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I'm installing a Blueprint 383. No A/C, no Power steering (I'm removing it). The only belt driven accessory is the alternator. I can't be the first one to do this. Any tricks to keep tension on the water pump? I'm planning to install a short belt between the pump and the balancer pulley, but there isn't a way that I can see to put any kind of tensioner on it.
Hello,
Typically a sb with no options still had 2 belts.
A short one that ran between the water pump pulley and the crankshaft pulley. There was no tensioner.
The second longer belt ran on the alternator, water pump, and crankshaft pulleys.
The short belt could be installed by loosening the fan pulley enough so it could be tilted enough to be able slip the belt in place.
Regards.....
lotsa circle track sbc street stock class cars run power steering and nothing more than water pump. Races are rather short; 30-50 15-second lap heats; Main about twice as long, so no alternator required.
Common setup is a single serpentine, w/ tension applied-maintained via adjustable PS pump mount on drivers side head. No extra tensioner, No idler. Stupid simple & bulletproof. Adding alternator not much complication.
I went one step further and replaced the entire belt system with a serpentine belt. All I have is my alternator and P.S. pump so it is easy and short. This opens a lot of room up front of the engine.
Yep,
Inboard track #1 (engine) is water pump & alternator
Outboard track #2 (fan/rad) is water pump Marked up on my digital A.I.M. I’m running the same set-up: no A.I.R. pump (smog), no A/C, no P/S
I’ve got these two pulleys installed:
WP: 3848904
Crank: 3858533
Belts are:
Gates XL 7320 water-pump-crank and it seems loose. But a 7315 just won’t fit easily :-/
Gates XL 7530 crank-WP-alt that should be (?) a 7355
Gates site specs:
7355: 35.6”
7320: 32”
So technically my crank-WP-alt is ~3.5” too short.
Although it does allow for install & tensioning.
Single belt, water pump tension
