Anyone who knows classic cars knows that most people want a serpentine or flat-belt conversion, and are willing to pay ridiculous prices for nice aftermarket systems, and healthy prices for OEM solutions pulled from the junkyard.
This is because V-Belts, the old style used before flat and serpentine belts came along, are notorious for slipping, tearing, squealing, needing tension hazardous to accessory bearings, being difficult to tension, and having short lives.
Certain cars (like Pontiac big blocks of the 60's ) were known to throw their belts straight out of the showroom upon first WOT trip.
There is a little known solution to this drama. Compressors, lawnmowers, snowblowers, mulchers, and other equipment use V-Belts to drive large components with remarkable amounts of horsepower and torque. An automotive engine certainly produces more power than these applications, but an automotive alternator, AC compressor, or power steering pump certainly takes less horsepower to drive than certain components I've seen driven by a single V-belt in industrial applications.
I discovered a long time ago that many auto parts stores have these industrial belts in stock. They're made of aramid fibers (like flexible armoring) as opposed to full rubber composition. I've found that these belts do not stretch, do not require nearly as much tension, last nearly forever, and do not squeal. I consider this mandatory when converting a car to AC that uses a single V-belt to drive the compressor. Also for high amp alternators driven by single V-Belts. I've been using the Dayco GPL premium belts, with no issues.
Even on old muscle cars pushing out over 600 hp, I've never had a belt issue. I use them in my lift trucks, boats, trucks, and stationary engines.
When I got my first 68 Dodge, I had nothing but problems with the V-Belts. The GPL belts solved all of that. If anyone else is having issues with V-Belts in an older car (or even newer Hondas, from what I've seen), give these a shot.
The most recent belt I bought is a Dayco L447, for an old 454 Chevy. One belt driving both water pump/fan and alternator alone. The last two digits are the belt external circumference. Whereas a new Dayco rubber belt was squealing like a pig, even with enough tension to make the belt tight as piano wire; the GPL is silent with less tension. Voltage is now a stable 14.6 at idle.
Good luck, and keep rolling.
This is because V-Belts, the old style used before flat and serpentine belts came along, are notorious for slipping, tearing, squealing, needing tension hazardous to accessory bearings, being difficult to tension, and having short lives.
Certain cars (like Pontiac big blocks of the 60's ) were known to throw their belts straight out of the showroom upon first WOT trip.
There is a little known solution to this drama. Compressors, lawnmowers, snowblowers, mulchers, and other equipment use V-Belts to drive large components with remarkable amounts of horsepower and torque. An automotive engine certainly produces more power than these applications, but an automotive alternator, AC compressor, or power steering pump certainly takes less horsepower to drive than certain components I've seen driven by a single V-belt in industrial applications.
I discovered a long time ago that many auto parts stores have these industrial belts in stock. They're made of aramid fibers (like flexible armoring) as opposed to full rubber composition. I've found that these belts do not stretch, do not require nearly as much tension, last nearly forever, and do not squeal. I consider this mandatory when converting a car to AC that uses a single V-belt to drive the compressor. Also for high amp alternators driven by single V-Belts. I've been using the Dayco GPL premium belts, with no issues.
Even on old muscle cars pushing out over 600 hp, I've never had a belt issue. I use them in my lift trucks, boats, trucks, and stationary engines.
When I got my first 68 Dodge, I had nothing but problems with the V-Belts. The GPL belts solved all of that. If anyone else is having issues with V-Belts in an older car (or even newer Hondas, from what I've seen), give these a shot.
The most recent belt I bought is a Dayco L447, for an old 454 Chevy. One belt driving both water pump/fan and alternator alone. The last two digits are the belt external circumference. Whereas a new Dayco rubber belt was squealing like a pig, even with enough tension to make the belt tight as piano wire; the GPL is silent with less tension. Voltage is now a stable 14.6 at idle.
Good luck, and keep rolling.
