first problem fixed but can't fit new belt on!

ok, my first problem with diagnosing the screeching is fixed, kind of figured it out when the idler pulley flew off while I was driving:naughty: , anyhow, it's replaced, but now we can not get the new belt on, it's to short or something, or I am missing something? moved tensioner out of the way and it's like putting on a bike tire, do I need to pry it on with a screwdriver or what?

what year, model and engine size? What brand belt did you buy and what is the part number?

it is a 97 GTP 3.8 the belt is a gatorback , i can't find the package now so this is where I go duh, sorry. Any suggestions?

it is a 97 GTP 3.8 the belt is a gatorback , i can't find the package now so this is where I go duh, sorry. Any suggestions?

I put a new pulley and new Gatorback belt on my girlfriend's Jimmy a couple of years ago and it was a real pain. Something about those Gatorbacks seem to be a hair small. I finally got it on but it wore me out. I think the key is having a long bar or pipe over the ratchet to get a lot of torque on the idler and sliding the belt over the flat surface of the idler pulley last. Having someone to hold tension on the idler also helps.

On my 1994 3.1 I had the idler come off too. On my idler I could slip a large wrench on it and lift and it took the tension off and belt went right on. I used to use a bar but the wrench is easier and there no chance off slippage.

it is a 97 GTP 3.8 the belt is a gatorback , i can't find the package now so this is where I go duh, sorry. Any suggestions?

Are you referring to the supercharger drive belt or main serpentine drive belt?

If main accessory belt the '97 has two designs depending on alternator pulley size. 1st design and 2nd design. I have the length posted on an old post. See below.

Goodyear Gatorback Poly-V Belts '97 Grand Prix 3800:

4060930 Poly-V (OE Belt # 24505042) 93"
4060935 Poly-V (OE Belt # 24506984) 93.5"

The second design is longer.

BTW - Here's the part number breakdown of a GoodYear Poly-V belt:

Functional Part Number Gives You The Size Of The Belt

EXAMPLE:

4 06 049 5

1st digit (4) represents a K section Poly V-belt.

2nd and 3rd digit gives the number of ribs.

4th, 5th, and 6th digit are the length in inches.

7th digit is tenth of an inch.

Part number 4060495 would be a K section Poly-V belt, six ribs wide, with a length of 49 and 5/10 inches.

Hope the info helps.

Handy info to have! Especially if one had a non-original engine configuration and wanted to size up a belt to fit!

Handy info to have! Especially if one had a non-original engine configuration and wanted to size up a belt to fit!

My guess would be Earnhardt.

My guess would be Earnhardt.

lol. :lol: I don't know about that but it sure comes in handy for us L67 owners. I recently went to a 3.0" pulley on my supercharger so it came in handy.

Goodyear Gatorback SC belt (no intercooler):

- 4060660 belt = 3.25” - 3.4” pulleys 66"
- 4060650 belt = 2.9” - 3.1” pulleys 65"
- 4060642 belt = 2.7” - 2.85” pulleys 64.2"

I had the same problem last week when I replaced the supercharger belt. I must have played with that belt for 3 hours. I finally took the thing off and called my Dad to stop by on his way home. While I waited I put the belt in the sun to loosen it up. Once my Dad got there it took about 2 minutes to et the belt on. There is no way I was going to get that belt on by my self.

lol. :lol: I don't know about that but it sure comes in handy for us L67 owners. I recently went to a 3.0" pulley on my supercharger so it came in handy.

Goodyear Gatorback SC belt (no intercooler):

- 4060660 belt = 3.25” - 3.4” pulleys 66"
- 4060650 belt = 2.9” - 3.1” pulleys 65"
- 4060642 belt = 2.7” - 2.85” pulleys 64.2"

I just installed both belts on my car, and the Serpentine belt wasn't an issue. The SC belt was a different story. At the beginning, the last pulley I was trying to put was the SC pulley using one hand on the belt, and the other one with the rachet on the tensioner, but it just didn't work that way. What do you want to do, is use the idler pulley to be the last one to install (the one next to the tensioner) because it is flat (no grove) so the belt slides right into it. This will save you a lot of time trying to install the SC belt.

I have a 99 GTP all stock, and I use the first belt on the list (4060660) and fits nice and tight. Now, everything feels to work much better and smooth.

Good luck!