Totally Lost Need Technical Help
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 1
From: grand prairie texas
Totally Lost Need Technical Help
This morning I got out bright and early headed to the wrecking yard to find my doner serpentine belt set up. I found an 89 suburban a v-8 firebird and a caprice all with complete set-ups. When the wrecking yard guys started talking reverse flow water pumps and when I looked at the bracket that the R-4 a/c compressor attaches to sure looks marginal to wheather it would clear my 77 corvette hood. If I go to the serpentine set-ip do I have to go to electric fans? My next question may sound weird but if I elect to go back to a "V" belt set-up the only ones I am able to find in the wrecking yards here in the DFW Texas area have the alternator and a/c compressor reversed. If I would go to one of those reverse set-ups and have a custom a/c hose to run across the engine and run the alternator wiring over to the right side of the engine will all operate normally? Two things you must remember when trying to help me out. First I have no accesories to my car at all and second I am not a wealthy man but I have a lot of mechanical common sense. Thanks for any help.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,643
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From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
Well, you certainly don't have to go with electric fans. There are plenty of kits that use regular fans. I'd be careful with the reverse flow pumps since you still want the coolant to circulate in the same direction. Hopefully, they mean that the pump spins opposite the normal direction, but the coolant still flows in the standard direction. Aren't the A/C on the right side (passenger side) anyway?? I'd also do a ton of measuring. You can get different length belts and different mounting brackets that will allow the alternator and other units to be installed lower.
These folks kits don't require electric fans...
http://www.marchperf.com/pg64.html
Good luck -
These folks kits don't require electric fans...
http://www.marchperf.com/pg64.html
Good luck -
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,562
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
Are you running headers? Or are you running stock exhaust manifolds? Headers usually require a different set of mounting brackets anyway. There are vette wrecking yards in the DFW area, Austin and Houston where you can get the right brackets. May not be as cheap as the serpentine setup off of a regular chevy, but way better than crossing A/C hoses and your alternator wiring. Try these guys in Houston.
http://www.gulfcoastcorvette.com/index02.htm
Orville
http://www.gulfcoastcorvette.com/index02.htm
Orville
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,523
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From: grand prairie texas
Originally Posted by 71rdster
Are you running headers? Or are you running stock exhaust manifolds? Headers usually require a different set of mounting brackets anyway. There are vette wrecking yards in the DFW area, Austin and Houston where you can get the right brackets. May not be as cheap as the serpentine setup off of a regular chevy, but way better than crossing A/C hoses and your alternator wiring. Try these guys in Houston.
http://www.gulfcoastcorvette.com/index02.htm
Orville
http://www.gulfcoastcorvette.com/index02.htm
Orville
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,562
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
Originally Posted by wnmech
I am running stock manifolds. have you put a serpentine conversion on your car? What year do ytou have? I really would like to get the serpentine set-up I saw today but I got so confused when the wrecking yard people started talking reverse flow water pumps and short and long pumps. I will check out the web site you sent me.
Orville
Team Owner
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From: Exiled to Richmond, VA - Finally sold my house in Murfreesboro, TN ?? Corner of "Bumf*&k and 'You've got a purdy mouth'."
CI 6-7-8 Veteran
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St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
I think most serpentine belt systems use a revers rotation water pump. The reverse FLOW pumps were used on the LT1 and later engines - if memory serves me correct. There is a difference in reverse rotation and reverse flow. A reverse rotation pump will be just fine for you. The problem those present is that you won't be able to use your stock fan. You will need either an electric fan setup (best choice) or a fan from a reverse rotation water pump setup. Even Summit and Jegs sell fans for reverse rotation pumps, and the pumps themselves too.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
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From: Chattanooga TN
Of the choices you mentioned, the F-body setup is probably the best. There are a few people on the forum that have done that one (Megladon? and others) It will clear the hood, the pulley will clear the crossmember they say. A/C on the right, alternator on the left. Get all the pullies, brackets, alternator wiring, and the water pump for this swap. It is a cast water pump so you can use a fan on it, however you can't use your original fan because it turned in reverse from the serp setups. I think you can use an 87-95 truck fan, or get the electric fans out of the Firebird.
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: grand prairie texas
Originally Posted by BSeery
I think most serpentine belt systems use a revers rotation water pump. The reverse FLOW pumps were used on the LT1 and later engines - if memory serves me correct. There is a difference in reverse rotation and reverse flow. A reverse rotation pump will be just fine for you. The problem those present is that you won't be able to use your stock fan. You will need either an electric fan setup (best choice) or a fan from a reverse rotation water pump setup. Even Summit and Jegs sell fans for reverse rotation pumps, and the pumps themselves too.