Midyear Fan Belt Alignment

[Dale M.]

I can't seem to find in the judging manual what is the correct way to install the fan belt. I am referring to a '64 300 HP, with someone adding power steering and NO air condition. With the 2 grove pulleys, is the belt on the front or rear grove. Mine does not seem to align up with the alternator on either grove. On the rear grove I am hitting my lower raditor hose. Thanks

[Leif A.]

Re: Midyear Fan Belt Alignment

Do you have a three groove pulley on the crank? The alternator belt goes in the #1 groove (closest to the engine block), there is no belt in the #2 position. The power steering belt goes in #3 groove (closest to the fan). If someone added power steering without changing the crank pulley to a three groove pulley that is most likely your problem.

[Joe L.]

Re: Midyear Fan Belt Alignment

Do you have a three groove pulley on the crank? The alternator belt goes in the #1 groove (closest to the engine block), there is no belt in the #2 position. The power steering belt goes in #3 groove (closest to the fan). If someone added power steering without changing the crank pulley to a three groove pulley that is most likely your problem.

Leif------


No Corvette EVER used a 3 groove harmonic balancer pulley. However, some small blocks did use a 2 groove balancer pulley with a 1 groove pulley sandwiched on the front. These include 1964 with L-75 and power steering, the application in question.

[James W.]

Re: Midyear Fan Belt Alignment

I have a '65 with L79, A/C, and P/S and has the two groove pulley with the extra pulley nested into the front of the two groove pulley for the P/S as Joe mentioned. See attached pictures.


Regards,

James West

Leif------


No Corvette EVER used a 3 groove harmonic balancer pulley. However, some small blocks did use a 2 groove balancer pulley with a 1 groove pulley sandwiched on the front. These include 1964 with L-75 and power steering, the application in question.

[Gene M.]

Re: Midyear Fan Belt Alignment

...................... Mine does not seem to align up with the alternator on either grove. On the rear grove I am hitting my lower raditor hose. Thanks

Dale,
It sounds like you may have too long of a belt. The farther the alternator pitches out the closer the belt becomes to the hose.

[Joe R.]

Re: Midyear Fan Belt Alignment

James,

Something is wrong with your belt setup. Starting with the crank the add on Pulley for the PS fits completely inside the original crank pulley. It looks like it had a three groove pulley when installed correctly.
The first groove closest to the motor has the alternator, water pump and crank. The second groove has the water pump, crankshaft and AC. The add on pulley has only the PS.
Me thinks!

JR

[Leif A.]

Re: Midyear Fan Belt Alignment

Leif------


No Corvette EVER used a 3 groove harmonic balancer pulley. However, some small blocks did use a 2 groove balancer pulley with a 1 groove pulley sandwiched on the front. These include 1964 with L-75 and power steering, the application in question.

I misspoke, Joe. I was referring to the third sandwiched pulley on the front effectively making it appear as a 3 groove pulley. I should, also, have been more clear on the installation of the belts. #1 groove on both the crank and water pump is for the alternator belt. #2 groove on both crank and water pump is for the A/C compressor belt (lacking A/C, there was a belt that just tied the water pump to the crank should the alternator belt break allowing the water pump to still function). #3 groove on crank only and power steering pump.

[Leif A.]

Re: Midyear Fan Belt Alignment

Regarding the belt hitting your lower radiator hose...check this out from John Hinckley quote from 2011 on the "other" forum.

"The correct lower radiator hose can be installed backwards, which almost always results in contact with the fan belt."

Just something else to check.

[James W.]

Re: Midyear Fan Belt Alignment

Joe,

I put it back together the way it came apart and the P/S pulley and the third add on pulley line up. Not sure how else the pully would fit closer to the cranks pulley as the pulley only nests in against the crank pulley one way. If it did, it would not line up with the P/S pump pulley. No operational issues in the last four years since I rebuild the water pump and replaced all belts and hoses. I'll look at my '65 AIM again tonight and get a look at the configuration.


Thanks,

James

James,

Something is wrong with your belt setup. Starting with the crank the add on Pulley for the PS fits completely inside the original crank pulley. It looks like it had a three groove pulley when installed correctly.
The first groove closest to the motor has the alternator, water pump and crank. The second groove has the water pump, crankshaft and AC. The add on pulley has only the PS.
Me thinks!

JR

[Leif A.]

Re: Midyear Fan Belt Alignment

[QUOTE=James West (18379);708801]Joe,

I put it back together the way it came apart and the P/S pulley and the third add on pulley line up. Not sure how else the pully would fit closer to the cranks pulley as the pulley only nests in against the crank pulley one way. If it did, it would not line up with the P/S pump pulley. No operational issues in the last four years since I rebuild the water pump and replaced all belts and hoses. I'll look at my '65 AIM again tonight and get a look at the configuration.

James,

I'm sure Joe meant to address the OP. Your '65 L79 is set up perfectly.
Thanks,

[Joe L.]

Re: Midyear Fan Belt Alignment

James,

Something is wrong with your belt setup. Starting with the crank the add on Pulley for the PS fits completely inside the original crank pulley. It looks like it had a three groove pulley when installed correctly.
The first groove closest to the motor has the alternator, water pump and crank. The second groove has the water pump, crankshaft and AC. The add on pulley has only the PS.
Me thinks!

JR

JR-------


I agree. The set-up shown in James' photo is not how a 1967 L-79 with C-60 and N-40 should appear. The 2 groove crank pulley should be a GM #3850838 and the 1 groove sandwiched pulley should be a GM #3751232. When installed correctly, they should appear as a 3 groove pulley with 3 adjoining grooves.

I'm not even sure the waterpump pulley is correct. It appears to be a deep groove pulley and L-79 with C-60 and N-40 did not use a deep groove pulley set. In any event, if it is the correct pulley it should be a GM #3890419.

In addition to the above, the A/C belt looks way out of alignment to me.

Yes, I could understand that this set-up might work OK but it's not correct.

[Leif A.]

Re: Midyear Fan Belt Alignment

Joe,I see what you're saying. If you look real close at the first picture, it appears that the power steering belt is in the third position but that there then is a fourth groove...that would definitely not be correct. Attached is a pic of my '67 L79...I think the same setup as a '65. Leif

[Leif A.]

Re: Midyear Fan Belt Alignment

Forgot to attach picture

[Dale M.]

Re: Midyear Fan Belt Alignment

This is correct, there is 3 groves on the crank and the belts are like you stated. Thanks

[Dale M.]

Re: Midyear Fan Belt Alignment

Thanks for all the suggestions. I do believe that I better understand the pulleys and the fan belt groves. Basically, the grove closest to the engine is for the alternator, the second grove is for the AS and the 3rd grove on the crank is for the PS. This really makes sense for production process. As far as I can tell I do have the correct pulleys. Next I have attempted to verify that I have the lower heater hose correctly installed. I attempted to include a picture, but download issues. The lower radiator hose does have an arrow pointing toward the radiator with the letter RAD. It seems to be correct. I am down to 2 issue, 1. the fan belt may be too long allowing the angle to be off causing the hitting of the lower radiator hose. or 2. the lower radiator after market may not be correct. The first curve off the water pump may not be sharp enough bend. As normal or major frustration is with these remanufactured parts? I recently purchase a new fuel filter and it was 3/4 inches shorter that my old one. It was hard to stretch the metal fuel lines to make it fit, but I found for $2 extra they had a "judge-able" filter that fit.I will be checking the fan belt.In helping this discussion, I have recently put in a new Dewitt radiator and all new hoses. I believe that the radiator is good. I have to repair my radiator shroud as it had been cut for the aftermarket radiator previously in the car. Also the alternator is a junk part store, not sure of the pulley on it or its size. Thanks everyone. Dale