Serpetine Replacement on 91 350 SDL
 

Anyone know where I can find the instructions to replace the Serpetine belt on a 3.5L Diesel, car is 91 350 SDL? I bought the belt for 18 bucks at auto parts store just to realized that the car was going to kick my ass when it came to installing it. One thing is for sure, I don't own a chevy any more. Any advice is greatly appreciated as I really don't want to have to start removing tons of parts needlessly. Thanks in advance for any and all help...........

Hi Beerme

It is not that bad but you may want to begin this task with your favorite beverage in hand. Gulp it quickly and begin working as soon as it is gone otherwise you may think to long about "Going In!"

The easiest way would be to remove the Fan assembly which requires a shallow 8mm allen drive socket. Aside from this obstacle it is not that bad. The belt tensioning spring is held at the top of the cylinder head by an 8mm bolt assembly. Remove the nut from the forward side, place a 6" long 3/8 extension in the hole on the plastic lever, release tension on spring than push the bolt rearward, loosen the spring and remove the spring so it will not fall into the abyss.

From there it is just a matter of fighting with the fan.


Good luck

Take the fan off. I've done them both ways, and it's MUCH faster to pull the visco clutch -- one bolt and some way to hold the clutch (the 300D has a slot for a piece of 1/8" wire or a 4mm allen to slip into the clutch).

Beats the dickens out of wrestling the belt around the pulleys with the fan on. Take far less time, too.

Peter