Alternator belt

[Wouter]

My Bird has a 352 engine, AC and a new installed 130 Amp. alternator instead of the old generator.
All this driven by its original, single belt.
Now the alternator needs after some bad start attempts more drive power, that's normal. The single belt is in that case insufficient to deliver enough torque and squeeks terrible for a few minutes..

What best to do.. Install a heavier belt if available ? Or double the belt with double pulley?
Maybe let run the AC belt in another way than through the waterpump pulley to relieve the alternator belt?

Thanks in advance,

Wouter

[jopizz]

How did you mount the new alternator. What brackets are you using. Hopefully you are not using the cheap generic brackets that they sell to convert from generator to alternator. Those are worthless. Did your old generator have a dual belt pulley. If so you can swap that to your new alternator and use two belts.

John

[Wouter]

I have the alternator directly bolted on the engine; found a threaded mounting hole and supported alternator with two brackets; made from the removed generator bracket.
A double pulley might not easy to fit.. the AC pump is also driven from the waterpump pulley. I found no room for a third belt on the waterpump pulley..

Wouter

[jopizz]

You must have a later 352 or 390 engine. The original engine did not have that mounting hole. That's fortunate. I've never seen any other setup other than the compressor run by the water pump. You can buy a conversion kit for FE engines so you can use a serpentine belt but they are pretty expensive.

John

[Wouter]

Thank you John.

I will check for this kit.
Another (cheap) option is to cancel the AC option.. which I never use.
Then I have room for dual belts and pulley.

Thanks,
Wouter

[jopizz]

You should be able to go with a dual belt setup even with the compressor if you get the correct pulleys. Here's a diagram of a FE engine with dual belts.

John

dual pulley belts.jpg

[Wouter]

I see I have to mount another waterpump pulley, no problem.
But.. what about the power steering? Can't see this belt..?
In my setup it's driven by the crankshaft pulley on the balancer.
This pulley has only two belt grooves.

Wouter

[jopizz]

It would still be driven by the crankshaft pulley. It would have three grooves.

John

[Wouter]

Ok. All clear.
Thanks again,
Wouter

[jopizz]

I'll see if I can find you a picture of the correct three groove crank and water pump pulleys you will need.

John

[jopizz]

This diagram is probably a little clearer. The power steering pump would go on the outside of the three groove crank pulley.

John

ac pulley diagram.jpg three groove crank pulley.jpg

[Wouter]

This helps. I know what to do next..
Many thanks!

Wouter

[simplyconnected]

There is another option. What you're looking for equates to two things; more belt surface area and a pulley that offers a 'longer lever' (radius).

A larger diameter pulley will solve your squealing problem because it has both more belt surface area and a longer lever. I had the same problem with my Y-block and the 130-amp alt. The old guy in a shop down the street looked in his stock and found an old Chevy pulley (they all have the same diameter hole). For ten bucks, he sold and installed the pulley for me. No more squeal and it runs my electric fan all day long at idle speeds. - Dave

[Wouter]

Hello Dave,
Thank you for your update. I'll try this and hope it solves this (little) problem.
A dual belt and pulley's will be the next step.
Thanks!
Wouter

[Wouter]

I have one question about the 3 grooved water pump- and the deepened(?)steering pump pulley. Please, may I have its part numbers as shown in above diagram ?
Unfortunately, I can't read them..
Thanks again !

Wouter