Serpentine conversion..
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 702
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From: Sealy TX
St. Jude Donor 06-'07
Serpentine conversion..
has anyone used the serpentine system from GMpartsdirect.com?
Either http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/results.cfm (p/n12497697) or http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/results.cfm (p/n12497698), the 2nd one comes with ac compressor. (both come w/ a reverse rotation wp)
I have a 76 SB, 4 spd, with Dart heads, PS, no ac currently, but will be added BACK in the car within a year.
Was it a straight bolt in? any problems?
Also, if I get the non-ac system, what else would I have to do when I put the ac in? probably a Vintage Air system.
Thanks in advance.
Either http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/results.cfm (p/n12497697) or http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/results.cfm (p/n12497698), the 2nd one comes with ac compressor. (both come w/ a reverse rotation wp)
I have a 76 SB, 4 spd, with Dart heads, PS, no ac currently, but will be added BACK in the car within a year.
Was it a straight bolt in? any problems?
Also, if I get the non-ac system, what else would I have to do when I put the ac in? probably a Vintage Air system.
Thanks in advance.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,562
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
You can't run a regular fan and fan clutch with those kits, They use the long waterpump, and you don't have room. You would need to go to electric fans. A lot of people are buying the Camaro/TA setup from early 80's L98 Camaros. You can find them on ebay fairly cheap. They use the long waterpump too, but with the savings, you can get the electric fans, and the additional pieces you need for your AC. You also need to get an idler pulley to go in place of the smog pump on the Camaro/TA setup. It took a little longer, and I had to kind of piece together a setup, but I ended up with an L98 Vette setup from a 90 Vette, uses the short waterpump. I still need to mount electric fans because the 90 Vette WP won't hold up with a fan and fan clutch. But I will end up with slightly more room in the engine compartment (an inch counts when you are standing on your head twisting wrenches). Durango Boy has some nice photos of the Camaro/TA setup on his engine. He also has the idler pulley part no.
Last edited by 71rdster; Nov 29, 2006 at 04:01 PM.
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 702
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From: Sealy TX
St. Jude Donor 06-'07
Thanks, I've thought about adding the electric fans too....this is just a never ending story it seems like, always "one more thing" to add or change. Oh well, that's why i bought it, so I could play with it, and afterall, it's only money!
So, if I really understand you correctly, they will work as long as I go "electric" on the fans?
So, if I really understand you correctly, they will work as long as I go "electric" on the fans?
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,997
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From: WAY DEEP INSIDE AMERICO,YES YOU LIVE HERE TO!! TX
Originally Posted by ccs96
So, if I really understand you correctly, they will work as long as I go "electric" on the fans?
90/92 camaro/trans am pulleys will work.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
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From: Orange Park Florida
I did a '88 vette I think '88-91 wold work fine.....has the later compressor, get a new water pump for it, return the olde one in the box NOT beforehand...hell NEW pumps are not all that expensive...
I did an air pump eliminator kit....easy to fab up if you see one first....
but not worth the 160 or so bux in time and effort....
it's all a bolt in swap....I used a smaller diameter belt and swung the alternator inboard a whole lot...simpler...used a 10SI alternator too...
upgraded to 17SI soon after....
'87 vette elelvtric fan mounted in stock shroud.....now some 11 years or so later to be converted to aluminum custom shroud....need move the fan to put in a tower cross support....
I did an air pump eliminator kit....easy to fab up if you see one first....
but not worth the 160 or so bux in time and effort....
it's all a bolt in swap....I used a smaller diameter belt and swung the alternator inboard a whole lot...simpler...used a 10SI alternator too...
upgraded to 17SI soon after....
'87 vette elelvtric fan mounted in stock shroud.....now some 11 years or so later to be converted to aluminum custom shroud....need move the fan to put in a tower cross support....
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,562
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
Originally Posted by mrvette
I did an air pump eliminator kit....easy to fab up if you see one first....but not worth the 160 or so bux in time and effort....
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
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From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by 71rdster
Durango Boy has some nice photos of the Camaro/TA setup on his engine. He also has the idler pulley part no.
Here's mine. It's from a '92 Camaro. I'm deleting the A/C and the smog. The smog delete has to be mounted inverted, after grinding a little material off the bracket and delete...they all fit great. The belt will end up 3" longer than a stock '92 A/C Camaro. It's gonna be pretty sweet when I put the engine in. The power steering pulley was not in this pic as it was being sent off to have holes machined in it by a great forum member.
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Racer
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 420
Likes: 11
From: tuttle ok
I bought a setup off a 91 caprice. Installed an aluminum radiator and electric fans. I made sure and got all of the brackets when I bought the setup. I do not run a smog pump eliminator just used a shorter serpentine belt. Ran the a/c all summer with no problems belt wise.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,352
Likes: 787
From: Redondo Beach, California
Originally Posted by Durango_boy
The Serpentine Kit PS pump has a metric high pressure hose output and a low pressure return in a somewhat inconvenient location for a Corvette C3. You can buy a metric to english adapter from a PS store for about $7.50 or have a custom made PS high pressure hose made. For the low pressure return, you can replace the PS pump "can," the reservoir with a can from an early C3 with the low pressure return in a more convenient location. Interchanging the cans is easy. Need a new O-ring kit from a Corvette parts vendor. Replacing the can means you need a pulley remover tool. Another $70/$80 dollars. I bought a Rigid pulley remover tool.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
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From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by 68/70Vette
Replacing the can means you need a pulley remover tool. Another $70/$80 dollars. I bought a Rigid pulley remover tool.
Good suggestion for a heavy duty one though...but Autozone rents them for free, and I bought one from them for $20. I use it a lot, and it never fails me. Lube everything, and it'll work every time.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,562
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From: Spring Texas
The March setup is beautiful, but you could buy three of the GM serp kits for the price. I am adding March pulleys (they have replacement idlers too), upgrading to a polished 140 amp alternator and chrome edlebrock waterpump. I am going to powder coat the factory brackets in clear, and I will have half what the March setup cost in a very sharp looking and functional setup. Most of the Camaro/TA setups sold on ebay have all accessories (PS Pump, AC Compressor and Alternator) and typically sell for around $125 + shipping. As you can see from DB's photos, it looks pretty good, and the ka-ching you save can buy the pieces to restore that missing AC. I know your not missing AC today (brrr!), but I know you want it the other 10 or 11 months of the year.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 702
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From: Sealy TX
St. Jude Donor 06-'07
71rdster, that's true as far as the ac goes! I don't know how soon I'll get to the serp conversion but it probably will be something other than a full blown March system. I also want a 5 spd Keisler trans, new seats, different steering wheel etc, etc etc! Heck, it's only money and I'm not living forever.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
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From: Columbia Missouri
There is a difference, from what I've heard, between the Camaro and truck version. The Camaro has an A/C bracket sitting a little further to the passenger side. The truck system is more compact. Both will fit from what I understand, but it all depends on what room you have.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,352
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From: Redondo Beach, California
Use the search function. I've posted several write-ups about all the little nitty things you have to do to get it installed. I'd be glad to type out all this stuff again if need be. It's basically pretty straightforward. I did end up taking the "can" (aka the reservoir) off of the Serpentine kit PS pump and replacing it with a "can" from an early C3 PS pump. You need to buy a $7.50 brass adapter to convert the PS high pressure output line from metric to match the english threads of the stock C3 high pressure line, etc. This is the biggest fit problem.
From what I've read the GM Performance Parts (GM PP) catalog Serpentine system is exactly the same as the Serpentine belt system that was installed in 91/92 Camaros and Firebirds. Since the GM PP kit includes everything, including a PS pump, alternator, water pump, and AC compressor (if you buy the AC kit), it's a pretty good deal I think.
I bought a Edelbrock aluminum reverse rotation long pump and some March pulleys to underdrive the PS pump, alternator, and water pump.
From what I've read the GM Performance Parts (GM PP) catalog Serpentine system is exactly the same as the Serpentine belt system that was installed in 91/92 Camaros and Firebirds. Since the GM PP kit includes everything, including a PS pump, alternator, water pump, and AC compressor (if you buy the AC kit), it's a pretty good deal I think.
I bought a Edelbrock aluminum reverse rotation long pump and some March pulleys to underdrive the PS pump, alternator, and water pump.