Well , I got the Buick mostly put back together . New thermostat / gasket in place .
Checked engine air filter , OK , did not end up replacing it . Serpentine belt , no cracking , did not replace it .
Purchased a new PCV Valve , have not replaced the old one yet .
Had a heck of a time re-installing the serpentine belt . I think all of my other cars that had the serpentine belt had a drawing / sticker some where under the hood . No where to be found on the Buick . :-(
Worked with it , came inside and looked on the internet . Repeated numerous times . :-(
Rout the belt one way , it was too long . Route it another way and it was too short . Made worse due to it being several days since I took it off .
The idler pulley is attached to the spring arm with a reverse / left hand thread bolt with a 15mm hex head . I had a short / standard length 3/8" drive 15mm socket . However my 3/8" ratchet was too short to supply sufficient leverage . I rounded up my long handle 1/2" drive ratchet , but could not locate a short / standard length 15mm 1/2" drive socket .
Time out for a trip to Harbor Freight . Finally got the belt routed correctly , with enough leverage on the idler pulley , got the belt on ! Praise the Lord !
Do not have coolant in the system . Hope my new heater hoses arrive early this week . Then will fill the system with new coolant . I read the 3.8l is not too difficult to bleed the air out . The coolant was purchased locally at Walmart .
