Belt and Pulley Advice needed

[CobraSix]

So, I've got most areas of my modernization sorted, except for belts and pulleys.

At first, I was going to go serpentine, but I'm not sure it's worth the effort. All I'm running is the Alternator and water pump. Manual steering and no AC. Electric fan. Since the engine is EFI, I'll already have the fuel pump in the tank, so that's not really effecting anything. Also have the following parts:

Explorer Timing Cover
FRPP water pump (set for serp)

I'm not married to the parts as I got them for free, so I'm not out anything if it's better to go a different route.

For a simple system line mine, is there really any reason to go Serp vice sticking with V Groove? While I like some of the fancy march systems, not sure it's worth the cost since I've got such a simple accessory set up.

[68fastwilliams]

Why would you make things more complex than they need to be? If you want to dress it up, how about some nice billet pulleys?

[ajzride]

+1 on CVF. Great pullies and bracketts.

[Boom]

+2 on CVF racing, Great pulleys and brackets.

With a serp set-up you'd need to add a tensioner pulley to make it work, CFV uses an adjustable bracket with small Heims for the alt.

Here's my 302 with a CVF racing alt bracket:


Untitled by Edgethis, on Flickr

[ajzride]

Here is a little better shot of the CVF setup, looks better than that predator looking system March puts out:

[wheelsup351]

if you went to an electric water pump, it really wouldn't matter what crank pulley you used as long as it lined up with the alternator pulley. i run a mandrel for my crank pulley. it came with a variety of spacers and a couple of pulleys so you they work with anything.

[CobraSix]

Excellent, I've contacted CVF already with my set up to verify I'm looking at the right parts. I definetly want the mid mount and can't see any reason to mess with serpentine conversion. I know people talk about belt jumping, but I've honestly only had that happen once and that was because I forgot to tighten the alternator bracket on the 65 once. Never happened on any of my other V belt cars.

Thanks!

[buening]

If you are running a high amperage alternator, look into a dual belt setup for the alternator otherwise you'll likely have belt squeal.

[wheelsup351]

Originally Posted by buening

If you are running a high amperage alternator, look into a dual belt setup for the alternator otherwise you'll likely have belt squeal.

[buening]

High amperage alternators require more force to turn. Belt slippage/squeal is a common complaint when installing a 130a 3g alternator on these cars utilizing a single sheeve v-belt pulley. A v-belt doesn't grip as well as a serpentine setup.

[Tarmac_69_Mustang]

I just went with the serp. I had a lot of slipping issues, which is why I changed over. No issues at all after that and it looks good.

[55Speed]

Guys i myself am looking into some pulley kits. I want polished billet pulley and i honestly wanted to go serpentine but i didnt like the kits on the market with those blinged out flat plate timing covers which seems to be how the tensioner and brackets attach. I just want to run the alternator, water pump and ps pump.

What other options can you guys suggest to look into? I really like the pulley set ups on the roush engines

[Tarmac_69_Mustang]

Did you check out March Serp pulley kits? That's what I have and it does the job well.

I'm selling my PS pump pulley and brackets. My PS went out like a week after I put the serp kit on, so I just pulled that stuff out.

[55Speed]

Can someone explain why some kits are elaborate with 1 pr 2 belt tensioners and others are just brackets and serpentine groove pulley?

[ajzride]

Originally Posted by 55Speed

Can someone explain why some kits are elaborate with 1 pr 2 belt tensioners and others are just brackets and serpentine groove pulley?

The ones without a tensioner acctually slip worse than v-belts, stay away from those, they are for looks only.