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Belts helps

Green Monster

Green Monster

1/2 ton status
Joined
Aug 10, 2013
Posts
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Location
Thousand Oaks, CA
Hey guys, got a 76 Blazer with 350 (originally 400) and can't seem to find the right belt for the a/c. Both Napa and autozone give me the belt for the p/s pump that goes p/s-water pump- crank. I think the a/c goes a/c-p/s-crank. It's longer than the other one. Know which belt I need? Thanks!
 
Whoever swapped in the 350 might have used the 400 pulleys,or left the ones on the 350 that came with it...or it may have a combination of pulleys off of each engine...unless you know the engine has its original pulleys and the vehicle it came in to use as an application to look the belts up,or it still has all the pulleys off the 400,no one will be able to look up the "right belt"..

You'll probably have to resort to using a piece of rope around the pulleys to get an estimated outside length of the belt you need,buy several around that size,and return the ones that dont fit..

In my experience "most" GM vehicles with A/C had the belt going around the A/C compressor,the crank,and the power steering had a double grooved pulley it went around on the outer sheave,some went around the water pump too--but every vehicle is unique and there may be variations..
 
diesel4me said:
Whoever swapped in the 350 might have used the 400 pulleys,or left the ones on the 350 that came with it...or it may have a combination of pulleys off of each engine...unless you know the engine has its original pulleys and the vehicle it came in to use as an application to look the belts up,or it still has all the pulleys off the 400,no one will be able to look up the "right belt"..

You'll probably have to resort to using a piece of rope around the pulleys to get an estimated outside length of the belt you need,buy several around that size,and return the ones that dont fit..

In my experience "most" GM vehicles with A/C had the belt going around the A/C compressor,the crank,and the power steering had a double grooved pulley it went around on the outer sheave,some went around the water pump too--but every vehicle is unique and there may be variations..
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Thanks for your help. I'm pretty sure all the pulleys are stock. I thought about the rope trick. And yes, this belt goes a/c-crank-p/s with a double groove p/s pulley.
 
I remember the 400SB I had from a '78 Suburban had different pulleys than my other small blocks..cant recall if the crank pulley was bigger,or the water pump one was smaller (or both!)--I do recall reading the 400 used different pulleys to spin the water pump faster to aid in keeping it cool..
 
The back belt goes from crank pulley to power steering to crank. the next belt goes crank to water pump to AC to power steering to crank. the next belt goes from crank to alternator to water pump to crank. the front belt goes water pump to smog pump
 
frankin5 said:
The back belt goes from crank pulley to power steering to crank. the next belt goes crank to water pump to AC to power steering to crank. the next belt goes from crank to alternator to water pump to crank. the front belt goes water pump to smog pump
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I only have three belts, so my front belt goes alternator, smog pump, crank, water pump. Rest are the same. Finally found someone at NAPA who knew what they were talking about and gave me the right belt today.
 
Now that you have a belt that fits--write the part # down somewhere on the truck in magic marker,like on the radiator support,so if there is a "next time" any parts store can supply the right belt with no guesswork..
I have had to keep a small notebook in my glove box when I swapped an engine from another vehicle into one of my trucks in order to know what parts they used...like my '81 G-10 van,it had a straight six originally,it now has a 307 V8 from a '73 Chevelle in it (and the radiator from the same car!)...so if I need parts like belts,water pump,etc,I have to look up a '73 Chevelle..

I also keep any unbroken used belts in the vehicle for spares in the event one breaks out in the boonies...ditto for used distributor caps,rotor,coil,ignition module,alternator,starter--doesn't take up much room and they can save your butt if you end up needing them !..
 
diesel4me said:
Now that you have a belt that fits--write the part # down somewhere on the truck in magic marker,like on the radiator support,so if there is a "next time" any parts store can supply the right belt with no guesswork..
I have had to keep a small notebook in my glove box when I swapped an engine from another vehicle into one of my trucks in order to know what parts they used...like my '81 G-10 van,it had a straight six originally,it now has a 307 V8 from a '73 Chevelle in it (and the radiator from the same car!)...so if I need parts like belts,water pump,etc,I have to look up a '73 Chevelle..

I also keep any unbroken used belts in the vehicle for spares in the event one breaks out in the boonies...ditto for used distributor caps,rotor,coil,ignition module,alternator,starter--doesn't take up much room and they can save your butt if you end up needing them !..
Click to expand...
Great idea, thanks! The old belts aren't terrible, just cheap insurance while I have everything apart. I'll start a notebook so I don't have to go through the frustration again.
 
You will thank yourself later for keeping records of part numbers (especially once you age and aren't as good at remembering stuff like you used too! :doah: )..and carrying spare "used" parts..

It may suck changing a belt or alternator on the side of the road,but it beats a huge tow bill,and being at the mercy of whatever service station your vehicle ends up at...a stupid fan belt can cost you $500 by the time you get towed somewhere and they get another belt put on it..
 
Got a new problem. Installed the ac belt, and it is really close to the water pump. Maybe a playing card can fit. Anyone seen this before?

image.jpeg
 
image.jpeg I think it's the camera angle. Here's a side view. It's lined up. See how close it is to the water pump? Should I just hit it with a grinder to give me a sixteenth or so?
 
That belt is suppose to go on the water pump pulley. Crank-water pump-AC-power steering back to crank.
 
the second belt to power steering is from crank to PS back to crank.
 
the back pulley should go to the power steering pump. The AC has to go over the water pump pulley.
 
Is that a short or long neck water pump. I could be wrong but the 76 should be a short pump.
 
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