Squeal like a pig!!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 782
Likes: 1
From: Magic Valley ID
Not every set-up, and certainly not the really good ones. When Alistair Miller and I installed his Gilmer system on my '64, when we pulled off the crank pulley, we first had to pull the balancer bolt as the washer rests against the crank pulley. Alistair then provided a longer balancer bolt that would compensate for the depth of the aluminum pulley (as opposed to the thin steel pulley).
Now look at this picture and note how the hole has a shoulder that goes into the balancer. Also note the size of the hole that lets the balancer bolt through, but not the washer or head. This is as it should be and how the Millerspeed Gilmer system is:
Now look at this picture. Look how big the "generic" hole in the crank pulley is. Is looks as though the balancer washer and head would pass right though it. Is that an issue???
Sometimes you do get what you pay for.
Now look at this picture and note how the hole has a shoulder that goes into the balancer. Also note the size of the hole that lets the balancer bolt through, but not the washer or head. This is as it should be and how the Millerspeed Gilmer system is:
Now look at this picture. Look how big the "generic" hole in the crank pulley is. Is looks as though the balancer washer and head would pass right though it. Is that an issue???
Sometimes you do get what you pay for.
And there's mention of the belt not being a "covered" belt......can you just put on a better belt? I realize it's not the cost of a March pulley system, but that doesn't mean that it's crap.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 478
Likes: 0
From: Ellicott City MD
I had a squealing problem with my serpentine system. After numerous different attempts at quieting the problem, I discovered the solution by accident. I cleaned BOTH the pulleys and the belt completely. Everything was aligned correctly. Squeal went away.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 8,897
Likes: 1,357
From: Santa Ana CA
From what I have been told, the crank pulley has a smaller diameter shaft that is inside of the larger pulley housing. And if you look at the photo very closely, you will see that this appears to be the case. The large diameter "hole" that you are looking at is just the top of that "shaft", which looks to be about 2" long, and if you could see the bottom of the pulley you would see the smaller crank bolt hole and shoulder that you see on the triple pulley. It looks deceiving, for sure, but you can even see that the inner "shaft" has a metallic reflection to it...like you are looking at a pipe set on edge. There would HAVE to be a way to put the crank bolt on and have it stay. Does that make sense?
And there's mention of the belt not being a "covered" belt......can you just put on a better belt? I realize it's not the cost of a March pulley system, but that doesn't mean that it's crap.
And there's mention of the belt not being a "covered" belt......can you just put on a better belt? I realize it's not the cost of a March pulley system, but that doesn't mean that it's crap.
Maybe I'm just not seeing it. When I look through the large hole on the crank pulley, I see the same color as the background surface indicating no reduction in this diameter.
Sure the crank bolt will still hold the harmonic balancer even if its washer bottoms out on the balancer rather than bottoming out on the crank pulley, and assuming that the bolt doesn't bottom out in the crank shaft, and pull a thread or leave the washer loose because of the lack of the additional space taken by the pulley you should be alright. But that's not the way GM intended it to be done.
As for the belt length, with these generic systems, you never really can tell if it will fit your application until you try it. When we installed the system on my car, Alistair brought four different belt lenghts and the second try was a charm, and that is for a system designed just for SBCs.
Good luck.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 782
Likes: 1
From: Magic Valley ID
Mine would even do it if I rev it up under hard acceleration, and it makes the car seem like a turd. I've taken my pulleys off and I'm going to take them in tomorrow to get powder coated along with a few other brackets, and then I will reinstall them to see how they behave. Squealing belts are not something I will tolerate from the "old girl".PS....sounds like a damn healthy ride you got there! Nice loping cam.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 8,897
Likes: 1,357
From: Santa Ana CA
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 782
Likes: 1
From: Magic Valley ID
I am going to be buying a Gilmer belt drive for my 76 big block project, but all of the vendors are saying that their kits are only for the passenger side mounted alternator......which is funny, because I see that you have the driver's side mounted setup. Do you know why they are saying that? From a physics standpoint, I can see no reason why this would not work, or even why they are advising not to mount it up that way.
Deja
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
Belt dressing isn't really a band aid any more so that vinyl protector is to pervent dash cracking, 
After you have the right pitch belt and the proper tension and it still squeaks I see nothing wrong with a shot of dressing used to shut it up.
After you have the right pitch belt and the proper tension and it still squeaks I see nothing wrong with a shot of dressing used to shut it up.
