Serpentine Belt Conversion Again
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 1
From: grand prairie texas
Serpentine Belt Conversion Again
I hate to beat a dead horse again about serpentine belts but when I bought my 77 it had no engine or accesories and I finally have a completely rebuilt long block in my car and in the next few days I want to go to the wrecking yards for accesories and brackets and where I live there are more doner cars [Impala's and Caprices] with all the accesories having the a/c compressor and alternator on the proper side as my corvette would have it on. What I want to know will my hood close with this conversion or should I look for an older doner car with all the belts.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Mechanicsville MD
I installed the GM serpentine belt kit into my '78 (in front of my Ramjet 350). No problems. The kit, GM pt #12497699 comes with everything you need including the reverse rotation water pump, a/c comp, p/s pump, alt, bolts, etc. the only adjustment I had to do (thanks to another member here in the forum) was to invert the idler (air pump replacement) and grind a touch off of it so the bolts would line up. If you don't, the bracket hits the pass side upper A-arm. Personally, I went this route instead of the salvage yard route. Everything is new, comes with everything you need and Scoggin-Dickey gave me the best deal.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
Likes: 7
From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
What is the benefit of a serpentine belt over the conventional V-belt system? Serpentine has to cost more over the purchase of the brackets. If one has access to a machine shop, making the needed brackets should be a walk in the park.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 1
From: grand prairie texas
Originally Posted by GDaina
What is the benefit of a serpentine belt over the conventional V-belt system? Serpentine has to cost more over the purchase of the brackets. If one has access to a machine shop, making the needed brackets should be a walk in the park.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 540
Likes: 4
St. Jude Donor '09, '24
Originally Posted by GDaina
What is the benefit of a serpentine belt over the conventional V-belt system? Serpentine has to cost more over the purchase of the brackets. If one has access to a machine shop, making the needed brackets should be a walk in the park.
Serpentine belt uses less horsepower to turn the external drive pieces. Always the right amount of tension on the belt to be the most efficent. 4 belt setup 1 can be tight and 3 loose. Serpentine belts are very strong and last very long time. Hard to wear one out usually water pump, tensionier or idler pulley will freeze up first. Less maintance and very easy to change usually, houstonvett
Last edited by houstonvett; Jul 20, 2005 at 07:04 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Florida
serpentine belt
I have done several changeovers. First you must use reverse rotation water pump. Second look at the front of the heads, pre 86 sbc heads have 3 holes on one side 2 on the other. The heads on 87 up have 3 holes on both sides. The right side bracket will need 3 botls to bolt it on. You can bolt it up with 2 bolts but, if you have a heavy foot it will break. I like this setup a lot its cleaner, in the long run cheaper. I just did it on my 84 TA. It has a 427 sbc w/vortec heads, I was not able to get rid of a slipping V belt in the stock setup. I have never run into a problem fitting under a hood. I do it the easy way. I buy the complete setup as a package ready to install. I dont use their water pump I buy my own.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
From: Corrales, NM
Hi All,
I am in the process of installing a serpentine set up from a L98 (90 Vette) on my 80. So far everything has bolted up with clearance. Used the A//C compressor, water pump, alternator (had to use smog pump to have the alternator bracket work) and power steering pump w/ separate reservoir. A Vortech SC goes on next when the bracket arrives. I haven't tried the hood but visually it looks like it should clear.
Good Luck!
Ken
I am in the process of installing a serpentine set up from a L98 (90 Vette) on my 80. So far everything has bolted up with clearance. Used the A//C compressor, water pump, alternator (had to use smog pump to have the alternator bracket work) and power steering pump w/ separate reservoir. A Vortech SC goes on next when the bracket arrives. I haven't tried the hood but visually it looks like it should clear.
Good Luck!
Ken
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 1
From: grand prairie texas
Originally Posted by Mr.L
I have done several changeovers. First you must use reverse rotation water pump. Second look at the front of the heads, pre 86 sbc heads have 3 holes on one side 2 on the other. The heads on 87 up have 3 holes on both sides. The right side bracket will need 3 botls to bolt it on. You can bolt it up with 2 bolts but, if you have a heavy foot it will break. I like this setup a lot its cleaner, in the long run cheaper. I just did it on my 84 TA. It has a 427 sbc w/vortec heads, I was not able to get rid of a slipping V belt in the stock setup. I have never run into a problem fitting under a hood. I do it the easy way. I buy the complete setup as a package ready to install. I dont use their water pump I buy my own.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Florida
When I did the swap on my sons 400sbc I removed the head brought it to local engine building machine shop with the bracket and they drilled and tapped it for me. They only charged me $25.00 well worth it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 847
Likes: 0
From: Des Allemands LA
Originally Posted by wnmech
I just went out to look at my heads and from what you just told me I am screwed. My right side head [passengers side] has only one hole in the front and three holes in the rear. My left side head [drivers side] in the front has three holes and the rear of the head has only one hole so even if I swapped heads I would have the same single bolt up pattern. I got the pair of heads from the machine shop fresh. I dont believe the heads are mis-matched because the one head has a bigger opening for the temp switch and the other head has a smaller plug installed. Since from what you just told me I need to go to the "V" belt set up for sure. Will this single right side bolt hole effect the factory "V" belt set-up also ? I may have to go back to the machine shop and have him get me another set of heads. My original heads both had cracks. Thanks for all the help
Heads are not mis-matched. That is the way they are casted. I have a the serpentine frame and idler pulley I'll make you a good deal on if your interested. I'll take some pics and see if it's something you can use. The main place it bolts to is the four bottom holes on each side of the balancer. These are the holes used in older style cars where that type of engine mount would bolt to and go to the frame. E-mail me or PM if your interested.
shinklin@***.net
Steve
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 1
From: grand prairie texas
Originally Posted by Budman78
Big pics sorry.
All old corvette parts.
All old corvette parts.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 9,078
Likes: 7
From: DFW TX
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
The water pump runs in rev's, so I not sure they have a blade version that goes backwards. These motor ran the standard hose for the heater. The hoses you are looking out are the fuel lines for my old tpi system. The other hose was a nitrous line. These pics were taken after I blow up the 700R4 tranny and started the breakdown for the new LS1. Check out My Corvette Photos for more pics and fan options.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 1
From: grand prairie texas
Originally Posted by Mr.L
I bought my blade (rev) from summit racing. Electric fans did not do the job for me. When I used the A/C temp went up to 210. 
