Well, you say, what can be so hard about changing serpentine belt? They've made them so much easier to change than say, like early days of changing an IH M belt or something like that. But, I'll ask, does anyone have experience with THIS problem?

I've never seen anything like this. Not sure why I didn't notice it before. But, I have a '98 Buick LeSabre and it's possibly the best driving vehicle I've ever owned. Actually, wife drives it daily...me just occasionally. I changed oil in it last week (Fram filter) and noticed some cracks in serpentine belt. If you're unfamiliar, this is a cross-wise V6 FWD car. So, I went to Farm & Fleet & got a new belt. Came home & stared at old one a minute & thought it must be like one of those "Chinese chain/horshoe" puzzles that all grain elevators have laying on the counter. I looked & thought there must be some way to wind that belt off (or on) that I'm not seeing. I pulled tensioner loose w/1/2" breaker bar like always...but sure enough....GM decided they were going to fasten the front (= side) of the engine to the RH shock tower by running a large casting thru the belt. I just couldn't believe it. I called Farm & Fleet & asked them how much & how soon to install belt. They asked "what kind of car". I told them & they said "no thanks...we don't do that model".

It looks to me like you have to unbolt this motor mount casting from the shock tower & hope to squeeze belt thru...perhaps while supporting engine? Anyone ever done this before? Does anyone know the name/address of the engineer that designed this? Is he/she still alive? What in the world would someone do that might've broken a belt along an interstate hiway or something? You'd probably be SOL for a while just because of a stupid little belt.

You can see the castings running thru the belt. Looks like it attaches to engine in 3 places.