Hello, Subject says it all. Space between crank pulley and water pump pulley (Buick 455) are so close together (just close enough that the belt won't slide in between) that the belt won't fit. I suppose I could squeeze it or something, but that just doesn't seem right. What am I missing or doing wrong? Has anyone else encountered such an issue? Thanks! Chris B
Thank you very much for the education gentlemen. Wow, I feel shocked and embarrassed! I have been driving around for years with the belts set up completely wrong. (Backwards actually) Any idea what the proper belt codes are for a non a/c car? Alternator longer than p/s pump right?
From what I can see, you have a 455 in your 69GS. Not knowing the history of the 455 that has been transplanted in, makes it difficult to know exactly. It is VERY COMMON to have pulley mismatches in a case like this. here is an article about stock pulleys, http://www.buickperformanceclub.com/455pulleybrkts.htm I suggest you wrap some cord around the existing pulleys, and then measure them. This is the rockauto lookup for a 69GS400, https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/buick,1969,gs+400,6.6l+400cid+v8,1379752,belt+drive,belt,8900 The length of the belt is in the part number. For instance, the AC Delco 15490. That belt is 49" long. The Dayco 15495 is 49.5" long.
Thank you Larry. I appreciate your help! Yes indeed, it's a wonderful 455/th400/gearvendor in a 69GS400 and I love it! Maybe I should get a new set of matched pulleys for this thing, because after looking at it closer, I cannot set it up the way the diagram shows. Been driving it like this since 2003.
Depending on which year 455 you have and the water pump you are using, that will determine the part number of the pulleys you need. Duane
Thank you Duane The front timing cover and all that was from t/a when I had it rebuilt 20 years ago and Im not sure what year block/ heads i have so I'll have to look that up.
The block and heads have no impact with the pulleys. The 68-70 big blocks used the one type water pump and had pulleys that matched. Then for 71-72 they changed everything. So generally if you want everything to line up you need to have either the one style or the other. Also, if you have power steering then the type of power steering pump/brackets you are using will most likely determine which style of water pump and pulleys you need to use. I did an article years ago listing the pulley part numbers for the different year cars. Maybe someone can post it here. Duane
Duane, This is what I found with a quick search. https://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/70-455-non-a-c-crank-pulley.51542/#post-386488 https://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/water-pump-pulley.22932/#post-164090 Where was your article posted?
Yardley has all the buildsheets. He is going to put them on a flashdrive for me. I'll get them at the Notheast Spring Meet on the 26th.
Larry, Yeah I did a lot of articles for “The Buildsheet” back in the day. Ricky was always looking for filler pieces or articles, so for a while there I was putting something in each issue. Often George Nenadovich would ask for copies for his website, and I even did one for Lassiter for the GSXtra. That one was about the differences between early and late 70 parts. I did a few for the BCA as well. To be honest, and not to pat myself on the back or anything, but someone should gather them all together and make them a sticky on this site. They had a lot of good info. So there, you have my permission to do this. Duane
Larry, Once you find them let me know what the titles of the articles are. I will look to see if I have any others. Duane
