6.2L Drive Belt Replacement Procedure

[pdubya]

I'm having an awful time getting all 3 drive belts changed....I was finally able to get the 2 shorter ones changed, but the longer one that goes up and around the air pump is giving me a hard time.....I can't seem to get the air pump to move at all to get enough slack to fit the belt around, any suggestions?

[Dvldog8793]

Howdy
What vehicle and other accessories?

[pdubya]

It's an '84 Beauville Van....no custom accessories.....it has A/C and power everything etc.....The only belt that I'm actually successfully able to change is the alternator belt, but to do that I have to use a slightly longer than spec belt, it tightens up fine though.......but the other two are a large pain, I'm sure everyone familiar with them knows.....I wasn't able to get the power steering pump to go back to it's original position to tighten up the replacement belt, I got it to tighten just enough so it wouldn't slip badly, and I made a temporary belt out of parachord for the air pump, just so I could drive it to the back of my driveway, and maybe take it to a nearby shop if I can't manage to get it worked out.......How essential is that air pump belt anyway? I mean the van can function with only one belt operating but that's not a good idea I'm sure.......Sorry if I sound a bit novice, it's cuz I am.

[Dvldog8793]

Howdy
I have a 1984 Diesel chevy van so you are in luck!
The belt that you are calling the air pump is a vac pump belt. Diesels do generate any vacuum so they need to have a pump to run whatever is vacuum controlled in the vehicle. I would expect that the V pump belt is also routed around another accessory that is used as a tensioner...? I know with my van and many other v-belt rigs if the belts are not installed and tensioned in the right order things do not work. Also with my van replacing the belts is a REAL pain. Use the best belts money can buy... I use Goodyear gatorbacks. Hard to find but you don't end up replacing them every 10-15K miles.
These are some tips that applied to my van, should be similar to yours.

Alt belt- Current replacement belts are wider than stock. this is good but also makes the stock length to short. Also the alternator has a habit of slipping and WILL require frequent checking.

PS belt- This one is a bear there are three bolts that have slider holes and one that is just a mounting bolt. one of the sliders is only accessible from the bottom. This where you need to be anyways. loosen all the bolts and there is a bolt boss welded on to the bottom of the PS pump bracket. you should be able to get a wrench on it and pull the pump tight.

AC- belt- REAL pain.... requires removing the dog house and two people. rear bolt that hold the unit in place need a long extsion from the inside. then you need to make sure that the ac pump is straight and not binding one person holds tension and another tightens up.

Make sure that the PS belt is tight as this also runs your brake booster. Also if you have any PS leaks or front seal leaks it will soak your belts with oil and shorten the life.

Good Luck and have FUN
Hope this helps!

[pdubya]

awesome, thanks so much....I would have never tried getting at the AC belt from the rear.....I'll get beck in there. I've heard about the gator belts, but never payed that much attention to trying to find them....I guess I should cuz this van definitely chews up belts at a surprising rate. thanks again!

[Dvldog8793]

The AC belt is changed and adjusted from the front but there is one bolt on the rear of the AC pump that has to be loosened from the rear.