nightmare. cant get new belt back on. GM wont sell me the Universal Stretchy Belt tool. Tried everything. Tried a generic Lisle tool - doesn't fit on crankshaft pulley.

Now I'm stuck in my driveway.

Does anyone have any advice?

Thanks

 

used to be when you buy the gm belt...the install tool comes in the box

 

Makes sense. I picked the belt up at the dealership. The parts guy grabbed 2 boxes because he wasn't sure what belt I wanted. The serp. belt was just a belt, nothing else. The AC belt was in a box with instructions and an installation tool much like the generic Lisle tool.

So to summarize - you buy the AC belt, you get a tool to put the dam thing on. You buy the serp belt you get GPS coordinates to the nearest pile of sand.

 

Also, wait until you try to replace your alternator on the 5.3 1500. Its designed so the bolt on the left (passenger side) wont come out without removing about half the f'ing radiator. It's as close as you can get to retarded without going completely over the edge.

 

This is the correct tool for the 5.3 on a 2019 1500. Here is the GM part # ----- > Universal Stretchy Belt Installer (GM EN-51767-2 - Universal Stretchy Belt Installer)

 

I should note that a while back I got the original belt back on with no special tools - just positioned belt as above, held in place with one hand, turned crankshaft with other hand. No problem. Putting on a brand new belt?? - mission impossible for an amateur mechanic working alone with no special tools.

 

Well I sure wish I read this I’m in the exact same spot now ,they sold me the Lisle tool at Chevy and well it don’t work .I am a Heavy Duty mechanic and have never been so frustrated! What was wrong with belt tensioners or the adjustable alternators? I have a real hate on for engineers right now ,and a 70k paper weight

 

Damn. Yeah - I ended up having AAA tow it in to a shop. Mechanic put the belt on for $75 - he didn't seem like it was an issue, but it drove me insane. I wanted to watch, but he wouldn't let me.....

 

I have come on here to help people solve a issue we encountered on our 2020 1500 work truck with 5.3. As many of you have encountered stretch to fit belts can be a pain to find the right tool to work with their pulley set up. I have pictured the belt configuration for a 5.3 with a stretch to fit belt. I also have pictured a belt configuration for a 6.6 with a tensioner. Took us awhile to find the lay out but we have converted to a 6.6 tensioner part #12654271 and 6.6 idler pulley part # 12695659. Then measured for a belt and has held up great. Way cheaper to convert to a tensioner and serpentine belt then the cost of most stretch to fit belt installer and removal tools.

 

A quick way to install stretch belts is to use a zip tie over crank pulley to hold in place then rotate crank by hand.