15 mm socket onto the serpentine belt removal bar and slide the socket onto the bolt head in the center of the belt tensioner pulley...."

How to Replace a Serpentine Belt on an LT1 | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_6346362_repl...#ixzz1U4crxRde

[Badass94Cad]

I guess I've been doing it wrong all these years!

[Man From Knobstock]

I'm sure all those engines are at risk. You should do a recall.

[sdstick]

BTW its 1/2" socket anyway (at least to rotate / release the tension on the belt)
Cant remember if it was 1/2" holding them to the block but I know it wasnt 15mm

[Goldmaster]

It's 3 10mm bolts that hold the tensioner assembly to the block, and a 13mm bolt in the center of the pulley. No special tools required. A belt tensioner tool is nice to have, but not necessary on these cars since there is so much room to access it. Although I do love my Blue Point belt tensioner tool that I got off the snap on truck years ago. It comes with an assortment of commonly used tensioner sockets. It definitely comes in handy on all the FWD cars with limited space to get a tool in there.

[sdstick]

^^ what he said^^
I forgot to metric up.
If this takes you more then 5 minutes hit yourself with a special 15mm wrench

[Synaptic]

Originally Posted by Goldmaster

It's 3 10mm bolts that hold the tensioner assembly to the block, and a 13mm bolt in the center of the pulley. No special tools required. A belt tensioner tool is nice to have, but not necessary on these cars since there is so much room to access it. Although I do love my Blue Point belt tensioner tool that I got off the snap on truck years ago. It comes with an assortment of commonly used tensioner sockets. It definitely comes in handy on all the FWD cars with limited space to get a tool in there.

Goldy,
Theres only 2 bolts holding on the tensioner. :-)