Originally Posted by charger212

Seems to me you could lower the arm that goes from the alternator to the adjustment rod and that would give you a bunch more adjustment. If it won't lower more than you can notch it or perhaps take a little meat of the alternator case right behind the ear. I have the exact set up with the same valve covers and I haven't put it together yet. Let me know how it works out.

Thanks and good luck,

Rob

Originally Posted by noonie

Those tall valve covers are a problem. Use only if absolutely necessary.

You can end up with a longer bar and longer belt, but then the next problem will be the belt riding on the power steering pump.

Don't know what breather you will use, but the covers also require shortening the pcv inlet tube on the passenger side.

Originally Posted by Theiskell

I don’t have your alternator, but the rest of your set up is like mine including the tall valve covers. I was scanning the Speedway catalog yesterday and noticed they sell threaded aluminum rods for the heim joint ends. What I am trying to get at is they are a lot less expensive than buying a different size from March. I had to buy a longer one for my setup and it was 50.00 from March. You should be able to get what you need from speedway for about 7.00. One other tip would be getting a longer bar by an inch or so than you think you need. Your already going to be getting a custom length belt, the longer rod will make fitting it easier.
The gates belt part number I ended up with was 7541. It looks like yours will be the same or at least close. Just an FYI......I also noticed you have a lot of polished aluminum on your motor. I polished my bracket, PM me if you would like a couple of tips on that.

Originally Posted by kortensi

Thanks
I ordered their catalog today and checked out their site, very nice.
If I measured correctly, I will need a 56" belt. I used a tape measure around the 3 pulleys and it is just shy of 56". I was always told to measure the outside and not the inside. Does anyone know if that is correct on these.
It also, depending upon the length of the belt, looks like I will be getting a 7" rod from speedway. to take up the slack.

I haven't done any research on belts before. Is the Gates belt better than the Goodyear gatorbacks that I can pick up at Autozone?

thanks
KO

Originally Posted by Theiskell

The 54 in the part number 7541 indicates the length of the belt. If you think you need the 56” belt try the part number above or a 55” belt. What I found was when I was trying to get my belts tight, I would run out of adjustment. When I was measuring I got a longer belt length also. These belts will stretch a small amount after you run them for a while. So you want to be on the lower end of your adjustment at first.
As far as gates verses good year to me it’s a toss up both are good. The parts store should be able to cross reference the gates number over to good year.

Originally Posted by kortensi

The way that this mounting kit came uses that top piece as an extension. You can see in the picture below that the 'ear' on it touches the casing and that is where it tightens up. I thought about using some kind of spacer there to get some more room but I am trying to keep the Bubba in me from doing that kind of stuff.



Unless I mounted it wrong. It looks like there may be something behind the bracket extension in this pic. I'll have to check it out and see.

Originally Posted by tshort

That extension (clocking) bracket isn't fitting right with your alternator. It should fit snug against the body. I have the same bracket as you on my BB and it all works fine with tall valve covers. I don't see why you couldn't loosen the bracket, move it to fit against alternator body, and tighten well at that point. Another word of advice, I have broken a total of 3 of those supplied bolts with the bracket. This was on my smallblock. I've since replaced all the allen bolts with the black hardened bolts you can buy at Lowes and have had no problems since then. I would recommend this for sure!
I don't have any available close up pics of my bracket but here's what I do have. Note, I have removed that little extension piece on the engine side of the adjuster bar and moved the extension piece to the backside of the alternator.

Originally Posted by kortensi

I still had the original belt and it was a Goodyear # 15550 V-Belt, 7/ 16 in. Width, 54.50 in. Length. This one would barely reach to the center of the pulley on the alternator. I stopped at a local Autozone and picked up their generic belt in a 56" to test it. The O'Reilly's Auto by my house has the 55.50" Gates belt in stock that I am also going to pick up and test fit. If they have a 55" I'll pick one of those up too just for fun. I'm hoping that one of them will work.
I'll let you all know tomorrow.