Ugly but effective serpentine set up.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,322
Likes: 1
From: Living in the Hartland
Ugly but effective serpentine set up.
Not the traditional belt routing but has worked so far, the tensioner does not push down like normal, it pulls the belt
Better look at the routing
No AC
In the process of moving the alt to the passenger sided and get rid of the tensioner and its bracket to clean it up but wanted to share before I tore it apart.
BTW Don't believe the bunk about needing your hoses below the rad, the upper hose is above the rad but the air mixes with the water that is blasting out the stat housing and settles into the rad then purges, after a few heat up and cool down cycles the hose is very firm to the touch indicatinig that there is no air in it.
Better look at the routing
No AC
In the process of moving the alt to the passenger sided and get rid of the tensioner and its bracket to clean it up but wanted to share before I tore it apart.
BTW Don't believe the bunk about needing your hoses below the rad, the upper hose is above the rad but the air mixes with the water that is blasting out the stat housing and settles into the rad then purges, after a few heat up and cool down cycles the hose is very firm to the touch indicatinig that there is no air in it.
Last edited by Fevre; May 13, 2006 at 12:02 PM.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,322
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From: Living in the Hartland
Off a late 80's Camaro, I bought an Edelbrock serp rev rotation water pump and the belt routing does allow it to rotate in the proper direction, in the 2nd to last photo you can see the belt go around the wp pulley, it wraps back to the left around the crank pulley then out to the p/s pump pulley and over to the tensioner.
I think I can get the alt high enough on the passenger side to keep the belt going around the w/p, crank and p/s pulleys then over the top of the w/p to the alt then back to the w/p pulley.
I am changing back to my 6/12 clocked alt but need to get the pulley off the serp alt, both are being stubern right now.
I think I can get the alt high enough on the passenger side to keep the belt going around the w/p, crank and p/s pulleys then over the top of the w/p to the alt then back to the w/p pulley.
I am changing back to my 6/12 clocked alt but need to get the pulley off the serp alt, both are being stubern right now.
Last edited by Fevre; May 13, 2006 at 03:38 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,063
Likes: 1
From: Beverly Massachusetts
if you want it to look good also just take all the brackets off and have them powder coated before you go and put it all back together. other than that i think it looks a 100% better than the original setup already 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 2
From: Arkansas
How are the clearances for the PS pully? Does it hit the frame?
I was wondering if thats a short water pump? I know the gm brackets were designed for the long water pump......didn't know if that affects the postion of the water pump pully.
Lastly....did you reuse your stock alternator and change ut the pully?
Looks good
I was wondering if thats a short water pump? I know the gm brackets were designed for the long water pump......didn't know if that affects the postion of the water pump pully.
Lastly....did you reuse your stock alternator and change ut the pully?
Looks good
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,322
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From: Living in the Hartland
I have not found (well have not looked real hard) a suitable passenger side alt bracket, was using a stud in the head with a bridge to a stud in the water pump but it vibrating so I switched back to the set up pictured except I cut and spliced the upper hose to go around the alt. Looks better but now I cannot get it to purge the air in the hose like it did with the pictured set up. I am using the alt from the F-body and long rev rotation Edelbrock pump, no clearence issue with the crossember and crank pulley. I did switch to the stock vette (Summit 100 amp) alt by change the pulley when I had it on the passenger side.
Once I find a suitable passenger side alt bracket I will switch it again and post pictures
Once I find a suitable passenger side alt bracket I will switch it again and post pictures
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
After watching Trucks TV, and their V8 S-10 buildup, I never would have thought of using the serp setup off a 4.3 V6, but I'm betting that would also be a pretty inexpensive way to go.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
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From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
The 4.3 V6 is just an SBC with two cylinders lopped off. What's really odd is that it doesn't get an equivalent boost in gas mileage - most I've seen aren't much better than the V8.
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Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,322
Likes: 1
From: Living in the Hartland
Originally Posted by I'm Batman
The 4.3 V6 is just an SBC with two cylinders lopped off. What's really odd is that it doesn't get an equivalent boost in gas mileage - most I've seen aren't much better than the V8.
Got that right, my Sonoma does not get any better mileage than a full size PU with a V8.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,071
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From: San Diego CA
Originally Posted by Fevre
Got that right, my Sonoma does not get any better mileage than a full size PU with a V8.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,991
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From: Piscataway NJ
I have been using the 4.3 setup with A/C since 2002 on my 73 383. One belt systems have proven themselves to me. One wrench is all you need.And you don't have to remove half the motor to change a belt. Jack
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,028
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From: North NJ
Not trying to jinx anyone, but make sure you pack an extra belt in the rear compartment with a wrench & a beer just in case .
I have bad luck with belts slipping off or snapping on the parkway
I have bad luck with belts slipping off or snapping on the parkway
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,635
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From: Union Ontario
Chris, I'd watch out for your water pump slipping, doens't look like the belt may have enough contact with it. It will probably only happen during high engine speeds.
Last edited by MikeC; Jul 13, 2006 at 05:32 PM.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Living in the Hartland
Originally Posted by 68 NJConv 454
Not trying to jinx anyone, but make sure you pack an extra belt in the rear compartment with a wrench & a beer just in case .
I have bad luck with belts slipping off or snapping on the parkway
I have bad luck with belts slipping off or snapping on the parkway
Chris, I'd watch out for your water pump slipping, doens't look like the belt may have enough contact with it. It will probably only happen during high engine speeds.
The belt is getting almost 180 deg of contact, if you look you can see it wraps around the wp and then getts 180 deg contant on the crank pulley then off to the ps pump
Last edited by Fevre; Jul 13, 2006 at 05:42 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,426
Likes: 1
From: VetteMOD
St. Jude Donor '05-'07
Originally Posted by Fevre
I have not found (well have not looked real hard) a suitable passenger side alt bracket, was using a stud in the head with a bridge to a stud in the water pump but it vibrating so I switched back to the set up pictured except I cut and spliced the upper hose to go around the alt. Looks better but now I cannot get it to purge the air in the hose like it did with the pictured set up. I am using the alt from the F-body and long rev rotation Edelbrock pump, no clearence issue with the crossember and crank pulley. I did switch to the stock vette (Summit 100 amp) alt by change the pulley when I had it on the passenger side.
Once I find a suitable passenger side alt bracket I will switch it again and post pictures
Once I find a suitable passenger side alt bracket I will switch it again and post pictures
Make sure and use the steel reinforcement brackets on the back of the compressor and the one that connects the alt to the PS. Aluminum does not like to be flexed at high frequencies.
Last edited by BBShark; Jul 13, 2006 at 05:49 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,426
Likes: 1
From: VetteMOD
St. Jude Donor '05-'07
I would think twice about eliminating the tensioner. V belts are more forgiving for wear but Serp belts will just slip (especially on the water pump). The tensioner is the main reason that accessories on modern cars last so long.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 708
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From: somewhere south of normal
Chris, your setup certainly is not ugly, and looks better than my stock setup. When I get around to installing the 383 I will be asking you for input, and possibly a little help...!!!
phillip
phillip