Advice on V-Belts - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

JimmyCriswell · 07-10-2015, 10:44 AM

Can I please get advice on belt routing and size?

1971-1985 Crate Engine with Stock pulleys and short water pump?

If no one can help, what is the most correct way to measure for belt length and what part store is best for belts?

What width belts do chevrolet small blocks use? I have no experience whatsoever with part numbers for belts and what they mean.

MARKDTN · 07-10-2015, 11:31 AM

Use stock length belts if you have stock pulleys. I only use Gates brand belts. Available at NAPA, CarQuest, O'Rieleys, and others. They have catalogs that show the proper routing, but it is pretty simple. Is this just an alternator? Power Steering? A/C? A good parts store should be able to help you.

Lou Boffa · 07-10-2015, 12:03 PM

x2 on Gates V belts. 13/32 or 10mm work for me. Measuring is tricky if its a custom set up. I use a piece of rope (clothes line size) and a magic marker (parts house has a measuring device) but sometimes wind up returning and getting a smaller or larger size. You want the smallest size that you can get on the pulley when loose so you have plenty of room to tighten the device on the bracket.

JimmyCriswell · 07-10-2015, 04:33 PM

I only have an alternator and the motor did not come out of my year model truck so that is why I am looking to find the length and width of the belts. I guess this will require experimentation.

JimmyCriswell · 07-10-2015, 04:42 PM

I only have an alternator and the motor did not come out of my year model truck so that is why I am looking to find the length and width of the belts. I guess this will require experimentation.

franken · 07-10-2015, 08:34 PM

Belts are sized by length. Take a rope and put it where the belt goes. Mark where the end of the rope meets the the rope some inches away. Measure. Buy belt.
I think by 71 short pumps were gone. You might snap some pics.
Where is the alt mounted? Driver or pass side?

Davidf · 07-11-2015, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyCriswell

What width belts do chevrolet small blocks use? I have no experience whatsoever with part numbers for belts and what they mean.

I believe the stock belt width is 3/8". This means the first number on the belt should be a 3 followed by the length in inches. The first number represents width in 8th's of an inch.

07-10-2015, 10:44 AM	#1
JimmyCriswell Registered User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Mansfield, Texas Posts: 62	Advice on V-Belts Can I please get advice on belt routing and size? 1971-1985 Crate Engine with Stock pulleys and short water pump? If no one can help, what is the most correct way to measure for belt length and what part store is best for belts? What width belts do chevrolet small blocks use? I have no experience whatsoever with part numbers for belts and what they mean.

07-10-2015, 11:31 AM	#2
MARKDTN Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 2,160	Re: Advice on V-Belts Use stock length belts if you have stock pulleys. I only use Gates brand belts. Available at NAPA, CarQuest, O'Rieleys, and others. They have catalogs that show the proper routing, but it is pretty simple. Is this just an alternator? Power Steering? A/C? A good parts store should be able to help you. __________________ '83 K20-TPI '73 C10 '79 C10-ex-diesel(SOLD) '07 Tahoe(Son driving) '14 Suburban-DD '71 C10-current project

07-10-2015, 12:03 PM	#3
Lou Boffa Registered User Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 733	Re: Advice on V-Belts x2 on Gates V belts. 13/32 or 10mm work for me. Measuring is tricky if its a custom set up. I use a piece of rope (clothes line size) and a magic marker (parts house has a measuring device) but sometimes wind up returning and getting a smaller or larger size. You want the smallest size that you can get on the pulley when loose so you have plenty of room to tighten the device on the bracket. __________________ Figure out what you want--then figure out what you are willing to give up to get it.

07-10-2015, 04:33 PM	#4
JimmyCriswell Registered User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Mansfield, Texas Posts: 62	Re: Advice on V-Belts I only have an alternator and the motor did not come out of my year model truck so that is why I am looking to find the length and width of the belts. I guess this will require experimentation.

07-10-2015, 04:42 PM	#5
JimmyCriswell Registered User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Mansfield, Texas Posts: 62	Re: Advice on V-Belts I only have an alternator and the motor did not come out of my year model truck so that is why I am looking to find the length and width of the belts. I guess this will require experimentation.

07-10-2015, 08:34 PM	#6
franken Registered User Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Somewhere Posts: 3,102	Re: Advice on V-Belts Belts are sized by length. Take a rope and put it where the belt goes. Mark where the end of the rope meets the the rope some inches away. Measure. Buy belt. I think by 71 short pumps were gone. You might snap some pics. Where is the alt mounted? Driver or pass side?



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