I just finished project tensioner tonight, and Mark, you're right, took too long, and I certainly didn't know what I was getting myself into. The only thing I ordered was a new tensioner. I used the old plate and the old adjusting rod and nut and shock. So far so good. By the way, the links you posted were very helpful, and likely would be for anyone attempting this job. I'm not very experienced as a mechanic, and this was probably the hardest bit of car fixin' I've ever endured. At least three different trips to the hardware store involved, confusion on my part, and a good dose of uncertanty along the way made this kinda tough on me.

Just to clear up an embarrasing bit of confusion on my part, the 11mm bolt that I was yammering about that connects to the shock is indeed 11mm, and not 13mm. The 13mm bolt, I later realized, is the Accessory Belt Idler Nut, which connects to metal shaft that's threaded at the top, and protrudes through a hole at the top of the Acc. Belt plate. When researching this job, I kept hearing about the 19mm and the 13mm bolts, but there's an 11mm one, too, and it connects only to the Acc. Belt Tension Damper. Doh.

I never did remove the Y bracket that goes on the outside of the tensioner assembly. I simply didn't have a tool to get that one bolt out that was located behind the engines main pulley, the nut with the oil passage. Ratchets were too big, and I tried an open ended wrench, but couldn't get a good angle, and ended up putting a nick in the bolt. I was able to remove and install the part through the passage created by removing the power steering pump. I will keep an eye on that area, though. The car already has a bit of a seal leak, which I understand isn't considered too bad if it can make it to the next oil change without losing more than a quart or so.

Anyway, I got everything in there, and still had a bit of a time getting the belt on and tight. The 13mm adjuster nut, I thought, would tighten the belt if the nut was raised to where the bottom was pressing up on the bottom of the Acc. Belt plate, but that loosened it on my car. I had to lower the adjuster nut to get it to tighten up, and did a little pry bar/push & pull by hand action to get it to tighten up satisfactorially. I got it where I needed it, though, and clamped down on the 19mm locking bolt. It seemed tight enough, so I put the fan and shroud (which is damn lucky to still be in one piece) back into place, started it up, and no squeal! I still don't know if I fully understand how the device works, but it seems to be doing fine so far.
Took it for a spin and not a squeal at all.

If I develop any problems, I'll update the post. It just seemed like such an over my head experience that I'm almost in disbelief that I finally did it.

Anyway, thanks again, and I'm now going to invent a special kind of glove that is lightweight, but tough, and only protects the knuckles, which will allow for full sensation in the fingers, where you need it, but not on the knuckles, where sensation just ends up sucking sometimes. I'll call 'em, knoves.