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65 With a BB and electric fan.... So in my conversion to power steering (which has another thread nearby) I was sent belts and a diagram from Long Island Corvette, which shows a belt from the crank pulley to the water pump...... So I put the belt on with some muscle and its on, but there is no way to tension the belt..... Its looser than I like belts to be. What am I missing here...... Shouldn't there be a way to put tension on the belt or is it just designed to run a bit loose?
NoWhere, can you explain better? There is an optical illusion going on in this pic as it looks like the PS pump is way off, but its not.... In this pic I am more focused on just the crank pulley and water pump pulley, both of which are inline, I'm just trying to figure out how to add tension to 2 pulleys that have no tensioner......
I’ve never seen a belt put on like that. As you say, how do you add tension? You need an alternator, PS pump, AC compressor or something that pivots. I don’t get it.
Now I have not bolted up the Alt yet (still fighting with the PS alignment) so maybe the Alt is inline with the water pump and crank pulley and the PS will be off to itself???
I just checked my 67 assembly manual because I have a 327. My 67 Manual shows the BB with PS requires a water pump pulley with two groves for pulleys not one like the one on your car.
There are three belts. The most inner on the water pump goes to the inner crank (still not sure how you get tension). The second goes from the outer water pump to outer crank and inner PS. The third goes from outer PS to generator.
You need a 2 groove pulley on the water pump like in the illustration for 427 w/PS. The inner belt runs only between the crank and water pump. There is no adjustment or tensioner. The PS belt runs on the inner groove on the PS pump and on the outer groove on the crank and water pump. The alternator belt runs on the outer groove of the PS pump and on a special, spaced pulley on the alternator. The special pulley has the belt groove spaced away from the alternator by the thickness of a belt groove. It look like a "blank" belt groove.
if you don't have correct crank and water pump pulleys you won't get the inner belt to work, just as NM says.
The rear most belt that runs from the crank to the WP is a tight belt and to get it on you have to remove some of the bolts from one of the pulleys to get it on and then it will be tight enough. You have an aftermarket WP pulley and I would get an original to make sure an original type belt will work.
Ed, that is what I have (2 grove on crank, 1 grove on water pump, 2 grove on PS, 1 grove on Alt...) Belt one, inner crank to water pump, belt 2, outer crank to PS inner, belt 3, outer PS pulley to Alt or so the pic says..........I still don't see how to tension crank to water pump
AV, so there is no or not much tension on the crank to water pump pulley?
Also, I see what you mean, in that if I had a second pulley slot on the water pump, I could just run outer crank, outer water pump, inner PS pump, then use outer PS pump pulley and Alt......
Ed, that is what I have (2 grove on crank, 1 grove on water pump, 2 grove on PS, 1 grove on Alt...) Belt one, inner crank to water pump, belt 2, outer crank to PS inner, belt 3, outer PS pulley to Alt or so the pic says..........I still don't see how to tension crank to water pump
Read my post above. There is no way to tension that back belt. It is a tight fit. You have to remove one of the pulleys to get it on and then pull up on it (if you remove the WP pulley) in order to bolt it back up.
NoWhere, can you explain better? There is an optical illusion going on in this pic as it looks like the PS pump is way off, but its not.... In this pic I am more focused on just the crank pulley and water pump pulley, both of which are inline, I'm just trying to figure out how to add tension to 2 pulleys that have no tensioner......
Although I know nothing from personal experience, I see that you're using aftermarket billet crank and water pump pulleys. I wouldn't be so sure that the diameter of one or both of those pulleys matches the diameter of the original pulleys.
I'm sure that the belt is designed to work with original pulleys...
although i know nothing from personal experience, i see that you're using aftermarket billet crank and water pump pulleys. I wouldn't be so sure that the diameter of one or both of those pulleys matches the diameter of the original pulleys.
I'm sure that the belt is designed to work with original pulleys...
68, i did read it, but I also got the belt on (as you see in the pic) without removing any bolts.... Now I agree that the pulleys may be a different size, but they are the Elcklers stuff, so I'm hoping that they are close of not on..... I'm headed back up there today to see what I can finagle...... All this said and looking on line, I see a couple articles about converting to a serpentine set up on the cheap, using older 80's or 90's GM factory parts..... Seems like as long as one can align the pulleys and find a spot for the tensioner, it would save a lot of headache
Ed, that is what I have (2 grove on crank, 1 grove on water pump, 2 grove on PS, 1 grove on Alt...) Belt one, inner crank to water pump, belt 2, outer crank to PS inner, belt 3, outer PS pulley to Alt or so the pic says..........I still don't see how to tension crank to water pump
two grove on all three is required (crank, WP, and PS). From what I’ve read, you need to remove the pulley on the WP to help get the first pulley on. It appears it’s tight enough hence the need to remove the pulley to help get it on. Very interesting design. As I said I have a L79 and that doesn’t have a belt like that. Seems like you are getting good advice and you will figure it out as the drawing you posted is correct.
I will also measure the pulleys today if anyone on here knows the size of the stock ones, so we can compare.................
You can probably find the original type pulleys at one of the big vendors and they will likely have dimensions. I believe that the rear pulleys designed is such that the belt is tight enough due to the way you have to put it on. I don’t know if there would be enough room for a belt tensioner with aftermarket pulleys Unless it was one use for the entire serpentine belt system.
you have a mix of aftermarket parts and original parts. and most of the time that does not work like here. you need to pick one or the other and use the correct corresponding parts. they all work together as a team and must match. for me using OEM parts works fine as its proven it self after 50 years of working well. the correct pulleys for your application is not cheap. but if you get the right ones it will fall togther. I have no clue on a aftermarket solution that is cheaper and proven to work.
Last edited by Nowhere Man; 12-16-2018 at 11:26 AM.
12-15-2018, 08:47 PM
Water Pump belt issue, please advise...
