serp belt vs. v-belts

[RootBreaker]

v-belt here... took the serp setup off my motor when I put it in......

 

[Chevy305]

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=MCH%2D22020&N=400108+4294908216+115&autoview=sku

March Performance Pulleys makes a serpetine conversion kit that runs 2 flat belts in the same setup as a v-belt.

 

[boggerless]

if you had access to both setups which one would you pick?

ryan

i would rather have one belt go than all of them.serps limit you to no drivabilty.JMO

 

[BKinzey]

I'm going serp on my build.

I know I'll be short a bracket or pulley somewhere I've decided I'll need to figure out what when I put the engine in and start hooking things up. I'll be swapping sides with the AC and Alt and putting in the belt tensioner with a 6.5L Turbo Diesel I got so confuz-zed I also haven't made the decision to use a Vac pump or not. Probably will.

 

[lurtch-k20-(78-90)]

Think about this, most of us are "fabricators" (I use this word loosely), what about the idea of having both worlds, misalignment and durability of a V-belt, yet the constant tension of a tension arm, I have been wondering of this idea for some time. In the presents of a stock V-belt setup, it would require two tension arms, but you still have the isolation of the accessories, I might totally be in left field, and re-engineering the wheel. This has possibly been done by an after market, but if so you would be at the mercy of dedicated parts from them, this would be something built from totally Yet very available stock parts. Just an Idea

 

[onetonbb74]

v belts, there already there. I have spare water pump, alternator (w/ american bearings), and belts (2). I spend a lot of money on my truck, and still have not found a reason to change my pulleys.

BTW, i can put a V-belt back on by placing it on the pulley's a certain way and when you crank the motor, it slips right on no tools needed and i have no inner fenders, so i dont even have to pop the hood. EASY.

My friend's chevelle has serpintine pulley kit from March, and you can hear one of them when you hit the 250shot of nos button on the dash, he is already upgrading to the grooved/slotted 2" thick pulleys.

 

[ntsqd]

Think about this, most of us are "fabricators" (I use this word loosely), what about the idea of having both worlds, misalignment and durability of a V-belt, yet the constant tension of a tension arm, I have been wondering of this idea for some time. In the presents of a stock V-belt setup, it would require two tension arms, but you still have the isolation of the accessories, I might totally be in left field, and re-engineering the wheel. This has possibly been done by an after market, but if so you would be at the mercy of dedicated parts from them, this would be something built from totally Yet very available stock parts. Just an Idea

V belts don't usually like to have anything run on the top or back (width part) of the belt. So any tension idler would also need to be a V type and on the underside. V's have minimum degrees of wrap required for a given power transmission level. Since you can't bend them backwards that kinda limits how many pulleys each can be wrapped around.

Old school wide V's (5/8"+ wide) didn't need as much tension as the later, narrower belts require. So there's a bearing penalty there.

 

[barneybasher1010]

just run with what you have

 

[goldwing2000]

I'm in the process of switching to serp for one big reason: easier and cheaper to convert to OBA.

I'm just going with a factory setup that you can find on any 5.7L or 4.3L Chevy engine. Factory parts are LOTS easier to find in the event of breakage.

 

[Drey]

Ive had vehicles with V-belts and vehicles with serp, I highly prefer serp, and thats why im putting it on my K10.


Revin my motor to cackle the exhaust and having it result in a belt sqealing got really old...really fast...especially when your trying to impress chicks

 

[goldwing2000]

Those of you with serp belt setup, does it use a short or long water pump?

 

[m-4x4-chevy]

Serpentine belts are fine for driving on the roads. If you get into the back country, a multiple v-belt system is better. I have been stranded by a siezed smog pump and a sepentine belt on another vehicle. Any 1 component fails and your toast. And components do fail! Any 1 component fails with my multiple v-belt system, I cut off the related belt, and I can continue down the trail. If I had a newer style serpentine belt system on my Chevy 4X4 I would replace it with the older multiple v-belt system.

 

[noJeepshere]

v-belts are better off road imo. if one fails, youve got another to keep plugging on with.

 

[K5dreamer]

Id have to agree with the serp on the street, V in the mud crowd. I love the ease of maintanence and more efficient operation of the serp on my camaro, but i have to say the military got the setup right on my truck. yeah it sucks to have to carry three spare belts (and figuring out what length to get because they dont sell them at the dealership anymore). but the likelyhood of me EVER getting stuck somewhere remote because of a thrown belt is slim to none. and really, ive got a toolbox in the back of my rig, and the belts dont take up that much space, so where is the actual inconvenience???

two batteries and two alternators make sure ive got juice. each alternator is on its own V belt. the passenger side alt shares a belt with the PS pump, both alts also go around the water pump, and there is a dedicated v belt just for the water pump itself. so in order to be dead in the water, i pretty much need a nuke to go off under the hood. and because its a 6.2L diesel, im not very concerned with high rpm operation.

 

[RootBreaker]

yeah it sucks to have to carry three spare belts (and figuring out what length to get because they dont sell them at the dealership anymore)..

i found a universal belt... kinda like a belt on your pants... you cut it to lenght and clicks together... limp ya back home.....

can dig up the PN if you wish.... it is behind my seat...

 

[lrazer]

serp is much easier just carry one spare belt they are simpe to change and dont have useless accessorys (like a smog pump) all my serp turns is the w/p p/s, and alternator and if any of those fail your not just gonna be able to cut off a belt and keep going, that being said i also have a spare alternator and waterpump

 

[m-4x4-chevy]

In response to ZooMad75. I have worked at the GM Desert Proving Grounds out here in Arizona. I have worked with many GM engineers. GM does spend millions of dollars designing and testing their vehivcles and parts. A lot of that time and money was spent making sure the parts will wear out. GM believed they could sell more parts and new cars that way. I love my Chevy 4x4 but it is engineered to wear out.

Honda and Toyota came along with a philosophy of making cars and trucks last and now GM is going down the toilet. Serves GM right for scr*%!$& us for all those years.

PS: We just bought a Honda.

 

[blazin_blazer]

same thing nascar uses to change the tires, except those ones cost about 2k.quote]


no, thats an impact nascar uses, an air ratchet is just that, looks like a ratchet not a gun.

 

[wasted wages]

I run them both....

3" wide and v-belts....

 

[resurrected_jimmy]

Which one is more detrimental if it breaks.... the V belt or the serpantine