Alternator Pulley...
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 2,473
Likes: 10
From: New Paltz, New York USA
Alternator Pulley...
Anyone know where I can buy a new alternator pulley for my 81? My original pulley is all worn and my new belt keeps slipping. I bought a chrome pulley/cooling fan from Advance, but the belt does not sit right in the chrome pulley. TIA
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,559
Likes: 7,006
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
Rookie suggestion: Since you have a new chrome pulley, why don't you buy a WIDER belt. Anew belt should be flush or nearly flush with the top of the pulley. After a couple hundred miles of driving retighten the belt.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 2,473
Likes: 10
From: New Paltz, New York USA
doorgunner,
Thanks, but I did try that and a wider belt just sits higher on the pulley and does not help. I am trying to buy a new pulley and get away from the chrome. I have the belt soooooo tight and I can still use one finger and spin the pulley/cooling fan by hand.
Thanks, but I did try that and a wider belt just sits higher on the pulley and does not help. I am trying to buy a new pulley and get away from the chrome. I have the belt soooooo tight and I can still use one finger and spin the pulley/cooling fan by hand.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I was at Carlisle and one of the vendors had pulleys setting all over the place. I know it doesn't help, since I can't remember which vendor, but they are out there.
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,559
Likes: 7,006
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
doorgunner,
Thanks, but I did try that and a wider belt just sits higher on the pulley and does not help. I am trying to buy a new pulley and get away from the chrome. I have the belt soooooo tight and I can still use one finger and spin the pulley/cooling fan by hand.
Thanks, but I did try that and a wider belt just sits higher on the pulley and does not help. I am trying to buy a new pulley and get away from the chrome. I have the belt soooooo tight and I can still use one finger and spin the pulley/cooling fan by hand.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 2,473
Likes: 10
From: New Paltz, New York USA
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,639
Likes: 3,102
From: Shamong, NJ
I've never heard of an alternator pulley being so worn, that a belt would slip on it. Normally, alternators spin very freely, and take very little tension to turn them. Are you sure the pulley is your problem?
The correct pulley for the 81 alternator is no longer available. My 82 Corvette Parts Book lists the original pulley as 1979359, for use on 80-82 alternator's.
You have two Corvette shops within a half hour of you you could try, Jim Glass Corvette in Kingston, and The Corvette Shop in Montgomery. Both of them do restoration and repair work, but also sell parts.
I have about a dozen old alternators and pulleys, and might have a correct one, but I'm travelling and won't be back till Monday.
The correct pulley for the 81 alternator is no longer available. My 82 Corvette Parts Book lists the original pulley as 1979359, for use on 80-82 alternator's.
You have two Corvette shops within a half hour of you you could try, Jim Glass Corvette in Kingston, and The Corvette Shop in Montgomery. Both of them do restoration and repair work, but also sell parts.
I have about a dozen old alternators and pulleys, and might have a correct one, but I'm travelling and won't be back till Monday.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,689
Likes: 1,364
Kind of curious. Can you post a picture of your pulley? I looked up replacement alternators and they come with pulleys....in case worse comes to worse, and you cannot find a replacement pulley, then you could buy the whole alternator?
If it was me I'd go to a boneyard and just look for a pulley amongst the old cars. (actually I have spare v-belt pulleys so I'd just swap it to see if it that was the problem).
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 2,473
Likes: 10
From: New Paltz, New York USA
Kind of curious. Can you post a picture of your pulley? I looked up replacement alternators and they come with pulleys....in case worse comes to worse, and you cannot find a replacement pulley, then you could buy the whole alternator?
If it was me I'd go to a boneyard and just look for a pulley amongst the old cars. (actually I have spare v-belt pulleys so I'd just swap it to see if it that was the problem).
