mwood1985
1/2 ton status
i never even saw a ac delete pully in the junkyard so i had to buy one
CK5
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swapping to one belt serpentine system questions
- Thread starter mwood1985
- Start date
i just did this swap with the exception of the water pump, i assume i need a reverse rotation water pump from a 87 and up truck? when i look up the part number for an older model truck its the same as the part number for my 77? do i need a counterclockwise rotation? thanks
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Whatever vehicle your brackets are off of - you need that same (approximate) year water pump. There are 3 different "lengths" of pumps, and about 3 different pulley hole patterns, so you need the pump and pulley to match the rest of your brackets. The pumps also got different mounting bosses and holes based on the rest of the system. I think one of the feet on the carb pump will hit the TBI brackets. I think every water pump for serpentine systems are reverse rotation. If it has a smooth pulley, it's supposed to spin backwards. (this is not reverse flow - that's something else)
4xcrazy
3/4 ton status
You'd need a water pump from an '88 and up truck, the '87 still uses the standard rotation.
got it, i thought the donor truck was an 87, turns out it was a 90, thanks
bww3588
Registered Member
I'm going thru something similar, but the opposite direction. Switching from a serp setup to v belt.
3 reasons before I get flamed for it. 1, my alt/ps bracket is broken, and 2 because I hate the looks of it, and if I lose a belt, I don't want to lose everything.
I already have the alt and ps brackets from a mid 70's vehicle, but I have some questions.
Will my 89 alternator work with older brackets and the pulley swapped, and 2 same question for the ps pump?
I plan to run 3 belts, one from crank to wp to alt, one from crank to wp and back to crank, and one from crank to ps. So even If I lose one belt, I still have at least the wp and something else.
3 reasons before I get flamed for it. 1, my alt/ps bracket is broken, and 2 because I hate the looks of it, and if I lose a belt, I don't want to lose everything.
I already have the alt and ps brackets from a mid 70's vehicle, but I have some questions.
Will my 89 alternator work with older brackets and the pulley swapped, and 2 same question for the ps pump?
I plan to run 3 belts, one from crank to wp to alt, one from crank to wp and back to crank, and one from crank to ps. So even If I lose one belt, I still have at least the wp and something else.
i have never lost a belt on serp from years of mud / snow and gen use. i even had a bad oil seal leak and had oil built up on the belt and it was soft and gooie and still didnt loose it.
also 1 wrench puts on a serp belt unlike multi tools for v belts.
and 1 spare can be stored better than 3 belts.
but each to there own.
and as i said p/s pump fits when converting to serp . so same if going backwards.
and alt prob wont work as its smaller.
also 1 wrench puts on a serp belt unlike multi tools for v belts.
and 1 spare can be stored better than 3 belts.
but each to there own.
and as i said p/s pump fits when converting to serp . so same if going backwards.
and alt prob wont work as its smaller.
I agree with both of you. You rarely hear of a serpentine belt failure, except for years of neglect where the thing just wore off. The real issue is if an accessory siezes up or you break a bracket. The only hope is if you have the spare accessory/idler or planned ahead with some shorter spare belts for alternate routings (which probably nobody does).
Of course if you sieze a water pump you're done and with no alternator you're only going so far (except in the case of the 6.2) with any belt setup.
Of course if you sieze a water pump you're done and with no alternator you're only going so far (except in the case of the 6.2) with any belt setup.
4xcrazy
3/4 ton status
Only real failure you'll most likely get, as I have a few different times with a couple of trucks, is component failure. My alternator fried on me in the burb once, broken bearings, essentially left me on the side of the road, couldn't run the engine, and the other was with my mother's truck, same thing but with the power steering pump.
Hers was about 75 miles outside of town, I tow strapped that one back in, was fun
Both of which would not allow us to run the engine, so yes, no real other option other than to replace the parts on the side of the road.
Hers was about 75 miles outside of town, I tow strapped that one back in, was fun
Both of which would not allow us to run the engine, so yes, no real other option other than to replace the parts on the side of the road.
bww3588
Registered Member
Not debating that I probably won't lose a serp belt, and its easier to store, but it doesn't change the fact it looks like **** and mine is broken. Also I agree with what others have said about component failure. If I lose the alt, I can remove the belt if it hasn't already removed itself and continue as long as the battery lasts. With the serp, I'm stuck...
That isn't exactly true. 1988 K5's Suburbans, 3/4 ton crew cabs, 1 ton crew cabs, and 1 ton cab and chasis will still use the v belts with a small serpentine belt on the alternator. They don't switch over until 1989.
Martin
4xcrazy
3/4 ton status
I stand corrected, was going off old memories, which are fading...
I could have swore a friends '88 was using a single serpentine, but after further research, I was incorrect. My deepest apologies I will try to do better in the future to prevent any further false or incorrect information from bring posted.
I could have swore a friends '88 was using a single serpentine, but after further research, I was incorrect. My deepest apologies I will try to do better in the future to prevent any further false or incorrect information from bring posted.
A regular 1988 pickup does have a serpentine though.
Martin
Martin
454Sub
5/8 ton status
The chances of component seizure are pretty slim in the grand scheme of things. Both my trucks have ran them for 10 years on one, 7 on the other. Never replaced any component on either truck. Still going. Not saying a component wont go bad, as in leaks from the p/s or wp, or lack of charging from the alt, but the chances of it actually locking up and tossing the belt are pretty low.
To me, the act of repeatedly tightening them stupid v-belts and fighting multiple belts vs one belt that MIGHT toss once every dozen years is a simple answer. And to me, it looks much cleaner than 5 belts spinning all over the place with multiple grooves for different belts, but to each their own.
To me, the act of repeatedly tightening them stupid v-belts and fighting multiple belts vs one belt that MIGHT toss once every dozen years is a simple answer. And to me, it looks much cleaner than 5 belts spinning all over the place with multiple grooves for different belts, but to each their own.
