1965 L79 idler pulley

[Joe L.]

Re: 1965 L79 idler pulley

Would be glad to know of a replacement bearing is around. I believe it's the same bearing for idlers up to '74. '72 is my application. Joe will confirm or dispute. At 140 for the assembly I'm not sure if 70 for the bearing alone is worth the labor involved. Just FYI, my assembly is a repro to start with so nothing significant to save.

Tom-----


While there were several different part numbers over the period, the bearing was essentially the same and interchangeable for all Corvette idler pulley assemblies, small block and big block, over the 1962-1974 period.

There really is not very much labor involved in replacing a bearing in any of the 1962-74 idler pulley assemblies.

[Daniel D.]

Re: 1965 L79 idler pulley

Tom, see the first link in my post. I ordered it from a Corvair site for $38.

[Bob W.]

Re: 1965 L79 idler pulley

Daniel, Please update as to how it works out for you.

Thanks Bob

[Daniel D.]

Re: 1965 L79 idler pulley

Bob,
The new bearing has shipped, but I haven't received it yet. I'll post some pictures when I press it off/on. It might be a week or so.
Dan

[Tom L.]

Re: 1965 L79 idler pulley

Dan, thanks for the link. Just ordered one. For those who have done it I'm guessing a hydraulic press is required. Not something that could be done in a large vise, right?

[Joe L.]

Re: 1965 L79 idler pulley

Bob,
The new bearing has shipped, but I haven't received it yet. I'll post some pictures when I press it off/on. It might be a week or so.
Dan

Dan------

The original bearing for the idler pulley was GM #907176. This was discontinued in July, 1970 and replaced by GM #908050. Both bearings were manufactured by NDH, a division of GM at the time. Below are photos of an NOS GM #908050 [not for sale]:

DSCN2849.jpgDSCN2850.jpgDSCN2851.jpg

The 908050 was discontinued in May, 1972 and replaced by GM #908076. I believe this bearing was initially of NDH manufacture but was later outsourced. Below are photos of a later NOS example of an NSK-manufactured 908076 [not for sale]. It was discontinued without supersession several years ago.

DSCN2844.jpgDSCN2845.jpgDSCN2846.jpg

[Daniel D.]

Re: 1965 L79 idler pulley

Thanks for the info Joe.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1965 L79 idler pulley

Thanks for the info Joe.

Daniel------


Also, note the rather crude appearing shaft ends and steel seal retainers on the NDH manufactured assembly. These are characteristic of all NDH manufactured bearings of this design that I have seen. As I mentioned previously, these bearings are most often seen on waterpumps of the period that still retain their original bearings (or, rebuilt pumps using NOS original NDH bearings).

[Bob W.]

Re: 1965 L79 idler pulley

Joe, The last photo you posted of the NSk bearing what is the number that is stamped on it?


Thanks BOB

[Joe L.]

Re: 1965 L79 idler pulley

Joe, The last photo you posted of the NSk bearing what is the number that is stamped on it?


Thanks BOB

Bob-----


I believe it's "198".

[Bob W.]

Re: 1965 L79 idler pulley

Joe, Thanks for the reply.

Bob

[Mike B.]

Re: 1965 L79 idler pulley

I didn't know the L79 required the idler pulley. Just the L76 & L84 in the small blocks.

John,

More and more '65 L-79 owners are reporting factory installed idler pulleys. I bought my '65 L-79 from the original owner way back. It was all original and the idler pulley was a mystery to me too until I began reading about other owners reporting them on their cars.

Mike

[John F.]

Re: 1965 L79 idler pulley

I did not see it in the 65 AIM, unless I am missing some pages.

[Richard G.]

Re: 1965 L79 idler pulley

I just received my bearing assembly from the Corvair Parts Seller.
A note was enclosed mentioning the shaft could no longer be supplied with a .001 oversized shaft.
Joe, maybe you could measure an original with a micrometer and report the shaft size I will do the same with the my reproduction.
It also included a small packet of Loctite. Assuming it's the cure for the undersized shaft.
I will wait for the shaft size numbers but I don't like the idea of a pulley coming of next to my $1000 radiator.

The reproduction has no numbers on the bearing and only one stamping on the end of the shaft.
Below are some pictures.
IMG_1626.jpg

IMG_1625.jpg

IMG_1624.jpg

IMG_1623.jpg

[Tom L.]

Re: 1965 L79 idler pulley

Got mine yesterday too. Seems they don't want the part number shared. Looks like it was ground off, same with the repro bearing in the one I bought from Paragon.