Serpentine benefits?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 10,362
Likes: 5
From: San Diego - Deep Within The State of CONFUSION!
Originally Posted by texaswilkins
What is the benefit of replacing your fan belts with the serpentine setup? Is it worth the $1000?
Bill
Bill
Seriously, though a serp belt does indeed drive a pulley BETTER just because of the size and type (ribbed) of belt. A pulley just will not have a slipping belt unless it's on a frozen device.For me, it would only be a valid upgrade on a C3 if I was putting in a motor that was aftermarket and not able to take OEM bracetry.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,322
Likes: 1
From: Living in the Hartland
I pieced together one for my Steeriods conversion since I did not have power steering and needed a pump. I spent about $125 for serp set up from an 89 camaro, bought a $20 replacement PS pump just to safe and added a Edlebrock alum rev rotation pump for $150. I am not running a/c so I did not have to deal with an a/c comp.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Well, I can change a serpentine belt in about 1/4 of the time it takes to change all of the individual accessory belts on a normal Chevy small-block. Plus, it self-tensions. $1000 is insane, hit the local pick-n-pull. Hmm...I may have just talked myself into doing this... 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
I have a serp setup from a C4 on mine. Main differences are 84-85 has an alternator that plugs right in with no adapting. 86-91 have the small case alternator. 84-87 I believe have an R4 A/C compressor, 88-91 use a Sanden style compressor. You can buy an air pump eliminator kit from Breathless Performance or Dragons Breath Restorations.
I would have thought there would be clearance issues with an F-body setup, but several on the Forum are running it so it must be OK. The C4 has a shorter water pump than an F-body or truck.
I would have thought there would be clearance issues with an F-body setup, but several on the Forum are running it so it must be OK. The C4 has a shorter water pump than an F-body or truck.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 4
From: Fairview Heights Illinois, near Saint Louis MO, STL C3 Shark
Im not a fan of it. If "1" belt breaks, your out of luck. If only 1 of my V belts breaks, I' at least have another one to run my waterpump and at least 1 of my other accessories. Im just old school though. Serps do look pretty cool though. I wouldn't pay $1000 though.
benefits: probably just asthetics and ease of adjustments - self adjusting with the tension pulley - or whatever it's called.
benefits: probably just asthetics and ease of adjustments - self adjusting with the tension pulley - or whatever it's called.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,143
Likes: 0
From: San Diego California
Originally Posted by ruby76
Im not a fan of it. If "1" belt breaks, your out of luck. If only 1 of my V belts breaks, I' at least have another one to run my waterpump and at least 1 of my other accessories. Im just old school though. Serps do look pretty cool though. I wouldn't pay $1000 though.
benefits: probably just asthetics and ease of adjustments - self adjusting with the tension pulley - or whatever it's called.
benefits: probably just asthetics and ease of adjustments - self adjusting with the tension pulley - or whatever it's called.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 899
Likes: 1
From: Kansas
I changed the vbelts on my 73 ,got tired of the belts flying off every time I`d get on it and when one belt went the other would follow,and if your worried about losing your one serp belt take a spare,and easy to install,Go to the pick-a-part and look for a 88-92 f-body(camero or firebird)or caprice and get the brackets,pulleys ps pump then get a new water pump...and the a/c if you want if not go to GM and get the A/c delete pulley
Pro
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 517
Likes: 0
Serpintine belts are a LOT easier and quicker to change. Carry a spare and a wrench for the idler arm, and you can change a broken one in a matter of seconds.
Disadvantages: Cost to set it up, and can put too much tension on the bearings of the powered devices in a poorly designed system (don't think that's a problem here). Also, if you get a seized up device in the system, you're in trouble.
Disadvantages: Cost to set it up, and can put too much tension on the bearings of the powered devices in a poorly designed system (don't think that's a problem here). Also, if you get a seized up device in the system, you're in trouble.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,375
Likes: 788
From: Redondo Beach, California
The previous posts show the positive cosmetic reasons for the Serpentine belts. They certainly look nicer. My understanding is that the Serpentine belts have less of a horsepowr drag on the engine as compared with the older belt systems. I've seen quotes of 3 to 5 horsepower gain with the Serpentine belt system. Don't really know if this is true, but it seems reasonable.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
Originally Posted by ruby76
Im not a fan of it. If "1" belt breaks, your out of luck. If only 1 of my V belts breaks, I' at least have another one to run my waterpump and at least 1 of my other accessories. Im just old school though. Serps do look pretty cool though. I wouldn't pay $1000 though.
benefits: probably just asthetics and ease of adjustments - self adjusting with the tension pulley - or whatever it's called.
benefits: probably just asthetics and ease of adjustments - self adjusting with the tension pulley - or whatever it's called.
especially if you lose an A/C compressor clutch..and it is locked up...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,010
Likes: 3
From: Moon Twp. PA USA
Originally Posted by 68/70Vette
The previous posts show the positive cosmetic reasons for the Serpentine belts. They certainly look nicer. My understanding is that the Serpentine belts have less of a horsepowr drag on the engine as compared with the older belt systems. I've seen quotes of 3 to 5 horsepower gain with the Serpentine belt system. Don't really know if this is true, but it seems reasonable.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
Originally Posted by texaswilkins
What is the benefit of replacing your fan belts with the serpentine setup? Is it worth the $1000?
Bill
Bill