I need to change the belt on the truck. It looks like a pain. Is it possible to do without removing the fan shroud? any tips appreciated.

 

Yes, I just did this and you do not need to remove the shroud. Its pretty much straight forward, study the diagram and make a mental note. The new belt will be tight and I found the best way to slip it on was from underneath, load everything on top and get the a/c pulley last from underneath. I found that option for me to be the easiest.

 

Was the truck on the ground, or did you have it up some? Thanks for the advice!

 

Mines a 4x4 and I have plenty of clearance, so it wasn't raised.

 

I did mine on the ground too. The only thing I did different was I drew myself a diagram of where the old belt was routed first. The old memory just isn't what it used to be...

An assistant goes a long way toward making this process easier.....

 

thanks.

 

I thought it was easier to take the idler off and then put it over the new belt, once it was in position. I cut the old belt off and it took a few tries before I found the right path to get the new belt on cuz you can't put it over the elec/vicscous fan. Craig

 

There's google pics of the belt routing, also here on dtr.
It is quite possibly the biggest biatch of a belt I've ever put on.
Next time would probably be quicker, but if that's another 100k mi from now I will have forgot how.
I left the fan shround and idler wheel on. The routing is very counter-intuitive and I think it would still be off without a picture to look at!

 

Make sure the belt goes around the closes pully to the harmonic balancer on the correct side. Mine was reinstalled, when I had the exhaust brake put in, and was routed on the wrong side which cut into the Crankshaft Position Sensor. That was a $ 151.00 fix while on the road with the trailer.

Dave