89 Silverado 350, Thermostat change, belt tensioner bracket.

[PlayingWithTBI]

That's just a strut,two nuts and it's off. What's the big deal?

Yeah, it takes 5 minutes at the most. The tensioner spring is 15mm or 16mm I can't remember which. Simply use a breaker bar and slip the belt off. Then use the other socket to unscrew the tensioner and strut/brace (or whatever you call it).

 

[movietvet]

That's just a strut,two nuts and it's off. What's the big deal?

Yea, now that I see a pic, that should just be two nuts to remove and then lift the strut piece out of the way. The worst that can happen is when you try and remove the top nut at the thermostat housing, the whole stud turns instead of just the top nut. Then you have to snake in under the end of the strut with a wrench to hold the nut below or the nut that is actually a part of the stud. Crows feet tools come in handy then.

 

[FullBlowncustoms]

That's just a strut,two nuts and it's off. What's the big deal?

Not a big deal, Was just wondering for anyone who had same setup as mine, If they got away with just removing the one nut to lift that rod up high enough to get the stat out. But the angle of the rod is not going to do it looks like. Goofy set up for just two nuts LOL, My 95 is not like that, the 95 rod is on right side of manifold. Soooo Gotta do it the correct way, remove the entire tensioner idler wheel assembly, upper and lower mounting rods. The top rod does NOT come off by just removing the nut. The entire unit has to be removed.

 

[Scooterwrench]

Not a big deal, Was just wondering for anyone who had same setup as mine, If they got away with just removing the one nut to lift that rod up high enough to get the stat out. But the angle of the rod is not going to do it looks like. Goofy set up for just two nuts LOL, My 95 is not like that, the 95 rod is on right side of manifold. Soooo Gotta do it the correct way, remove the entire tensioner idler wheel assembly, upper and lower mounting rods. The top rod does NOT come off by just removing the nut. The entire unit has to be removed.

Well that sucks! That strut is welded to the tensioner arm bracket? Must have been designed by that engineer that finished 99 out of the hundred in his class. I don't know when GM started with the aluminum brackets like on my truck. Must have been after they fired that guy,

 

[FullBlowncustoms]

Found this video, My setup is the same way... Pain for just a stat change compared to my 95 truck..

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[Scooterwrench]

Keep your eyes peeled for the later style aluminum brackets,they make servicing components much easier.

 

[FullBlowncustoms]

Keep your eyes peeled for the later style aluminum brackets,they make servicing components much easier.

Yeah, it sure stays in alignment, But holy crap!! just to change the stat out GRRRRR LOL.. I never seen one that way before? And the video I think is a V6.. Big pain in Butt, But sure keeps it inline.

 

[FullBlowncustoms]

Yea, now that I see a pic, that should just be two nuts to remove and then lift the strut piece out of the way. The worst that can happen is when you try and remove the top nut at the thermostat housing, the whole stud turns instead of just the top nut. Then you have to snake in under the end of the strut with a wrench to hold the nut below or the nut that is actually a part of the stud. Crows feet tools come in handy then.

The strut brace is welded at top. Looks factory work... Very clean! Not a 5 minute job..

 

[PlayingWithTBI]

The strut brace is welded at top. Looks factory work... Very clean! Not a 5 minute job..

That's surprising - my 88 isn't welded. It just unbolts,slides up off the T-Stat stud, and then you can pull the ground wires, and pop the T-Stat off.