belt run question

We have all of our accessories mocked up and trying to decide if the way we have the belts running will work. The front belt is really the questionable one where it raps on the power steering pump towards the bottom right of the picture. Is this enough belt to pulley to not run into issues?

Are those V-belt pullies? If so you cannot use an idler pulley the way you have it with a V-belt.

yes it is a v-belt, whats the reason for not being able to run a v-bel or at least the top flat part on an idler?

Too sharp of a bend IMO, plus most V-belts not designed to run against anything on the backside. I'd suggest contacting a belt manufacture and get a recommendation.

Steve

I have plenty of farm implements with V belts that have idler pulleys on the back side and there are no issues doing that. As far as the small idler and the 180* turn on the back side, just try to find a belt with inside serrations . BTW I'd find a thicker belt than what you have on there now.

schmitty wrote:I have plenty of farm implements with V belts that have idler pulleys on the back side and there are no issues doing that. As far as the small idler and the 180* turn on the back side, just try to find a belt with inside serrations . BTW I'd find a thicker belt than what you have on there now.

Why I said "most". Have a ditch digger like that. You have to get a V-belt designed for running on the backside. The Gates Truflex and PoweRated are designed to have a tensioner run on the backside. That 180 deg. bend have you ever tried that? Think he best talk to the belt makers for a belt recommendation and advice or can try it and see what happens.

Steve

Yes I've seen that bend done before, and it does work for a while, belt life is reduced as such because of it, so beware.

The issue I see is that the water pump looks to be running in reverse rotation and I don't know of any pump available for a big block Ford which runs backwards; unless I'm seeing the photo wrong. It's not very clear around the crankshaft and where it goes from there ... are there two belts?

Running a standard pump in reverse MIGHT be enough for a regular type engine but, for a supercharged engine ? ... not a chance.

Guys,

Look more closely at the picture. I "think" that completely hidden by the blower idler pulley, is an alternator behind the idler pulley. I also "think" that there are two V belts in this system, with one driving the alternator on the right front of the engine, and the second belt drives the water pump in the correct rotation, and the A/C compressor and ? on the left side of the engine.

I might be wrong, and probably another picture or two from different angles would help.

Charlie

No Charlie, you are correct. When I first looked at it had to blow up the picture to see. Alt. on one belt with idler, and water pump, PS, and A/C on other with idler. Water pump is turning in the correct direction.

Steve

schmitty wrote:Yes I've seen that bend done before, and it does work for a while, belt life is reduced as such because of it, so beware.

Good to know. How much life figure get out of the belt?

Personally, if at all possible think I would move the A/C comp. down under the alternator. Would get rid of the 180 deg. idler, reduce the load and lenght of the one belt and give a better "wrap".

Steve

I'm thinking that this set up is for a serpentine belt set up, and I would think that if one could find the proper pulleys it would be better off that way.

who needs a/c with a blower! cool looken build,whats it goen in and some pics!

Guys,

My understanding is that most of the pulleys and etc. are from "March", and are for the BB Ford. Jon used the March drive stuff on the front end of his Boss Nine powered Mustang that was on display at the 2009 Ford Winter Tech Seminar in Evansville.

To answer a few questions:
-there are two belts in the way we have it now. 1 runs on the passenger side off the crank and around the alt and back to the crank. 2nd belt is the interesting one going crank, water pump, idler, a/c, pwr steering, crank.

- the brackets started off as a set March sell for a ford 460, however do to running a front plate and clearance for some other things we have had to move them around and add things onto them.

- after talking gates the only belt they recommended due to the 180 bend was their 9000HD series. All great except this is a show car and their belt is green. SOOO back to the drawing board and move around some things.

-The motor is going in a 66 fairlane gta convertible that has been prostreeted. I'll add some links to pics when i get on the other computer later.

thanks for the input