I had some dialogue on this subject under the t400 s/p thread. One of the members hooked me up to other threads on the serpintine belt system for big blocks. I was a wondering how much interest there is for a fairly inexpensive system which answer most of your quandries on this issue? Here what one looks like and it works great. I would not address the specific drawings or specs. for adapters needed but I could answer some general questions. If there is enough interest I might be able to assemble a parts package that brings it all together, at a reasonable price of course. You buy the junkyard parts which are readily available to you at $150.00 approx including A/C and P/S pumps. The less of the luxury stuff you need the easier it gets. Weekender :Smarty:
What do you think the total cost would be on a non-AC car using an electric fan with just an alt and ps. Interested. Kevin :TU:
How about the price for an a/c car with electric fan and water pump. Would need for a/c, alternator and power steering.
I would be interested in a system for a AC, PS and Alt. I would like to use mechanical waterpump. I read in a couple of posts where ours might work turning in either direction based on the pump layout. Does anyone know if this is true?
Can someone explain to me what the advantage of a serpentine system will be for our old cars. I know newer cars have them to save 1-2"! Wow, what a great idea?????
I posed the question about a serpentine belt system to march performace a few days ago and here is the response. "I was wondering if you plan on offering a serpentine belt system for a 1970 Buick GS with the 455. > >Thanks, Jeff > ---------NOT ANYTIME SOON SORRY -------------------"
Would be interested. Looks like someone has done some creative scrounging. Also like the cool air system. Very low profile (I have clearance problems too) and looks much better than flextubes.
No way hosea These pumps and passages are designed for one operation. Look at your configeration when you have the w/pump off and you will see the falsehood of this observation. Weekender
Saving inches? gstage1 Not exactly why I did it. However, that was a result that revealed itself when this engine was stuffed into a 78 regal. I purchased an engine with nothing on it w/p, a/c, alternator, etc. so, the only reasonable thing to do was update for appearance and performance. V-belts are a pain at performance RPMS and the more you have the more HP it costs, it might be minor loss but it is HP; why waste it? Weekender
Water pump tensioner LOLO That is a very good observation!!! o No: This posed a problem that was resolved through trial and error. In a nutshell, the water pump drive pulley is static (does not adjust). So I simply purchased a V-belt smaller that would fit the spacing comfortably. Then I place the belt on the drive pulley first, then with the w/p pulley loose I fit the belt onto the w/p pulley and tighten the w/p pulley nuts (I use stud which keeps the hole alignment but allows the pulley to pull toward the driveside) and tigthens the belt. Once the belt heats up from the engine temp it is comfortable and never slips. Weekender
70 gsconvrt I haven't a price. After I set this thread I began to think of your needs as a GS owner, which is a different body style than mine. My owners want to remain stock in appearance. My setup would not allow that. If you would like to change to a newer configeration, I might be able to help but it would take sometime to figure it out. I had to add several brackets to the 4.3 chevy setup to relocate the p/s pump. If your body style doesn't need that, it gets easy by the minute. Next issue W/P pulley. I think I can remodel the system to eliminate the counter drive system I have on mine to make the pump go in the appropriate direction. Here again, time is a factor (I will need some) to engineer the system and get pricing). The way I would entertain this project would be for a vehicle like your that wants it all. Once you have the maximum complexities figured out you can always go backward. Weekender
Weekender, I am VERY intrested in putting together a serpentine system for my 69. can I ask what engine donated the bracketry, crank pulley, and water pump pulley? And how much modification was required to the brackets??? Thanks
Hi Skyman, Just got off the phone to one of my favorite auto recycling centers. I asked him about the price of a complete frontend to a 4.3 chevy including A/C - P/S pumps - Alternator - and drive pulleys (which I don't use because the o.d. is to big for high horsepower applications) and they gave me a price of $75.00 for the whole system. Thats a start, these parts are altered some what by hacksaw and drills to fit my adapter package. Now this may sound like it is readily available to the Buick consumer, however, my problem is getting the drawing from my head onto paper so I can show you how I did it. This was an evolutionary process which I made very few legible drawing which normal homosapians can read. The brackets and adapters require machining and there are 5 brackets and a pulley spacer that I will endeavor to manufacture and make available. I will be visiting the recyclers to find make and model vehicle for the right drive pulley and a NEW Style w/p pulley that will eliminate the counter drive v-belt system I currently use. Once I find these parts the program will become much simpler for me to transfer to paper because I will MAKE NOTES. If they remove this thread, fret not for I will start another one when my work on this project is complete. Remember the the system includes it all A/c - p/s - alternator- idler pulleys, etc. I am working on it and will spend time developing a package that will be available to you (at a fair price of course) so you can bolt it on your horse and ride with out ever loosing a belt again. It looks sweet too. Weekender
Thanks weekender. I have been scouting myself too, for the last couple months. So far I have a Ford 302 Crank Pulley from an LTD (needed new holes drilled, but was the same diameter), and I have a 100amp Alt from a 3.8L 88 Regal (FWD), and Sanden Compressor (from Hot Rod Air). If you get a package together before my car is ready, it would save me a lot of headache, let us know. Chris Oh, George. I think I read somewhere that the 3.8L (RWD) V-6 alternator bracket is the same as the 350/455 for V-belt cars. This would lead me to believe that the bolt patern would be the same on the front of the heads?!? Could be worth following up on.
302 crank pulley, etc Skyman We should pool our resources here to speed this along. Heres what I need to as the last piece of the puzzle to make this assemply almost a bolt on. 1. A water pump pulley that has the groove for the drive side of the belt. (NOT THE BACK SIDE). Once I have this information: Year, Make and Engine type for this pulley, my setup will eliminate the counter drive system from the P/S pump with a v-belt. Then everything else (A/c Pump, P/S pump, Alternator) will come with the 4.3 Chevy setup. My local recycler said $75.00 for all pulleys, pumps and brackets. The reason I use this system is everything is modular (assembled together for both sides of the frontend), this means only 2 adapter plates are needed to attach to the cylinder heads. The real problems comes locating the belt looping so all surfaces of the belts driveside are adequate to avoid slippage, and then, there is the pulley spacer that aligns the drive pulley so the belt is in exact alignment I have a friend who operates a CAD system who will build the spec sheets for all the bracketry and spacer. WARNING! You can't just throw this stuff and on and expect a good result. The stablizer brackets are as important attaching brackets. Weekender :Comp:
