I am going to change the alternator on my '85 Econoline 302. I have done these before. It has to be done from underneath. I can never find a good way to pry the alternator over to keep the belt tight, while I tighten the bolt. Just doesn't seem like there is anything to pry against. Anyone have any tips or secrets?

 

Sometimes you can get a adjustable wrench on the square ear of the alt. housing where the tension lock bolt is, or, if you have a large pair of channel locks (?) you can open them wide and put one jaw of the pliers on the square area, and the other jaw on the 'very end' of the slotted adjusting arm. Give the pliers a squeeze for a belt tension hold. Works pretty good for many models/makes and sometimes you can get at it at different angles when space is limited and/or don't have specialty tools..

Sometimes a (careful) bar against the engine block and then the alt. case at the 'marriage line' between the two alt. halves where your less likely to damage the unit.

 

Thanks, I'll try the wrench idea. With a pry bar on this model, the only thing you can pry against is the water pump and that's not a good idea.