Belt Dressing/conditioning
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,972
Likes: 6
From: Chester Virginia
Belt Dressing/conditioning
On my 76 it is going to get three new belts, alternator, air conditioning and power steering, and the belts on it will be replaced. PO did not document age of things or maint. records so I don't know how old but they appear glazed and are only 15/32" wide v belts to begin with.
Question: how often do you condition your engine v belts?
Question: what do you condition them with?
Non serpentine, single accessory smallish belts in each of the three cases.
Thanks. Have searched till I'm blue and not found anything relevant. may just change them ever two years to be proactive but thought I'd ask what others do. Two of mine look older, the two longer belts, and the exteriors look glazed so need changing and while there I'll do all three with new dayco top cog belts. Will post photo in a second.
Lance
Lance
Question: how often do you condition your engine v belts?
Question: what do you condition them with?
Non serpentine, single accessory smallish belts in each of the three cases.
Thanks. Have searched till I'm blue and not found anything relevant. may just change them ever two years to be proactive but thought I'd ask what others do. Two of mine look older, the two longer belts, and the exteriors look glazed so need changing and while there I'll do all three with new dayco top cog belts. Will post photo in a second.
Lance
Lance
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
There is no need to 'condition' the belts. If they are glazed/cracked, they need to be replaced. If you replace them, make certain that they have the correct "V" design; there are many configurations of belts and the local auto part 'boyz' don't have a clue. You need to know what you want when you buy/order them.
The only 'preparation' for installing the belts is to use lacquer thinner or other volatile cleaner to wipe down the pulley grooves and the sides of the belt "V" to remove any oil/grease/cr@p from them.
The only 'preparation' for installing the belts is to use lacquer thinner or other volatile cleaner to wipe down the pulley grooves and the sides of the belt "V" to remove any oil/grease/cr@p from them.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,972
Likes: 6
From: Chester Virginia
Thanks for the info. I checked 76 engine photos and the dayco topcog belts are used pretty often and supposedly handle heat better which is high under these hoods. The various places where you put the car model and year in and it tells you which belt is correct all showed the sizes I have bought and have to put in as correct. After years of serpentine belts these just look small but they are right and each only runs one accessory and is the norm. I never have had any luck with belt conditioners anyway...if it squealed it generally needed replacing has been my experience but I've never owned a Vette before either.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
Other than selecting the proper belts, the only 'adjustment' you can make is how much tension you put on them. Too little and they squeal; too much and bearings/bushings wear out too soon. I've never had a problem with a squealing belt that wasn't worn out or connected to a defective component. 
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,972
Likes: 6
From: Chester Virginia
I think mine are worn out but on Thursday they will be all new, cleaned belts and hopefully tightened correctly. In all fairness, I've driven the car more miles and times and harder than the P.O. whose wife drove it to work occasionally on Fridays for a trio of years and with new exhaust, shocks, rear body mounts, rear strut bushings, exhaust manifold, plugs, wires, carb corrected, etc. I do use it harder and am just getting around to replacing uncertain vintage belts. The two larger ones just look worn out looking at their backs so it can only help to replace them especially before taking it for 100 minutes on a 3.27 mile road race track April 13 and driving a little. Thanks.
