Serpitine or V Belt

buddman (AKA Mick) · February 08, 2012, 11:10:44 PM

So no matter what I keep throwing the v belt off the atenator. The power steeing one stays on but no matter what it throws the alt. Yes I have it lined up but no good. So I got a serp belt set up I think I gonna try. Motor pry only hits arond 6000 rpms or so. Anyone else run a sep belt without any problems? And yes I know I have to run a different water pump. Oh and its on a small block chevy.

xjs3667 · February 08, 2012, 11:36:31 PM

I prefer serp. belt, no squeal when cold, and no slipping when it gets wet, only thing I dont like is when it breaks you lose everything ps,wp,alt. but imo serp belts last longer too

marshall · February 08, 2012, 11:55:15 PM

love my serpentine setup with tensioner. never had a problem, 6000 rpm all day, im sure mine has touched 7 when im mad at it?

betterbeaters · February 09, 2012, 12:21:07 AM

my buddy runs 7000 all day with his surpentine set up works great

ToughBowtieTruck · February 09, 2012, 02:44:31 AM

There are two kinds of serpentine belt systems: manual tension and automatic tension.

I went from a V belt on my sbc to a manual tension serpentine, it works better, and the belts don't come off or roll over, but they still stretch and loosen up under high rpms or high alternator draw (like when snow plowing.)

My advice is get a full serpentine system that has an automatic tensioner. That way it can constantly keep the belt tight. 91?-98 GM trucks are the best, the 88-90s or so have some riff-raff steel brackets and such. The newer ones are aluminum-cast brackets. Just remember to get the reversed water pump too.

paul · February 09, 2012, 04:27:29 AM

my dads bogger use to do the same thing with the v-belt allways rolled over and then broke. then he switched to serpentine and hasnt had a prob since

4x4xdodgeman · February 09, 2012, 05:21:22 AM

what kind of belt are you useing? use dayco belts. this mite be happening is when you use belts with notches on the v part of the belt, it will walk up the pulley when rev up. dayco notches are on top side of the belt, not touching the pulley. ( it dose not have to be a dayco brand. that is what i use)

buddman (AKA Mick) · February 09, 2012, 12:44:33 PM

Well I have an old style steel bracket one off a late 80's truck. Has the spring loaded tensioner. Gonna try that. It has the braces that go back n bolt to the intake to help stop any flexing.

betterbeaters · February 09, 2012, 06:14:30 PM

Quote from: 4x4xdodgeman on February 09, 2012, 05:21:22 AM
what kind of belt are you useing? use dayco belts. this mite be happening is when you use belts with notches on the v part of the belt, it will walk up the pulley when rev up. dayco notches are on top side of the belt, not touching the pulley. ( it dose not have to be a dayco brand. that is what i use)

I run dayco belts on my truck v belts with my 6000 chip in the msd I can sit ont it and not lose my belt but with any other brand it will pop it. but with my elec water pump its a pain to use a normal surp. system. I also had way better luck with daycos staying on with the other 7500 chip..

jbeery78 · February 10, 2012, 01:55:39 AM

Serp belt with auto tensiioner, dayco belts for sure. Ive seen certain setups that are double sided, so there are no smooth pulleys to loose a belt on, but idk if u can get a pump with a grooved pulley for a chevy.

jbeery78 · February 10, 2012, 01:59:03 AM

And i would agree that a "gatorback" style notched belt would try to walk at high rpm.

Jjay78 · February 10, 2012, 02:47:15 AM

i've ran both v belts and auto tensioner serp belts, with good belts and deep grove pulleys they've both held up good for me, i like the serp belts cuz their easier to change the belts or an alternator or whatever, but i like the v belts for their simplicity too. it kinda just dpeneds on your perference and what parts ya got handy to use, but i will say that with v belts good pulleys with deep groves makes a difference