1969 c10 350 need help with v belts

[daniel02]

My 69 c10 350 has a crankshaft and water pump pulleys have 4 belt slots and alternator and power steering pump only have one groove each. I currently have one belt around crankshaft water pump and alternator... and a second belt around crankshaft and power steering pump.what are the other grooves for? I also have a problem with a squeak when i give it some gas.. water pump and belts new alternator 1 year old please help i cant find anything out there on v belts

[mooseboy84]

Squeak or squeel usually means the belts are to tight, or liquid is on them. Having a belt thats to tight ruins the alternator bearing prematurely.

Loosen the belts until they have slack and tighten them mildly. You want them tight enough so that when it starts, the belts are not really floppy, but you dont want it so tight it squeels. Just loosen them, tighten until there isnt much flex, start the engine and run it 5 mins and see if they look floppy or to loose, then tighten it again if necessary.


Usually 3 slots belts are for Alternator, PS pump and AC compressor. Not sure what a 4th one, maybe a smog pump?


Also are your belts aligned? Depending on the model/year of the engine you may have wrong pulleys on there. SBC have short water pumps and long water pumps. 69's came factory with short water pumps and switched out to long water pumps sometimes in the 70s. If you have a 4 grove pulley, make sure when you look down at the belts from the side and see if they are all straight, and not bending because short and long water pumps pulleys are different and will not align properly.

[daniel02]

These are some pics of belt system i have..

[daniel02]

Pics