AC Compressor belt

[ChrisNicholls]

On Page 49 of the AC/ Heater install, they describe how to put the belt onto the back of the crankshaft pulley.
My oil pan does not create enough room between it and the crankshaft pulley.

Can I loosen the crankshaft pulley just enough to slide the belt in there and then tighten it back up again?
Is there any danger in doing this?
When I re-tighten, what would be the torque on the bolt?
100 ft-pds? is what I have read.

Chris
Gen 3 Coupe
Gen3 Coyote

[MSumners]

I had the same experience and initially thought there was no way it was going to go. Have a gen 3 coyote as well. Try starting the belt behind the pulley on the passenger side of the pulley then floss it around once it’s in back. I couldn’t get it behind the pulley at all on the drivers side to get it started.

[edwardb]

No, don't mess with the crankshaft pulley, aka harmonic balancer. The torque on that is very specific and even with the bolt loose or removed, unlikely you'd get the balancer to move without the tool made for that purpose. It's a very tight fit (purposely). I installed A/C on my Coupe build with a Coyote, and had this belt on/off a couple times. The instructions provided by FF worked for me. I don't remember any specific details or which side to enter from. Try what MSummers recommended.

[ChrisNicholls]

Thanks guys,
It's just so narrow directly under the crankshaft pulley that it is only about half the thickness of the belt. Maybe if I heat the belt and force it. Or file the front edge of the oil pan.
I'll try again.

[edwardb]

What pan? Mine was a Moroso also on a Gen3. It wasn’t that tight.

[ChrisNicholls]

Mine was Moroso as well with about an 1/8th of an inch clearance(or less). I hammered it through with the flat end of a file and a hammer, hopefully not damaging the belt or the pulley. But it took a lot of persuasion.Not ideal.