68 GS Belt Tensioning

Hello everyone, been lurking awhile but this is my first post. I have a 68 GS with a Riviera GS 430 in it. I just finished replacing the water pump and I'm at the final steps of tightening the fan. Well I can't get the belts tight on it. I can't get the AC compressor to move without removing bracket it's attached to. That's what I had to do to get it off. That plus it requires 100 pends pressure. What am I missing here, I've loosened every bolt on the bracket. Thanks for the help and advice.

 

For the A/C compressor, theres the two bolts up top, and theres two down below where the compressor actually pivots.

 

Thanks guys.

 

1970 electra with the 455, i cant get the alternator to loosen enough to get the belt off. just the adjustment bolt on the track on top, and the pivot bolt on the bottom? what am i missing. thanks

 

thanks larry... even tho the pivot bolt backs out, the pivoting is retricted by just the friction on the alternator to the housing? and for sure there is just the bolt on top which if for the rail... and pivot bolt at the bottom. both accessed from the front, i couldnt see any sign of a third bolt at the back.

 

Maybe "Cap'n Obvious", but make sure you have the correct length belt(s) to begin with.

 

Loosen the adjustment bracket bolt that attaches to the A/C bracket so the slotted adjustment bracket is allowed to pivot/move around a bit

 

i spent a little more time on it today and just took the adjustment bolt out, and really loosened the pivot bolt. can barely slacken the alt belt. the alt just wont roll. tapped it with a rubber mallet with wood block, its loose, but it wont move. finally i looked in the back and some parts of the alt protruding out the back are hitting against the valve cover gasket as the alt tries to roll inward. the alt was rebuilt when i was a kid (parents car) so i dont know if they rebuilt the original or its a swap. so maybe i should just remove the pivot bolt and move the the entire alt in so i can swap the belt. BUT, what if i still cant clear the a/c compressor bracket which rotates maybe 5-7 degrees on its own, but i cant loosen the hold down bot that secures it to the block through the water pump. im afraid i might break that bolt cuz its definitely a bit rusty down that way. any suggestions?

 

Take a picture of the back. It may be incorrectly "clocked".

The housings can be clocked incorrectly for the bracket. (where the "ears" the bolts go through in relation to the housing and how much movement is available.)

A picture may help figure out what needs to be done to correct the problem.

 

does "clocked" mean housing wasnt postioned correctly when it was opened and rebuilt... meaning it still works fine (has for years obviously) but the guts can be rolled around to be better positioned? is the housing just basically open at the back with those parts sticking out? and yes...i'll snap a photo for you. thanks

 

Yes

 

Are there any numbers on the belt? Even clocked wrong you should still have room, but it’s possible that an ‘it’ll work, just force it a little’ sized belt is there now (maybe from the old days of service stations with v-belts hung all along the wall).
Patrick

 

heres the back of the alternator... albeit a bit dirty... i havent taken the time to clean the oil off from the leaking valve cover gaskets. the metal tube sticking out the back limits the alternator rotating on the pivot bolt to loosen because it hits the engine block or something down there. the other pic shows the covered connector coming out the back at the 12 o'clock position. suggestions anyone?

 

Heres a couple pics of mine, 350 w/air.