Belt Woes
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 29,335
Likes: 51
From: Monterey, CA
Belt Woes
Last year my AC compressor was leaking, so I took it off since I don't drive the car whenever I can't handle having the tops off and windows down anyway. Since I don't particularly enjoy the sound of the alternator belt screaming at high RPM, I decided to put on the lower belt like the non-AC cars have that goes only around the crank pulley and the fan pulley.
Went to the auto parts store and looked up the correct belt. Tried to pry it over the top of the fan pulley. Broke. Took the fan pulley off, ran the second belt over it, and tried to pry it up enough to clear the bolts. Broke. Gave up and lived with the screaming belt. I'd like to try this again, but I have some questions.
#1- What belt? Maybe the store listed one a little bit smaller than the correct one.
#2- How the F can I get that belt on without breaking it since there is no adjustment like with other belts?
Went to the auto parts store and looked up the correct belt. Tried to pry it over the top of the fan pulley. Broke. Took the fan pulley off, ran the second belt over it, and tried to pry it up enough to clear the bolts. Broke. Gave up and lived with the screaming belt. I'd like to try this again, but I have some questions.
#1- What belt? Maybe the store listed one a little bit smaller than the correct one.
#2- How the F can I get that belt on without breaking it since there is no adjustment like with other belts?
Last edited by Meh; Oct 13, 2007 at 01:21 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
If it is that tight,you may have wrong belt....I've done this but had to put belt on crank pulley last ,then install crank pulley....have you tried it that way ???
I just checked...my WP to crank pulley belt has 1/4" deflection installed...502,btw...
Rich
I just checked...my WP to crank pulley belt has 1/4" deflection installed...502,btw...
Rich
Last edited by rihwoods; Oct 13, 2007 at 02:06 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,741
Likes: 1,383
get a higher quality belt...
NAPA sells them. I didn't believe them either when mine was squealing...but since everything else I had done to stop the squealing hadn't helped, I went ahead and bought one....stopped the squeals! I was surprised.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
Mark..I use Dayco belts....good product...do a search and I think Pep Boys is one of their distributors...if you get on the Dayco site,you can use their store locator by Zip code....I use to use Gates,but IMO opinion Dayco is better....
Rich
EDIT: Here you go...
Pep Boys 995 El Centro, CA
(760) 353-8565
902 North Imperial Ave
El Centro, CA 92243-
Pep Boys 771 Calexico
(760) 357-4966
400 Imperial Ave.
Calexico, CA 92231-
Advance Auto Parts 7873 CALEXICO 02
(760) 357-6894
235 E 2Nd St
Calexico, CA 92231-2753
Pete's Auto Parts
(760) 344-2236
171 Main St
Brawley, CA 92227
Note: Robert and I will be back down to El Centro next Friday Oct 19... more of the same...
Rich
EDIT: Here you go...
Pep Boys 995 El Centro, CA
(760) 353-8565
902 North Imperial Ave
El Centro, CA 92243-
Pep Boys 771 Calexico
(760) 357-4966
400 Imperial Ave.
Calexico, CA 92231-
Advance Auto Parts 7873 CALEXICO 02
(760) 357-6894
235 E 2Nd St
Calexico, CA 92231-2753
Pete's Auto Parts
(760) 344-2236
171 Main St
Brawley, CA 92227
Note: Robert and I will be back down to El Centro next Friday Oct 19... more of the same...
Last edited by rihwoods; Oct 13, 2007 at 03:05 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
Forgot....re belt squeal issue...most often belt squeal at low rpm,idle is caused by mis-alignment,and diminishes as rpms increase...at hwy speed or higher rpms, speed shifting,etc..it is mostly belt tension or wear....you can flip belt around (end to end) and sometimes correct squeal on a worn belt if tension is ok....
Another trick to temporaily quiet belt is using a bar of soap on contact surface...plus,you can wash your hands when done...
Rich
Another trick to temporaily quiet belt is using a bar of soap on contact surface...plus,you can wash your hands when done...
Rich
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 29,335
Likes: 51
From: Monterey, CA
The problem here is that, with no AC belt, the water pump/fan pulley only has one belt on it for about 1/8 of its circumference. Add that to my habit of shifting at 6000RPM or so, and you almost feel sorry for the poor belt.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
Last year I shifted the 78 at 5000 RPM (2nd-3rd) and heard a loud squeal and took out my water pump.(belt whip)..Alt belt tension was off....3/4" versus required 1/2"......
Last edited by rihwoods; Oct 13, 2007 at 04:02 PM.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 29,335
Likes: 51
From: Monterey, CA
I was looking at a picture you posted a while back showing the drive belt routing for AC and non-AC cars. It looks like the crank pulley is a little bigger in the AC cars, which would explain why that belt is so tight. I guess I need to try and get one just a little bigger. Do you know how to decode the numbers of belts? I know they refer to the different measurements, but don't remember the breakdown, and can't find it.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Here is a pic of a common problem, the belt too narrow.
This the same car as yours a/c car one belt on pump and alternator.
Will try to find another pic of the right belt on a different car, but same configuration with no squeal.
This the same car as yours a/c car one belt on pump and alternator.
Will try to find another pic of the right belt on a different car, but same configuration with no squeal.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Found 2 pics.
Again this is another car with a/c and only 1 belt, no squealing, but it was a quality belt.
Most belts are available in 1/2" increments. Don't pay attention to the highlites. Don't remember what they were for.
BTW isn't El Centro hot as hell and also below sea level. How did you end up there?
Again this is another car with a/c and only 1 belt, no squealing, but it was a quality belt.
Most belts are available in 1/2" increments. Don't pay attention to the highlites. Don't remember what they were for.
BTW isn't El Centro hot as hell and also below sea level. How did you end up there?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 29,335
Likes: 51
From: Monterey, CA
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
Mark..here is my 502 non/AC belt set up....
If you need closer look(more pics),post or PM...I have to get off line for awhile..my e-mail account is acting up..*** said something about service upgrades last week..don't know if it's them or another issue...
Rich
If you need closer look(more pics),post or PM...I have to get off line for awhile..my e-mail account is acting up..*** said something about service upgrades last week..don't know if it's them or another issue...
Rich
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
This is the way to get the best fitting belt on both pulleys.Put the belt on the water pump pulley and then put the bolts in the crank pulley.Its a PITA to do but works out the best.
Some guys do just the opposite the crank pulley first and then angle the water pump pulley up and on the water pump shaft.This method is easier but the belt wont be as tight and after some run time the belt will be looser than the first method.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,024
Likes: 1
From: AL
i'm also in the camp who loosens the crank pulley.
however, i'm having trouble keeping the alt pulley from slipping when the alt is under heavy(er) load, like when headlights and radiator fans on. don't know if it's the aluminum v-pulleys or if any v-pulley can't handle the extra load???
however, i'm having trouble keeping the alt pulley from slipping when the alt is under heavy(er) load, like when headlights and radiator fans on. don't know if it's the aluminum v-pulleys or if any v-pulley can't handle the extra load???
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,342
Likes: 7
From: Connecticut
Install a pair of new belts and you'll be fine.
Plus you will still have a water pump in case one belt breaks
