When I bought this car a month ago (96 SSEi) I changed the belts. I stared at this thing for about 1/2 hour, before I realized it sure appears that the belt is routed THROUGH the engine mount. I remember dealing with this on my mom'* Buick Riv about 6 years ago. Is there an easy way to get the belt off? I ended up removing the lower most engine mount bolt by the crank sensor, and wiggled the belt out, cursing GM engineers the entire time. Tell me there is a better way...

Nope, that sounds bout right, from what I hear of the Series II. I'm glad my Series I doesn't require that.

LOL! It'* true...that set-up is a PITA...for a flippin' belt change no less. It may be that all the people cursing GM for that design has taken it'* toll...given the current state of GM.

It'* not too hard to do, just cumbersome. So, buy a good belt so your change frequency isn't as often. I like Gatorback belts. They seem to last a very long time.

X3 !

Exactly my reasoning!

I couldn't believe it. I was thinking there had to be something I was missing. I had thought of every possible way. I thought about taking the big engine mount bolt out, realizing that still wouldn't do it. I also realized that if you use a thick belt, you won't get it past the engine mount and the idler pulley on the supercharger belt.

I really had to step back, and make sure I wasn't working on a Ford. I didn't think GM was capable of such a stupid design.

If you want to have a chuckle, read this embarrassing thread from me almost a year ago:

Belt Replacement