Hi all!
I intend to replace all drivebelts on my early pre HE xjs. What will I have to dismantle to get it done? Fan? Fan shroud? Radiator? Hood?
Have a good evening!/ Patrik (Sweden)

 

Removing the hood may give you more access, but it’s not necessary. The fan belt will come off with the fan in place, as will all the other belts. At least according to the manual.

 

The two most difficult are the alternator belt (the innermost one) which is best done from below. Of the others, the one that goes round the power steering pump is the most tricky, as, besides the adjuster, you also have to loosen the pump bolt and one of the bolts into the engine that holds the engine end of the adjuster. Loosening all the pivots bolts is important to get the new belts properly tensioned, so it is more a matter of taking it slowly and ensuring all the pivots points in that particular belt run are loosened off and tightened afterwards.
While you are doing this, unless you know they are recently changed, I would take the opportunity to renew the coolant crosspipe hoses, as they can only be got at with the belts off. If, the coolant system in general has not been serviced and the hoses renewed, then also do the thermostats, top and bottom hoses, and the other small ones in that part of the system.

 

Count on a long day to do it, more if the nuts are frozen on the adjusters. Access is limited to the power steering pump pivot bolt, and the alternator adjusters. World's dumbest adjuster design; fine threaded shafts with nuts and you can't get any sort of ratchet on the inner nuts to make the job go faster. Relegated to end wrenches with limited throw in some cases. If threads are rusty, hit them with your penetrant of choice several days in advance. Oh, and you need to not only loosen the pivot bolts, but also at least one end of the adjuster rods so they can pivot also. Don't count on consistency of fastener wrench sizes either.

Doing this job will make you appreciate serpentine belts on modern cars.

 

Thank you all for charing your competence with me. This forum truly is a fantastic source for me who is far less experienced. I will take on this job as soon as parts arrive.

 

Hi Joelerik

I had an Alternator Belt Snap. which knocked out the Crank Position Sensor, which not only Stopped the Engine Dead but could easily have killed or injured me in the process, if I had been overtaking something at the time

It took me two days to change the Belts, as this is the kind of a Puzzle that could make doing a Rubik Cube look like a 'Walk in the Park' as replacing those Belts is a Nightmare of epic proportions

Make sure all the Adjusters are so well oiled and lubricated, that you can turns the Nuts with your Fingers without the Aid of a Spanner or you will be Crying Longtime! and a good job you've got the Midnight Sun, because you are going to need it

Also take loads of Photos and put labels on all the Belts describing what goes where, as it is so easy to get lost, as while it looks a very deceptively easy job to do, it is really anything but that

Good Luck

Alex

 

One thing to bear in mind if you order the belts online - the Alternator belt changed to a multi ribbed one at some point (late 1980s I think) - make sure your not provided with one of those.
(It was the other way round for me - ordered a set of belts months in advance, only realised when going to fit them that I had an older single V one - D'oh!)

 

Also, if the old belts are Ok-ish, then put them in the boot, labelled, so if you ever have a belt go, you have a get-you-home spare handy.

 

Greg innocently mentions to do coolant cross over pipes while you are at it...I hope they are easier with the belts off because I did mine without taking belts off, Grant talked me through it, the thread is on here somewhere, and, what a nightmare! It finally ended up with me, my best friend, my wife, and a jar of Vaseline, but, we got the job done.

 

I'd rather drop the rear cage than do the damn belts again. (six cylinder). I could murder that AC pump.

 

Much easier! After the sort of struggle you mention, I read somewhere to grease up the ends of the crosspipe, slide the hoses on completely, get the water pump hose on, then just slide up the short hoses onto the thermostat outlets. Works a charm! Of course, you do have to remember to put the hose clips onto the housing first....