Pettyofficerramsey

Hi everyone I am installing a gilmer belt system on my 1979 Corvette the problems I'm running into are after taking off all of the pulley's and installing the gilmer belt drive is as follows.

1. The alternator shaft came up just a hair short , I was able to get the nut on the shaft with the new pulley but without the lock washer, tried placing the lock washer on with the nut and there was not enough threads with the lock washer installed. So I am looking for a solution to that.

2. After removing the two pulleys from the harmonic balancer and placing the new gilmer drive pulley in their place the V belt on the back of the the gilmer pully failed to line up with the power steering pump. I am in need of a spacer to bring the pulley out further away from the hamonic balancer which brings me to my question for someone that has installed one on theirs. How much of a spacer do I need to get the two too line up?

Thank you in advance.

jackson

Other than suggesting loctite red or green on alt threads, I have no help to offer here .. but ...
... why have you chosen to run Gilbert drive?

Pettyofficerramsey

Chose the gilmer system because of continuous belt slippage when engaging the four barrel.
I've changed out all my belts twice and treated them with belt dressing with still no luck.
And I seen someone on youtube with the same set up on their 73, and not only did it cure the belt slippage problem, it also lightened up the car a little since they are all aluminum and it makes a nice little whine like a supercharger at the same time, so win win win.
Also the new system can extend the life of your water pump and alternator due to less tension on the belt system, the Gilmer system stays on like a supercharger belt by groves not by tension.

Goody

I would not use red Loctite on a thread you might have to remove at some point. Use the blue stuff.
If I remember correctly, the thread on the alternator shaft is opposite of the direction of the spinning so it should not come loose.

cv67

Did you call Gilmer? You can always mill it down some Id imagine

lionelhutz

The stock alternator pulley is assembled onto the shaft with a spacer behind it first (spacer, pulley, lock washer, nut). Maybe the new pulley doesn't use that spacer?

Pettyofficerramsey

I did contact them and they where not sure what others have done to remedy the problem.
I am thinking along the same lines, that if I mill the back half of the pulley down I will have have the clearance I need.
Or as suggested above using some blue lock tight to keep it from working it's way loose should do the trick.
I think I'm going to take it in steps, locktight first, then milling if the locktight doesn't hold.
But I'm pretty sure the blue locktight will hold it since it is a reversed thread .
I will just have to keep close eye on it for potential issues.

Pettyofficerramsey

When I removed my stock pulley it came off in this order, ( nut, lock washer, pulley.) Unfortunately no spacer.
I might be able to gain just a hair by replacing the cooling blades but I dont think it will be enough to accept the lock washer and the nut.
Hmmmm, I'm might try a thinner lock washer if they make a thinner one that size.

lionelhutz

Spacer must be behind the fan then.

Will it work without the lock washer? Put a dab of blue locktite on it instead.

Google Images shows a number of pictures of Gilmer pulleys on GM alternators and they seem to have enough shaft for the nut to fit even with the fan still on it.