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#1 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Cypress, TX
Posts: 3,702
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How to find or where to buy alternator belt
When I got my truck I bought and quickly went through v-belts that were thin and stretch easily and were generally cruddy. The Autozone and O'Reilly store brand belts are pretty much glorified rubber bands. I had one that lasted about 1 week before completely falling apart. Then I switched to Gates belts which are much better. Now a year has passed and the belt is starting to chirp when I start then engine up from cold. Cold around here means 65 to 75 F. After the truck warms up, the chirping goes away. The belt is adequately tightened. So, I'm thinking about getting a fresh belt. My question: is there a better belt? I would like to get one that is robust and that fills the v-groove, and is just plain no-foolin fantastic, better than Gates.
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#2 |
Who Changed This?
![]() Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Simi Valley, CA
Posts: 10,395
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Re: How to find or where to buy alternator belt
That looks to be the wrong width belt- it is sitting too low in the pulley grooves. Also, do the water pump groove and the groove on the crankshaft pulley have rust like the unused groove on the water pump pulley? That rust can chew a belt pretty quickly. The belts should last for many years, depending on climate and mileage.
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~Steven '70 Chevy 3/4T Longhorn CST 402/400/3.56 Custom Camper Simi Valley, CA |
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#3 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Cypress, TX
Posts: 3,702
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Re: How to find or where to buy alternator belt
Here is a better picture, there is more dust than rust on the unused groove. The belt is in pretty much excellent condition, no cracks or other wear. It is the most correct size I am able to find, it is just like every other Gates belt at O'Reilly auto parts. As far as I know they do not have a thicker or better one, and I did beg them to sell me an even better belt. This is the best they have. The new belt I am getting ready to buy from them will look exactly like the one I'm taking off, no difference at all. I agree it does not fit the groove as well as it could. So, what is everybody doing about this for their trucks?
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Antioch, Ca.
Posts: 455
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Re: How to find or where to buy alternator belt
Just looking at your last picture it seems that your belt is running on the bottom of the groove. It looks polished. I went to my local parts store not a chain store, the counter person measured the belt on the belt stick and found me a wider belt and never had another squeal again. The counter people at chains stores only know how to use a computer!!! Just like the Rock Auto commercial song says!!!
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Take Care Troy |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Antioch, Ca.
Posts: 455
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Re: How to find or where to buy alternator belt
Here's a picture of mine, it's hard to see but if you zoom a bit you can see where the outer surface of the belt is level with the OD of the pully where as yours is down in the groove. Good Luck!!
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Take Care Troy |
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#6 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Cypress, TX
Posts: 3,702
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Re: How to find or where to buy alternator belt
I don't follow what you are saying about "local parts store not a chain store". I am not aware of any parts store that is not a chain store. 100% of the stores around here are Carquest, Advance, Napa, O'Reilly, Autozone, etc. That is why I'm asking here what to actually do about this or how to find the right place. If I could find the proper belt brand and size or part number, I could order it online or probably order it from one of these chain stores. Yes, the car parts store counter people only know how to find parts from the application (make/model/year) and they barely know how to do that.
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#7 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Cheraw
Posts: 1,305
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Re: How to find or where to buy alternator belt
The first number on a Gates belt is the width. the next 3 numbers are the length. An example is 7530. 1/2 belt 53.0 inches long. You need to find a wider belt.
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#8 |
Who Changed This?
![]() Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Simi Valley, CA
Posts: 10,395
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Re: How to find or where to buy alternator belt
Yup. DJ, what is the number on your belt, now? Seems like we can at least get a consensus on which one to get. It ain't the one you have now, not meaning any offense by that. I don't like buying parts that don't last, either. It's kind of like getting robbed.
__________________
~Steven '70 Chevy 3/4T Longhorn CST 402/400/3.56 Custom Camper Simi Valley, CA |
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#9 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Cypress, TX
Posts: 3,702
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Re: How to find or where to buy alternator belt
Yes, the existing belt is a 7520. I wonder if anybody with an original SBC 350 on one of these trucks has used anything other than the 7 series belt when they use a Gates belt.
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#10 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Cypress, TX
Posts: 3,702
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Re: How to find or where to buy alternator belt
I've been getting robbed on a variety of parts for this truck. :-)
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#11 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: 2nd left past the stump on a dirt road.
Posts: 2,629
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Re: How to find or where to buy alternator belt
Do not feel that your all alone, I have been through 3 brake boosters, 4 starters, 2 sets of wheel cylinders, 4 alternators, and 3 voltage regulators.
All but the first was warranty replacements under a lifetime warranty! My 6 month old belt does the same thing, it squeals, squeaks, and really wines when I hammer the throttle. The original equipment was better, built by the original manufacture. All of this ancillary equipment is what drives me bat **** crazy. I gotta do the labor! The Original Truck in its rust is still moving down the road with the first real engine rebuild on it a total of 389,000 miles. Currently on 90 k with the motor. I have yet to figure out the belt thing, after the rust is gone, the shiny polished surface I know under the belt is not assisting the matter. That big heavy pully on most alts. does not help the matter later. I got a bigger replacement that is much more lighter. It worked for a while. |
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Elkhart, Texas
Posts: 1,699
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Re: How to find or where to buy alternator belt
A guess based on my 30+ years experience as a mechanic, would be a Gates belt # 8525 or maybe # 8530.... Both are wider and will "ride" higher in the pullies than the one you have, and are also a bit longer...
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#13 |
Who Changed This?
![]() Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Simi Valley, CA
Posts: 10,395
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Re: How to find or where to buy alternator belt
Riding higher in the pulleys would be because they are wider. I think that you found the answer to his issue!
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~Steven '70 Chevy 3/4T Longhorn CST 402/400/3.56 Custom Camper Simi Valley, CA |
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#14 | |
20' Daredevil (Ret)
![]() Join Date: May 2003
Location: Jefferson State
Posts: 13,627
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Re: How to find or where to buy alternator belt
Quote:
To the OP's problem, I think you guys have nailed it. Gotta come up with a wider belt one way or the other. My local NAPA is great at finding the right parts. If you have one, give 'em a try.
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- Mike - 1972 K20 LWB 350/350/205 RIP El Jay |
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#15 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Cypress, TX
Posts: 3,702
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Re: How to find or where to buy alternator belt
Thank you very much. I love guesses based on 30+ years experience as a mechanic, that's fantastic. Got to be better than my guesses. I will post pictures when I find and install the better belt.
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#16 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Arlington, TN
Posts: 170
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Re: How to find or where to buy alternator belt
Quote:
Around here there is union auto parts. They are a parts plus place. They handle ac delco, motor craft and mopar parts as well as brands like dorman, moog, etc. They have real parts guys that know how things work and how to solve problems, find parts. They remember your name when you go in. When we had car quest they were ok. Like you said, the chain stores are terrible. O'Reilly's had 2 real good guys for a while. Joe and Larry, of course since they aren't stupid, they both moved on to bigger and better things. Good luck, real parts stores are a dying breed. |
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#17 |
Special Order
![]() ![]() Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Mt Airy, MD
Posts: 85,859
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Re: How to find or where to buy alternator belt
Parts store guys and gals are people. It depends on what person you are dealing with, not the sign out front. We people out here with our internet and parcel delivery are Rock Auto's chain so that they can operate from a single base and undersell the local store (chain or independent) you can go grab a part right now from. My NAPA has a parts loft behind the counter above the shelving. All around the outside of the loft hang v-belts from smallest to largest. With good eyes you can find the number you are looking for, if you know what they mean. You can get the right belt dealing with even the most lame parts person. I know that's just my store, but I always save the number I know works best after going through finding the right size dilemma, especially on non-original configuration engines. Different alternator mounting, tall valve covers, etc. I also use the Z/28 deep grove alternator pulleys
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"BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ Last edited by special-K; 12-10-2019 at 08:30 AM. |
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#18 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Cypress, TX
Posts: 3,702
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Re: How to find or where to buy alternator belt
Can you please tell more about Z/28 deep grove alternator pulleys? Where does a person obtain one? Is there a way to order one online, or does the parts store have one? Are they bigger around so the belt grabs more of their circumference? Are they a deeper grove than the engine pully? I think I have an alternator pully that is about the same depth as my engine pully.
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#19 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Arlington, TN
Posts: 170
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Re: How to find or where to buy alternator belt
You can buy one online just search z/28 alternator pulley. I dont think it will help your squealing. It has a deeper groove to keep the belt from jumping during high rpm.
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#20 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Arlington, TN
Posts: 170
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Re: How to find or where to buy alternator belt
Quote:
It would be nice to be able to tell the counter guy I want 8 rc12yc spark plugs or a can of Chevrolet orange paint without being asked "what year is your car?" It's not the persons fault for not knowing. It is the company's fault for hiring them, then placing them with no training. |
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#21 | |
Who Changed This?
![]() Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Simi Valley, CA
Posts: 10,395
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Re: How to find or where to buy alternator belt
Quote:
As far as untrained people go, I see that all the time. One of my sons went to work at a Taco Bell when he was in high school. They put him on the order window for the drive through without explaining where the buttons were for the different combination meals (not marked on there either) at lunch time! SMH
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~Steven '70 Chevy 3/4T Longhorn CST 402/400/3.56 Custom Camper Simi Valley, CA |
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#22 | |||
"I ain't nobody, dork."
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Whidbey Island, Washington
Posts: 8,940
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Re: How to find or where to buy alternator belt
Quote:
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'cuz chicks dig scars... My 1972 GMC 1500 Super Custom (Creeping Death) "long term" build thread. The Rebuild of Creeping Death after the wreck Quote:
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#23 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Parkville, MD
Posts: 1,024
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Re: How to find or where to buy alternator belt
It REALLY depends store to store, and employee to employee, but at this point, I hardly ever go to a brick and mortar store without a part number in hand and have verified the part is at that location. Most of the time, I am ordering from Rock Auto or Summit Racing, because I can get the part I want, not just whatever part is on their shelf.
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1970 C20 Custom Camper - 350, TH350 1997 GMC Suburban 1994 Acura Integra GSR 1987 Dodge Daytona Shelby Z |
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#24 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Gods country East,Tn
Posts: 8,545
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Re: How to find or where to buy alternator belt
drive it to Napa , Open the hood and tell them you need a new set of gates belts . Check them before you leave . Done .
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![]() 1967 Factory short bed - Old school '71 - 350 / 4bolt / 487 heads / Edelbrock C3BX Muncie M-22 4 speed / Hurst Comp plus Factory 12 bolt posi 3.73 / 255-70-15 Smoothed firewall / Factory cowl induction Power disc brakes / power steering / 3.5-5" drop |
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#25 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: formerly NY currentlyNC
Posts: 389
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Re: How to find or where to buy alternator belt
if the belt was initally installed on a rusty pully it would have worn prematurely regardless of size...now that it has sacrificially polished your pully there's a good chance the original size will fit and work...good chance if you had taken a wire wheel to the pully in the first place we wouldnt be having this conversation...the gates green stripe belts are really good
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1970 short step c10 leaf spring 454 |
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belts, gates, v-belt |
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