First year of serpentine belts in GM trucks?

[joe231]

I'm just wondering if any of the '87 trucks came with serpentine belts?
I know the 88-91 Blazers, Burbs, and Crews had them.
I need to find some A/C lines that will work in my crew, so I wanted to know where all to look. Thanks!!

[87 chevy silverado]

i believe 88 was the first year

[joe231]

Cool
thanks!
That's what I'm thinking also...

[RandyP]

Which lines you looking for?

[joe231]

I need all the lines, but I need them without the extra lines going to rear air.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...69#post4005369

[USSkoval]

Actually, square bodied 88's were still v-belt... '89 was the start of the serp setup.

[68 TT]

Originally Posted by USSkoval

Actually, square bodied 88's were still v-belt... '89 was the start of the serp setup.

My 89 Suburban was a ribbed belt / V-belt combination. Standard type accessory mounts and standard rotation water pump, just the serpentine style belt and pulleys for the crank, water pump & alternator run in a standard V-belt type setup.

It may have been a mid year or optional thing in my 89 but for sure my 90 had the true serpentine system.

I wonder if the A/C lines from the new body style truck would fit or if it has to be a square body? This would open up the gene pool a bunch in your search for parts.

[USSkoval]

Originally Posted by 68 TT

My 89 Suburban was a ribbed belt / V-belt combination. Standard type accessory mounts and standard rotation water pump, just the serpentine style belt and pulleys for the crank, water pump & alternator run in a standard V-belt type setup.

It may have been a mid year or optional thing in my 89 but for sure my 90 had the true serpentine system.

I wonder if the A/C lines from the new body style truck would fit or if it has to be a square body? This would open up the gene pool a bunch in your search for parts.

It must have been a mid-year change over, every '89 I've seen has been serp IIRC.

FWIW, the "serp/v-belt combo" I just consider as v-belts because all the brackets are similar or the same, and only the one belt is different.

As for the new body trucks, the condenser outlets are in very different spots, so the lines likely won't work.

[joe231]

Cool Andy,
thanks for the info!!

[RandyP]

Correct, I had my head under the hood of an 88 Blazer today, it has the old belt system on it.

[gchemist]

Some 86 and 87 had a combo of V-belt and serpentine.

[Desert1957]

Both my 87's have the combo , Serpentine (Alternator) and the v-belt
(P Steering)

[HOGDADDY]

Originally Posted by Desert1957

Both my 87's have the combo , Serpentine (Alternator) and the v-belt
(P Steering)

My 86 has the combo also.

[Mike C]

Starting in '86 is my experience. But terminology in this thread needs clarification. The wide,low belt is a ribbed belt. On these '86 setups that combine with v-belts, they are standard routing.

Serpentine refers to the use of just one belt that drives some of the accessories on the ribbed side, and some on the smooth side depending on routing.

My '86 TPI motor had a V-belt/rib belt combo (so does my parts '86 Sub.) But my '89 motor was a true serpentine setup. This is from Camaros, but similar changeovers occurred in the truck lines.

[joe231]

Originally Posted by Jonboy

Joe, use the hose for an 89-91 Blazer or sub without rear air. It was around $40 at NAPA, IIRC.

cool Jon!
I'll check into it!

EDIT: Jon, you are the man...I would have never guessed that Napa was cheaper than Autozone. $55 and change for the discharge/suction lines and under $20 for a new dryer/accumulator...and they show to have them in stock gonna have to wait a week then hopefully "Big Sexy" will be rolling with A/C
I will still need to find the small line from the A/C box to the condenser

Originally Posted by 68 TT

My 89 Suburban was a ribbed belt / V-belt combination. Standard type accessory mounts and standard rotation water pump, just the serpentine style belt and pulleys for the crank, water pump & alternator run in a standard V-belt type setup.

It may have been a mid year or optional thing in my 89 but for sure my 90 had the true serpentine system.

I wonder if the A/C lines from the new body style truck would fit or if it has to be a square body? This would open up the gene pool a bunch in your search for parts.

I got everything from my '89 parts burb, including the serp setup

I have lines from a '95, but they are metric threads and won't match up to the older SAE lines

Originally Posted by Mike C

Starting in '86 is my experience. But terminology in this thread needs clarification. The wide,low belt is a ribbed belt. On these '86 setups that combine with v-belts, they are standard routing.

Serpentine refers to the use of just one belt that drives some of the accessories on the ribbed side, and some on the smooth side depending on routing.

My '86 TPI motor had a V-belt/rib belt combo (so does my parts '86 Sub.) But my '89 motor was a true serpentine setup. This is from Camaros, but similar changeovers occurred in the truck lines.

Good point and I agree with you Mike. the only true serpentine belt is a single belt running all the accessories.

thanks for all the input guys!!!

[Jonboy]

Joe, use the hose for an 89-91 Blazer or sub without rear air. It was around $40 at NAPA, IIRC.