serpentine system question

[355bullet]

Going this route with the serpentine system.
Go used or new?....ac system
whats everyone's opinion?
http://www.jegs.com/p/Chevrolet-Perf...52514/10002/-1

[Tx Firefighter]

I'd go used off a junkyard truck or van. The new kit is nice in that it gets you a new belt and water pump and a reman alternator, but that would sting me buying new pulleys and brackets when used will do just as well.

I'd bet I could buy a used setup from a junkyard, have all the parts powdercoated, buy a new water pump and reman alternator and belt and tensioner and still come out at less than half what they're asking for that new kit.

[gchemist]

Ditch the right side bracket. Get one off a truck. A 93?-95 truck. Truck brackets don't have provisions for a smog pump. I bought a bracket for a 94 truck. It looks so much cleaner. Smaller belt and one less pulley. The compressor is not best for A/C. I would replace it with a Saden version. There are brackets to make it fit. On used versions, be sure to get the V8 crank pulley. You can use your steering pump. Just swap pulleys. Used is a less expensive option if done right. New water pump is cheap. The alternator and compressor are the expensive parts. You can fit an AD144 alternator instead. 144 amps is better than 100 on power options. My door locks pop like crazy with 144 alternator.

[JWall]

I have the stock setup off a early to mid 90's truck as well.
Mine is the earlier design with the metal bracket instead of the aluminum one.

And don't forget you will need a reverse rotation water pump if you convert to a later model OEM system.

[RandyP]

Holy bat turds... Makes me wanna rethink my prices.

[gchemist]

OH, yea. You have to find a way to support the water hose!! It's long!! I had a bracket maded to hold up mine. JWall routed his behind the alternator.

[SCOTI]

Reverse rotation water pump... upper radiator hose brace... and.... if using a manual fan set-up, a reverse roration fan.

[Jonboy]

You can almost buy a whole Suburban on CL to rob the serpentine system off of for that price.

[Cherub]

ive done this setup 3 times now and its ran me around 600 to do it.

[DREAMER1]

What kinda set up is that? Could you give us more info on it?Looks like the a/c bracket is there, but the a/c is t installed, right?

[Cherub]

Originally Posted by DREAMER1

What kinda set up is that? Could you give us more info on it?Looks like the a/c bracket is there, but the a/c is t installed, right?

correct this is the a/c bracket without the smog pump. I believe i got these off a 96 truck. My pops truck is a non a/c truck getting vintage air later on.

[Woogeroo]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

I'd go used off a junkyard truck or van. The new kit is nice in that it gets you a new belt and water pump and a reman alternator, but that would sting me buying new pulleys and brackets when used will do just as well.

I'd bet I could buy a used setup from a junkyard, have all the parts powdercoated, buy a new water pump and reman alternator and belt and tensioner and still come out at less than half what they're asking for that new kit.

Yer probably right... but that kit is for people who 'want it now'.



-W

[TwinTurbo]

I like the 3rd gen F body stuff, there's even a simple way to run a vacuum pump where the original air pump was

[school boy]

If im not mistaken, 4.3 v6's serpentine systems will work on a sbc.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by school boy

If im not mistaken, 4.3 v6's serpentine systems will work on a sbc.

Correct. They also come with & w/o the smog pump like the 1/2 ton trucks. As mentioned, the smog pump space can be utilized for alternative pumps if desired or look for the non-smog brackets for a cleaner (my opinion ) look.

[Tx Firefighter]

If you use a V6 setup on a V8, you have to find a V8 crankshaft pulley and a couple of the little support rods that go to the intake manifold are V8 specific too.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

If you use a V6 setup on a V8, you have to find a V8 crankshaft pulley and a couple of the little support rods that go to the intake manifold are V8 specific too.

What was different about the crank pulleys?

[Tx Firefighter]

The 4.3 uses a little thin harmonic balancer and a correspondingly deeper pulley. When you bolt that pulley to a typical thick 8 inch SBC balancer, the belt surface is too far out.

This experience applied to my 92 C1500 which I swapped 4.3 to 5.7. It could have been an isolated case and not across the board. I do not know for sure.

[gchemist]

I used a V6 set up too. I had to find a V8 crank to align the belt.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

The 4.3 uses a little thin harmonic balancer and a correspondingly deeper pulley. When you bolt that pulley to a typical thick 8 inch SBC balancer, the belt surface is too far out.

This experience applied to my 92 C1500 which I swapped 4.3 to 5.7. It could have been an isolated case and not across the board. I do not know for sure.

Hhmm.... I used the 4.3 set-up hardware (pulleys, misc hardware, & accessories) when I utilized the v6/sbc serp brackets on my BBC (w/a conversion kit). After reading your statement, I can't/don't remember which lower pulley I ultimately used.

I know the kit I used utilizes a spacer on the crank pulley. I'll have to dig back through my literature & see if I sourced a sbc lower pulley from somewhere (I might have & don't remember ).

[king-918]

Originally Posted by Cherub

ive done this setup 3 times now and its ran me around 600 to do it.

600? Why?
Did I do something wrong mine was like 85 plus powder coat and water pump

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by king-918

600? Why?
Did I do something wrong mine was like 85 plus powder coat and water pump

In addition to the water pump, add in the price of a new a/c comp, alt, power steering pump, fan clutch + fan, tensioner, & belt (unless you have all that stuff conveniently lying around). I would imagine that's some of the cost difference.

[Greenlee]

Originally Posted by Jonboy

You can almost buy a whole Suburban on CL to rob the serpentine system off of for that price.

Yep, I bought a running 89' Suburban off Craigslist for $750 and used the Serpentine setup, wiring harness, window regulators and lots of other parts that I'm forgetting. I also ended up with an extra transmission and engine that a buddy ended up with. I got some $ back when the shell went to the scrap yard. I think the old Suburbans are the way to go when restoring these old trucks.

My compressor came from Vintage Air.

[Greenlee]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Reverse rotation water pump... upper radiator hose brace... and.... if using a manual fan set-up, a reverse roration fan.

Am I supposed to have an upper radiator hose brace??? (pic of my truck above)

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Greenlee

Am I supposed to have an upper radiator hose brace??? (pic of my truck above)

I re-used the factory one that was there for my bbc. I would just make sure there's enough clearance @ the fan & alt blades.
If there's alot of wiggle room, I wouldn't worry. If it's tight.... I would do some sort of anchor/brace to keep the hose from shifting.