I was hoping I could get some help since so many Lightning owners have replaced their belt driver fans with electric fans. I have a 2002 Lightning and I just bought the Flex-A-Lite 270 kit. I thought it was going to be easy to install. Well...I need some help!

I am trying to get the old fan out. I've unbolted all the belt tensioners, even removed the front belt for more room, and unbolded the water pump pulley. The belt just won't get off the pulley, so how do I get it off?

Once I get it off, what else do I need to do to get the old fan out? I thought it was just bolted to the water pump? It is right? Is there another set of bolts behind the pulley? That fan shaft sure doesn't feel like it's unbolted yet!

Since my Lightning is not running currently, I would love some help, so I can get it running again tomorrow after work (crossing my fingers).

I'm beginning to wonder if it's worth the trouble at all! I hope I'm wrong about this...

Thanks in advance!

 

well here is a little pic that should help.


what I did was take a big vice grip and use the vice grip on the shaft coming out of the water pump. You then take a big adjustable wrench and turn the fan towards the passenger side of the truck.

to get the fan shroud out there are 2 black bolts on each side of the shroud that hold it on. they are about 4 inches from the top on each side. A little trick that helps is to remove the trans line on the drivers side. that helps you get the shroud out, and also one of the 2 bolts is just under the trans line.

 

Thanks for the picture. I actually figured that out last night after performing another search here. My current issue is with the water pump pulley. I figured I might as well replace the water pump while I'm there. How can I loosen the accessory belt to get that thing out? I've already removed the tensioner wheel. Is there a slip on one of the other pulleys that loosens up the belt? Its on so tight that I could only get the pulley part way out, now it's stuck.

Thanks again!

 

LighTTning,

I have the Flex-A-Lite 270 in my L, so if you have any more questions about it let me know. You'll be extremely happy with how it performs.

 

I have a quick question about the belt tensioners for you.

 

To change the water pump this is what you should do.

First break the 4 bolts free before you loosen the inner belt.

To release the belt take a 1/2 inch breaker bar, or a 1/2 inch socket wrench drive. You don't have to tale the belt off, all you have to do is push the tensioner down and take the belt off one of the inner pulleys. it's been a while so i forgett which one works best.

Once the belt is free you can remove the water pump pulley. After you get the pulley off there are just 4 bolts(I think 10 mm) that hold the water pump on. Make sure you have a big drain pan under the engine as a lot of coolant will come out.

To install everything just reverse the above procedure.


I don't know if that answered the belt tensioner question??

 

That is exactly what i needed to know. I ended up actually removing the tensioner completely, since I couldn't get that damn thing to move. I've decided to replace entire what pump, while I'm there.

Thanks for the info!