Docbrock

I have not been under the hood of too many cars, but I was just doing some basic checks of hoses and fluid levels, and I was puzzled by the "notched" look of this belt.







I assume this is the alternator belt, and I also assume that those notches are supposed to be there. The belt did not feel brittle and did not appear to be slipping.


Any thoughts?

Docbrock

Oh, more information, this is a '72 C3 with a 350

76vette1

The notching is not unusual. Many belts have them. The cracking has me concerned. I would replace it.

Docbrock

What is a good price on one of those?

USAFVeteran

Replacement belts are available at any parts store in person, Rockauto.com and I'm sure they are reasonable to buy.

resdoggie

I would replace the belt with a wider width because I think yours may be a replacement belt due to age of car and should have been wider. I could be wrong.

Alan 71

Hi Db,
The original belts on your 72 weren't notched, but as has been said, many locally available replacement belts are.
(Maybe the notches give more 'grab' as the belt stretches?)
Regards,
Alan

jnb5101

I think the pictured belts are too narrow. There should not be a gap on the sides of the belt where it should contact the pulley. The belt should ride up in the sheave with an air gap under the belt. Friction is generated on the sides of the belt, not the bottom. Check with someone that has a Parts and Illustration catalog for the exact width and size of the needed belt.

Mooser

The original belt (looks like you've just got the alt there)

Replacement belts should match the width and effective length

Here's a Dayco belt spec
Dayco PN 15525
Effective Length (in) 52.50
Top Width (in) 0.44
Metric Part 11A1335
Outside Circumference 53.07

GM PN 3847704

HIH
M

Mooser

Oh, forgot
The notches on the inside of belts are usually there to reduce the compression on the belt going around a pulley, allows it to bend easier, believe it or not this reduces the heat build-up in the belt (and slightly improves the efficiency but that's not normally considered in design)

Notches on the outside of belts (ie Dayco topcog) don't relieve the compressive stress but do create more airflow around the belt to help cooling as well as making them more flexible (supposedly helping to prevent belt flip but I've never seen that as a problem anyway)

Most belts today will likely have inside notches like your
M

toylman

The Dayco is currently $1.28 at Rock. Scroll through the list. Rock Auto is a great mail order source
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...rive,belt,8900

C3 Stroker

The notches are OK, but the belt is definitely dry rotted. I'd replace it ASAP.