Well I just put a new drive belt on my z and now everything I guess is to tight. After putting the belt on.... the car wouldn't start. When I manually moved everything with a socket I was able to start the car. I got up to the end of my street and it died...again wouldn't turn over. I used the socket again and moved everything...this time I kept going. Everything was tight and real hard to turn then then nice an easy for a while....then it got real tight again. I took the belt off and the car started right up and I got it back in my driveway.

What do think has happened to cause this binding that stalls my motor and prevents my starter from cranking the engine????

 

I am guessing something could have seized. I removed the A/C in my 6cyl a long time ago without removing the pump and the pump seized up causing the car to die.

 

You forget there' s just a rough spot once you get past it everything turns smooth for a little bit. With the belt off I spun everything. Everything turns nice except the alternator.... it's a little rough. Doesn't spin nice and smooth like everything else. I started the car and watched the wheel off the engine spin and it looked fine. I have a spare alternator form an 89 350 chevy. It looks the same should I just swap it out? Do the bearing just go in an alternator? It puts out good current just doesn't spin well. Can't believe this alternator with it's rough spin is stalling my motor???

 

I've seen bearings go on alternators. I remember years ago my uncles was smoking and when we took it off, the pulley wobbled big time hence the noise and smell.

 

The rear bearing on mine seized once and was spinning inside the housing. I wish I had the cable to hook my phone up to the computer with me. I'd post a pic to give you an idea. Start it up and look at the rear of the alternator. You should only see the shaft and inner part of the bearing spin. If the whole thing does then you got issues. The front bearing is not noticeable without taking the pulley and stuff off so even if the rear bearing is fine, you could still have an issue with the front one. Might be why the belt had issues in the first place. Unless it was really dried and cracked.

The engine should start though..... Unless maybe the alternator was in a position that it was shorting stuff out when it wouldn't start.

 

Problem fixed. Took about 30 min this morning. Swapped out the alternator for a spare I had from my old 89 chevy pickup. Love how all these components are the same from different years and models. I love chevys!!!
Car starts right up now and runs fine. No binding or noise whatsoever. That alternator's bearings are probably what caused the old belt to break to begin with. Thanks to everyone who posted. Mike