Need some help on serpentine conversion!!!!

[cjthompson]

Hello all,

I'm trying to do a conversion on my truck to newer style serpentine belts. I'm running into a few issues and was wondering if anyone could help?

So here's what I've done thus far. I've pulled and installed the new serpentine brackets, i believe to be from an early 90s caprice or truck (not sure, got everything minus the crank pulley years ago). I've changed the water pump to a reverse rotation, from a early 90s pickup. I've extended my charging line from the alternator to the battery. I've converted the plug for the regulator feedback from 2 to 4 wire.

I'm at a point now that I'm almost ready to hit the road, but I have 1 major problem. The crank pulley doesnt align with the rest of the pulleys. When I look down from the top side of the motor it sets about 1/2 an inch farther back than the rest of the pulleys. Like I said i didn't get the crank pulley with the set, so I grabbed one off an old vortec motor (appears to be same part number as what should have been in the set). Just curious, could this be a harmonic damper/balancer issue? That I just need to run a thicker one?

[notallthere]

It sounds like you have a crank pulley from a 4.3 V6. You may have to order one or find one for a V8.

[jjzepplin]

You should find out what you got. I have one truck with a 92 Caprice set up and one with a 94 truck setup. Water pumps are different and pulleys are too. I put a Caprice pump on the truck setup and the lower pulley hit the pump pulley. Not the problem you're having but could net you some issues down the road not knowing what you have. Emergency belt replacement while on a road trip etc. Oh and wire that alternator correctly. I was quite happy with both installs and my headlights were brighter too.

[cjthompson]

Crank pulley is off a 4.3 s10...... I assumed when he said vortec, it was a v8. Looks to be the same part number as a v8 truck though. However it doesn't appear to match a v8 camaro or caprice, as far as I can tell. Going to try and swing by the parts house tomorrow and see if they have one and if it's deeper. If not, I'll find a junk yard I suppose...... if that doesn't work, wouldnt a thicker harmonic balancer give me the same effect? That's worst case scenario though, as I don't want to negate any power savings I'm getting with the serpentine set up.....

Well with the current pulley a 74.5 inch belt seemed to fit very well. Could change when i get the right pulley though.....I see your point though...... mismatched parts suck when they break on the side of the road..... ran into that one time about about 400 miles from home..... tow bill sucked.....

[jjzepplin]

That is why I don't stray too far from stock parts.

[cjthompson]

Here's an update. Appears the pulley off a 92 caprice is the right size. Found one at the junk yard today and pulled it for 5 bucks. Thanks everyone for the input.

[hatzie]

Now you need a label on the rad support to remind you what the serpentine setup is from... 2 years from now when you need a water pump or belt.
Glad you figured it out.

[cjthompson]

Yeah not looking forward to that....... I have a list of everything but my luck will be that I can't find the list when I need it.

[hatzie]

Fold up a printed list and put it in an envelope in the glovebox marked MOD LIST DO NOT REMOVE FROM TRUCK...

Stuff it in the owners manual so you don't take it out mistakenly.

[gmachinz]

This is the serpentine conversion I recently did on my father in laws GMC....yours should look pretty much the same yes...?

[cjthompson]

Yes it's pretty close. Mine has the provision for the air pump though. I'm guessing yours is probably off a newer car?

[jjzepplin]

On one of mine I just cut the air pump ears off. On the other I had not thought of it yet. I also tapped the head on both for a stud so I could feel better. Probably don't need it but sometimes I like to over do things.

[gmachinz]

My kit was off a 90's truck as well. The smog pump provision depends on the emissions option when it was new. I also used a 3rd gen Fbody wp pulley because they're guided and it helps keep the belt always running true and not slipping off the front.

[cjthompson]

Yep caprice is guided too..... just FYI