The serpentine tensioner on our cars is Gates 38131…at least for the TVS2300 cars. You can easily check yours to verify. I figured with 293,500 miles, mine might need a proactive replacement.
I ordered this tensioner only to find out the design has changed and no longer fits our cars. So the cost has gone from $50 to $230 if you order from Callaway. eBay to the rescue!
I found a few older style 38131 tensioners as new old stock on eBay and bought one for $45. It arrived Friday. I unboxed it on Saturday and 25 minutes later it was installed and ready for a test drive.
It’s a level 1 install on the difficulty level, swap the pulleys and it’s an easy off and back on.
If you plan on keeping your car a long time, this is a cheap shelf part to grab was they are still available
The dayco tensioner linked above is a correct fit then? If I’m reading that right I’ll grab one for the shelf.
-Justin
2007 Callaway Corvette convertible. 3LT, Z51, automatic, polished supercharger, engine covers signed by Reeves Callaway, Atomic Orange Metallic with tan top and interior.
Never mind my post above.. Maybe it’ll help somebody else but I don’t even have a tvs2300.. That’s what happens when you post after driving tail of the dragon I guess.
2007 Callaway Corvette convertible. 3LT, Z51, automatic, polished supercharger, engine covers signed by Reeves Callaway, Atomic Orange Metallic with tan top and interior.
Hi! Bringing this back to life I guess.. I bought the Dayco tensioner just to see if it would fit. Right out of the box it does not fit on my 2007. It looks close but the idler puller is too large in diameter and a little too wide. The pulley would hit the coolant line. So now I’m going to see where I could source an idler pulley of the correct dimensions with a center bearing hole that would go right onto the Dayco tensioner. Funny part is, I don’t even need a tensioner on mine. I’m just messing around and collecting spare parts for the future.
I’ve attached a photo of the two side by side. Don’t mind the dirty engine bay, we just got back from a 4500 mile drive down through Colorado, new Mexico, Nevada, Utah, etc. Gotta get time to clean the old Callaway back up.
-Justin
Attachments
2007 Callaway Corvette convertible. 3LT, Z51, automatic, polished supercharger, engine covers signed by Reeves Callaway, Atomic Orange Metallic with tan top and interior.
Thanks. I see that Dorman has a part number 419-205 that may fit as well. I have the spec sheet on my phone and am going to go measure mine up later today when I can get away from my job site.
-Justin
2007 Callaway Corvette convertible. 3LT, Z51, automatic, polished supercharger, engine covers signed by Reeves Callaway, Atomic Orange Metallic with tan top and interior.
. That’s what happens when you post after driving tail of the dragon I guess.
. I bought the Dayco tensioner just to see if it would fit. Right out of the box it does not fit on my 2007. It looks close but the idler puller is too large in diameter and a little too wide. The pulley would hit the coolant line. So now I’m going to see where I could source an idler pulley of the correct dimensions with a center bearing hole that would go right onto the Dayco tensioner. Funny part is, I don’t even need a tensioner on mine. I’m just messing around and collecting spare parts for the future.
