Belt Squeal - 79 vette
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Belt Squeal - 79 vette
Hello everyone 
I just got a 79 corvette - I've known the car for a few years and just gotten my hands on it. In all honesty I'm not that knowledgeable regarding cars but I want to be now that I have a car that wows me - so if I use some terms that are wrong please forgive
The previous owner just put in a new transmission and had the belt that cycles the alternator replaced. Before these changes the belt would squeal really loud at around 3500 rpm. The problem is that even with the new belt there's still a bit of squealing coming from the belt.
I know that it can be tightened a bit by moving the alternator but I also know that if I put too much tension on the alternator I'll ruin it. So I was wondering if I should just keep on putting more tension on the belt until it stops any/all squealing, or might this be a symptom of the pulleys and cranks being old ( they are all original 79 parts ).
Thanks!
I just got a 79 corvette - I've known the car for a few years and just gotten my hands on it. In all honesty I'm not that knowledgeable regarding cars but I want to be now that I have a car that wows me - so if I use some terms that are wrong please forgive
The previous owner just put in a new transmission and had the belt that cycles the alternator replaced. Before these changes the belt would squeal really loud at around 3500 rpm. The problem is that even with the new belt there's still a bit of squealing coming from the belt.
I know that it can be tightened a bit by moving the alternator but I also know that if I put too much tension on the alternator I'll ruin it. So I was wondering if I should just keep on putting more tension on the belt until it stops any/all squealing, or might this be a symptom of the pulleys and cranks being old ( they are all original 79 parts ).
Thanks!
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,517
Likes: 19
Remove the belt, and clean all the pulley grooves with brakeclean and a small wire brush.
If needed, lightly sand the grooves with 220 grit emery paper to clean them up, and give the groove "tooth".
Clean again with brakeclean, and install a new belt.
If needed, lightly sand the grooves with 220 grit emery paper to clean them up, and give the groove "tooth".
Clean again with brakeclean, and install a new belt.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,417
Likes: 336
From: Texas
you would be surpised how much a belt can wear a pulley groove over the years. i recently replaced my (org.) alt. and comparing the two side by side, you could see how the pulley had worn, and allowed the belt to ride down in the bottom of the pulley.
