Gilmer drive belt

Nigel · 01-19-2013, 03:57 PM

I have seen posted about Gilmer Belt Drive but no one has said how they like them. The pros and cons. Getting ready to buy one but wants some input. It would solve my power steering problem.

Boom · 01-19-2013, 07:09 PM

What is your power steering issue?

There are a few here with that set-up and it looks amazing, no slippage. Tho the belt would be special order if it ever broke, leaving you without the car for awhile.

The ones I have seen were not for power steering cars tho.

C0V3R · 01-19-2013, 07:28 PM

Pros
- No slippage
- Low chance of throwing belts
- Noisy supercharger sound

Cons
- Cant get belts as easily if you throw them or strip teeth
- Not easy to setup for full set of accessories (alt/ps/wp/ac)
- Noisy supercharger sound with no supercharger

Whats your p/s problem and why would a gilmer drive sort it out?

Nigel · 01-19-2013, 09:47 PM

This one has a V belt setup. I can get extra belts for $24.95 from a store on ebay. I don't have power steering but that is a future project. Its was removed when someone put a 429 in her.

Boom · 01-19-2013, 11:27 PM

So if you don't have power steering currently, how are you having an issue?

$25 for a belt isn't too bad. You better plan to keep an extra in the trunk just in case.

Rudder! · 01-20-2013, 10:15 AM

I'm going to take a stab in the dark and say TS has a squealing belt issue and thinks a Gilmer drive will help. I've never been a fan of just tossing money at a problem so if i'm right about the noisy belt, give this a try: A) Tighten the belt B) if the belt is tight and still makes noise ensure it IS the belt and not a something else. With the car off, take a bar of soap and rub on the pulley contact portion of the belt. Start the car and if the noise doesn't stop then you have another problem. If the noise does not stop and it's not a pulley then check the belt alignment. If that is good, try a narrow(er) belt that fits in the pulley groove a little more snugly.

Nigel · 01-20-2013, 10:37 AM

Boom, without power steering. I don't have away to run the water pump. I would have to buy a MARCH 2V underdrive pulley for another $79.99. But for another $30.00 I can get the 351C gilmer setup.

Boom · 01-20-2013, 10:46 AM

I dont quite understand. I run a single belt with crank, alt, and water pump no problem..

March pulleys are overrated imho. Check out cvf racing. Much nicer and cheaper.

zstang · 01-20-2013, 10:33 PM

[QUOTE=Boom;4358623]I dont quite understand. I run a single belt with crank, alt, and water pump no problem..

thats all i run also....but i run a 130amp alt. and even with a double belt, it would still slip on start up.

Nigel · 01-21-2013, 12:55 PM

Thanks for the pictures zstang. I will order the gilmer setup. Boom, maybe its just the MARCH setup but the alternator is 3/8s off center from the water pump and the crank.

Boom · 01-21-2013, 01:29 PM

Hmm there shouldn't be an alignment issue. I would double check the alt mounting forst. On my CVF set-up tjere are spacers thay need to be on a few bolts to align everything properly.

Nigel · 01-21-2013, 07:38 PM

With my alternator almost touching the block it want line up. I'll just go with the Gilmer set and sell the March underdrive pulleys.

Boom · 01-22-2013, 08:32 AM

Good luck with the Glimer set-up. I hear its nice but I like the look of the polished billet pulleys from CVF/March more.

Nigel · 01-22-2013, 10:39 AM

The Gilmer has a chrome setup that I've seen on the web. Just trying to drive my car for more than a couple of blocks before recharging the battery.

buening · 01-22-2013, 04:28 PM

Just keep in mind fan-to-radiator clearance when going with something like the Gilmer due to the width of the belts. Clearance is already pretty tight with the standard belts. You can get gilmer pulleys for cars with power steering, but they essentially have a v-belt groove at the back of the cog pulley to accommodate the PS belt. I don't think you can use these on an A/C car though.