BB pulley help!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,002
Likes: 0
From: Bay City MI.
BB pulley help!
Need some help on my crank pulley for the BB. The pulley that I got is a three grove style, 8 inches in diameter. After installing the engine, big surprise the pulley, which I removed to put the engine in will not clear the front crossmember! It looks like it needs to be no more than 6 to 6 1\2 inches in diameter? Since my car was orignally a small block, could the crossmember be the problem, or do I need a smaller pulley? Also my power steering pulley does not line up with the inside grove on the crank pulley. Is there a special pulley just for BB's power steering? Thanks for the help on this one, what a bummer! :confused:
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: BB pulley help! (467-Ratman)
I installed a 454 in my 75 and used a smaller crank pulley. It was only 2 groves. The power steering had one grove and the alternator and water pump shared the other. As for aligning up be creative.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 446
Likes: 62
From: Sugar Land Texas
Re: BB pulley help! (467-Ratman)
The crank pulley will be smaller in diameter and have only two grooves. The inside groove of the crank pulley has a belt that runs up to the water pump pulley only and is tensioned by an adjustable idler pulley. It's function is to ensure you have no slippage from the water pump pulley and all the accessories that the water pump pulley drives. (A/C, power steering pump and alternator) The water pump pulley will have 3 grooves, if you run A/C and is expensive if you get it new.
With the proper crank pulley, your power steering pump pulley inside groove should line up with the second groove (outside) of the crank pulley, provided you have the right dual pulley on the power steering pump. The belt will go around the crank, water pump and power steering pulleys.
The second (outside) groove of the power steering pump pulley drives your alternator. The outside groove (third groove) of the water pump pulley drives the A/C.
With the proper crank pulley, your power steering pump pulley inside groove should line up with the second groove (outside) of the crank pulley, provided you have the right dual pulley on the power steering pump. The belt will go around the crank, water pump and power steering pulleys.
The second (outside) groove of the power steering pump pulley drives your alternator. The outside groove (third groove) of the water pump pulley drives the A/C.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 4,148
Likes: 5
From: Roxbury NJ
Re: BB pulley help! (GWHITE75)
FYI, some big blocks had and idler pulley, and some didn't. I know for sure that the 68 and 69 427 used a belt between the water pump and crank with no idler, so it was a tight fit getting everything installed. Someone posted a picture of all the big block belt "options" a few weeks ago. Might be worth a search.
[Modified by Flareside, 8:30 AM 4/23/2002]
[Modified by Flareside, 8:30 AM 4/23/2002]
Racer
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 446
Likes: 62
From: Sugar Land Texas
Re: BB pulley help! (Flareside)
Flareside,
You're right. I am not sure what his intentions are, I just know that, when I upgraded from a SB to a BB, I wanted to make sure I got the most current brackets/pulleys for power steering, A/C and alternator. All the brackets and pulleys I purchased worked well, but aligning them took a little time and I was surprised by the cost a tad bit.
Have you got your 540 running yet? I'm wondering how you like the FAST injection stuff?
[Modified by GWHITE75, 9:07 AM 4/23/2002]
You're right. I am not sure what his intentions are, I just know that, when I upgraded from a SB to a BB, I wanted to make sure I got the most current brackets/pulleys for power steering, A/C and alternator. All the brackets and pulleys I purchased worked well, but aligning them took a little time and I was surprised by the cost a tad bit.
Have you got your 540 running yet? I'm wondering how you like the FAST injection stuff?
[Modified by GWHITE75, 9:07 AM 4/23/2002]
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 4,143
Likes: 0
Re: BB pulley help! (467-Ratman)
The 3-groove pulley is for cars with 'air-conditioning'.... mine has 'em ! :yesnod:
You can use the 2-groove if your not running air....
Also, my pwr. steer. pulley doesn't line up with the crank pulley (completely) - the inside groove on steer. matches the outside groove on the crank.
The 8" crank pulley sounds a bit large - but I'll need to measure mine to make sure - ;)
* Oh, one more thing - is this an A.I.R. car ? (Calif. car) ? :chevy
[Modified by verskel, 9:14 AM 4/23/2002]
You can use the 2-groove if your not running air....
Also, my pwr. steer. pulley doesn't line up with the crank pulley (completely) - the inside groove on steer. matches the outside groove on the crank.
The 8" crank pulley sounds a bit large - but I'll need to measure mine to make sure - ;)
* Oh, one more thing - is this an A.I.R. car ? (Calif. car) ? :chevy
[Modified by verskel, 9:14 AM 4/23/2002]
