Wondering if anybody has actually replaced the belt tensioner on one of these cars and has some helpful input to keep it from being an all day job. Tensioner seems to have broken at the bolt that passes through the idler wheel. Still holding but freewheels instead of letting me release the tension on the bolt to replace it.

You should not have to release the tension on the tensioner to replace it. If you cant get the belt off to work on that, then I would say cut the belt, to release the tension,if the belt is blocking the tensioner bolt. Then on the metal part of the tensioner (not the pulley wheel) there will be a bolt that passes through and into your block, and you should just be able to crack it loose, and pull the tensioner off and install the new one. Should really take no more then maybe a couple hours, and thats really taking ur time. And replace the belt anyways since your there. Goodluck.