SBC Serpentine Accessory Belt Upgrade (Page 4/7)
V8Steve MAY 21, 06:53 AM
I plan to do mine in June and will just estimate dimensions for the tensioner by judging the photos.

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88GT ZZ4 Sequential EFI Bigstuff3 - 275 RWHP Dyno'd,
anderson@gdsconsulting.com

couldahadaV8 JUN 03, 08:39 PM
This is very nice. I might have missed it somewhere (haven't been on this site in a while) but why did you do this conversion? I have an engine mounted electric water pump now; sticks into the wheel-well area. I also had to notch the frame since a SBC with a 4T65E-HD makes a pretty long package. I haven't driven it much yet, just putting it on the road now after years of mods. Is there an issue with the standard belt setup?

thank you,

Rick
SBC/4T65E-HD
Ferrari Dino body
Miata dash
Coil overs front and rear
A lot more little things
fieroguru JUN 03, 08:56 PM

quote
Originally posted by couldahadaV8:
I might have missed it somewhere (haven't been on this site in a while) but why did you do this conversion?
Is there an issue with the standard belt setup?



1. The auto tensioner helps maintain proper belt tension vs. the manual pry the alternator up, tighten the bolts and do it again as the belt stretches.
2. With this modification, the alternator never moves, so you can add the rear support to help stabilize it. Quick revving SBCs can flex the stock aluminum alternator mount enough to throw the belt on occasion.
3. Helps reduce belt squeal in the rain.
4. Improved belt wrap around the AC compressor (eliminates belt squeal while running AC)
Formula350 JUN 04, 09:39 AM
Awesome work adapting serpentine belts. I definitely want to do this on my sbc.

Currently I just have my alternator mounted down low where the ac compressor is supposed to be. My Archie kit is very old... like from the mid 90's when he used all flame cut steel. I don't even know where my Archie alternator bracket is. Lost is two moves ago. But somehow I gotta figure out how to get this done!!
V8Steve AUG 10, 01:17 PM
I'm having trouble with the Dorman harmonic balancer listed above. I bought it from Rock Auto and it's not a press fit on the nose of the new crank. The engine builder tells me the crank is fine but the balancer inside diameter measures 1.2490" and it's oversize. Has anyone come across this? The O'Reilly equivalent says it's supposed to be 1.245. We don't want to proceed without a press fit.

[This message has been edited by V8Steve (edited 08-10-2016).]

2.5 AUG 10, 02:07 PM

To run the 88 4 cylinder AC compressor on the SBC, can one just use the 88 4 cylinder hoses as well, or are do they need modifed?
fieroguru AUG 10, 07:27 PM

quote
Originally posted by V8Steve:

I'm having trouble with the Dorman harmonic balancer listed above. I bought it from Rock Auto and it's not a press fit on the nose of the new crank. The engine builder tells me the crank is fine but the balancer inside diameter measures 1.2490" and it's oversize. Has anyone come across this? The O'Reilly equivalent says it's supposed to be 1.245. We don't want to proceed without a press fit.




Sounds like it was machined wrong or boxed wrong. I would return it and get one from another vendor.



quote
Originally posted by 2.5:

To run the 88 4 cylinder AC compressor on the SBC, can one just use the 88 4 cylinder hoses as well, or are do they need modifed?



The stock 4cyl hose would still be a little short. However, you can move the bracket where the engine AC hoses attach to the chassis AC lines over a couple of inches to use the stock AC hose. Or just get some new hoses made up.

V8Steve AUG 10, 07:50 PM
I phoned Rock Auto but there was no menu choice to discuss this return. It directs you to the Return portion of the website. When I processed the return and had to select the Model Year I made Mistake #1 of 2. I selected "Unlisted" and then it told me it was not returnable.

I phoned Rock Auto again and finally got a real person and explained the situation. Mistake #2 - I was honest and explained what I was doing with it. They called up my record and could see the return was refused. I explained that O'Reilly publishes the crank bore diameter and it shows the measured Rock (Dorman) bore to be oversize. Their canned response was that someone else's website data could not be used. (Archie gave me the O'Reilly number and a big thanks to him today).

I was planning to buy a lot more parts from Rock but so much for their customer service.

Will buy the O'Reilly balancer tomorrow. Maybe I should bring the engine with me to make sure it has the proper interference fit?
Will AUG 10, 09:17 PM
You told them their own damned part was out of spec? It doesn't matter what spec O'Reilly's has for it... Chevy has a spec and if their part doesn't meet that spec, they owe you your money back.
V8Steve AUG 25, 11:29 PM
Update:
The Dorman 594-027 balancer was a loose fit and Rock Auto refused to take it back. We bought the Pioneer DA-151 from Autozone and it was surely a press-fit..just what we wanted. The press was a bit too much and we knew it would go on and off a few times to get things properly fitted so it was necessary to hone the bore. Once on and bottomed against the timing gear, we found it to be too far onto the crank such that the end bolt could not fully torque the balancer against the timing gear, even though it was a suitable press fit. Eventually we used a shim, around .030" to go between the balancer and the timing gear which allowed the bolt to fully clamp the pressed balancer against the timing gear.

Lessons learned:
The Dorman, at least the one I bought, is a loose fit and has the potential to ruin the end of the crank.
Rock Auto - I won't buy anything from them again.
The Auto-zone Pioneer balancer is a press fit but not exactly a bolt-on as it still required careful assembly and shimming.

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88GT ZZ4 Sequential EFI Bigstuff3 - 275 RWHP Dyno'd,
anderson@gdsconsulting.com