Serpentine Belt Question

[Tdrcreyn4]

I have an 1969 BB 396 that is basically stock up front as far as the pulleys go. I've wanted to look at converting to a serpentine set up but everything I've looked at looks prohibitively expensive to do so. Any suggestions about a cost effective conversion and how to go about it??? Help please.

[74baggedbug]

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ght=Serpentine

I'm running the same setup and very happy with it

[WIDESIDE72]

The serpentine setups were offered on BBC engines. They are pretty hard to come by, though. Be sure to install the reverse rotation water water pump as well, since the water pump is run by the back side of the belt in the serpentine set up.

Kwik performance offers a kit to adapt the sbc set up to the bbc:
http://www.kwikperf.com/bbc_serp_kit.html

as well as a stand alone set up:
http://www.kwikperf.com/bbc_m4.html

[Tdrcreyn4]

Thanks for the quick responses. I appreciate it.

[hugger6933]

you can use the small block serpentine set up on the Big block. There is a company that makes adapters to run the small block truck set up on the big blocks. i looked into it and was gonna get a couple for the big block trucks i have.

[Ellistk]

Here is the adapter plates on my BBC. They are attached to the heads. Lowers are at the bootom of the block. Use just about any sbc serpentine system. Works great. On ebay now called Big Block Chevy BBC Early Serpentine Conversion Kit - K10014

[snj8198]

I'm running the M4 on my bbc with the compressor delete and CS 144 alternator. Ill find my receipt but I think I shelled out $560 or so for the complete bracketry and pulley kit.

http://www.kwikperf.com/bbc_m4.html

If you already have sbc brackets and pulleys then ya their conversion kit is the route to go. I enjoyed dealing with this gent.

[roboticjunky]

Originally Posted by WIDESIDE72

Kwik performance offers a kit to adapt the sbc set up to the bbc:
http://www.kwikperf.com/bbc_serp_kit.html

To Tdrcreyn4, you can also can use serpentine set up from a 4.3 V6 in case you didn't see it on the site.

[hugger6933]

Now some things to keep in mind, the brackets from the 88-89 truck were huge and made of metal, they are functional but I wouldn't think very desirable.Now on the trucks there are two different types [not including the metal] the ones that most people are showing and what most talk about are the one from the model years 90[late 89]-95. In model year 96 when the vortec motor was introduced[ small block type with GREAT heads]the bracketry changed and the A/C compressor went to the drivers side top and the ALT went to the pass side top. Now there was a lot of problems with that type of A/C compressor as it was pressed together and once the mounting bolts were loosened it would cause the O-rings that were in the pressed area to leak and you then would lose your cool[literally and figuratively].
As said by the above poster the S-truck had the same alloy bracketry on them in the 89 model year the 4.3 motor was introduced in the mid year of 88 and that made the 88 model a long run and did the grille change and other redesigns in the 91 model year witch was 18 months long.
Now there were 2 4.3's to be had in the S-10 mostly Blazer the TBI Z vin is what was in the full sized trucks and the HO [looked kinda like a tune port motor] was a W vin. Those bracket differed slightly but will still fill the bill looking for a serp set up to put on an older small block.
the S truck also changed the bracket in the model year 96 with its Vortec release [different intake and dist set up] not to be confused with the older tune port looking vortec from years past. it [the later vortec had the pass side alt and driver side A/C set up like the truck.
Also know this when going to a serp set up you NEED the fan and clutch and water pump to keep things happy as they are all backwards flow and you WILL over heat if you don't go that way.
If you have power steering already, you will have to change out the pump too as the shaft on the serp setup is a little bigger than the old style with the nut on the pump and you need the press on type pump to work properly. I hope this little snip it of info is found useful by someone if nothing more than sleep aid. Jim

[hugger6933]

Oh and this info is all from me living this stuff since the late 80's I have rebuilt wrecks specializing in Silverados and S series trucks.

[Carmen Black]

Google "Car Craft Serpentine Conversion". It shows pretty much step by step how to do the small block junk yard conversion and then talks about the Kwik adapters to make it a big block.

I did the small block conversion with parts off of a 1994 S10 from a pick and pull. Went when they were having a half off sale for the holidays. Got the whole thing done real cheap.

The conversion was real easy, the only problems I can remember was I had to buy a reverse flow fan because a reverse flow water pump turns your fan in reverse. You would think you can just turn the old fan around, but that doesn't work. Make sure you get all the bolts from the donor because they are a real odd mix of metric and standard. I had a horrible time trying to find the bolts with the correct thread pitch for the fan.

And I do remember I upgraded to the same alternator as the donor. I can't remember if I had to or just wanted to, but your electrical system may not be setup for that.

[Carmen Black]

I forgot that if you change the power steering pump to a modern serpentine setup power steering pump, you will run into a nasty leak.

Most of these trucks have a power steering hose that has standard fittings on both ends. The new steering pump will have an inlet that is metric and actually seals with an O-ring. The standard hose will thread right into it perfectly, but will leak buckets when you fill the pump with fluid and will drive you crazy.

There is a very specific adapter that Napa sells that will fix the problem. If you search this site, there are write ups about it with the part number. Order it from Napa and it will fix the leak.

[Tdrcreyn4]

Thanks for all the great advice......I appreciate you all.

[WIDESIDE72]

Good call on the fan. I forgot about that. Luckily i had the donor already so i didnt have to make a second trip to a Yard. Iirc you can take the fitting out of the old style v belt ps pump and swap it into the serpentine ps pump.

He is right about getting all the bolts. It is a nightmare if you lose any and try to get bolts through a hardware e store.

[WIDESIDE72]

There is also an adapter harness made to adapt the modern alternator. Seems like there was a diode to keep the car from running on as well. This conversion has a lot of little details most peoe forget about after the fact.