Belt tension on a 2001 Chevy 5.3

[ScottyBoy]

About a year or so ago, I replaced my alternator pulley with a smaller one to gain a little more amperage at idle (since I had converted my truck to E-fans).
This ended up putting some more slack in the serpentine belt. So much slack that on cold mornings I would sometimes hear the belt squealing until the engine warmed up a bit. I would also hear my belt squeal or chirp a bit on very fast acceleration, mainly when the transmission shifted gears at high RPMs. Fast forward to now....
I just changed my belts and all belt tensioners and the idler puller. I decided to go with the shorter belt that would come on a truck with a 105a alternator. It's 3/4 inch shorter. The shorter belt fits, but the belt tensioner is stretched over basically almost as far as it will stretch. Is this a bad thing? Or will I be ok running it like this?
My neighbor claims I will destroy my belt tensioner. I honestly have no idea if this will hurt anything. I figured it would be better with the belt tighter?

 

[daddy]

Belt tension on a 01 Chevy 5.3

Not certain but as long as it's only "almost" you should be okay. Its job is to push the other way and it sounds like it'll be doing plenty of that. Plus, it'll stretch a tiny bit anyway. I'd just make a few short trips with the old belt in the back and check it from there.

 

[Black02Silverado]

It should be fine. Like Tobias said, it will stretch some anyway, the belt that is not the tensioner.


Just curious but is there another sized belt that is in between that one and the original belt?

 

[ScottyBoy]

I'm not sure if there is another sized belt. The one originally on my truck (according to Rockauto and several other parts sites) is a 93 and 3/4inch long belt. There was a 93" belt listed for trucks that originally came with a 105a alternator, which is what I bought.
Perhaps I need a 93 and 1/4 or 93 and 3/8"

 

[txab]

92 7/8" and 93 5/8" were the 2 sizes listed for your vehicle. I'm not where I can look up alternate sizes right now, but will try tomorrow

 

[OldCracker29]

Like more or less already mentioned...I think you'll be fine, but I would keep the old belt handy just in case.

 

[ScottyBoy]

I put almost 100 miles on it and no problems whatsoever. And no squealing or chirping either.

 

[Black02Silverado]

I put almost 100 miles on it and no problems whatsoever. And no squealing or chirping either.

Good to hear.

Not to put a damper on it but the only downfall I can see to the belt being to tight is that it will wear out your idler pulley faster. Kind of like in the old days when you put V belts on to tight it would wear on your water pump and alternator bearings faster.

But that tensioner shouldn't be putting that much extra tension on it since it is spring loaded.

 

[ScottyBoy]

Thanks Nick. I'm guessing I should be fine. I've driven over 500 miles now and I just checked the belt again. It seems to have stretched a bit but not much. The belt is tight but not abnormally tight.

 

[daddy]

Best solution here is to go do a massive burnout and film it.