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Time for a serpentine belt swap LA 318

9

96Formula6sp

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Hey everyone,

We are working on our enduro lemons Coronet. One of our major failures at our last race has been the v-belts on our car. We flung many belts over the weekend. Enough so that even judge Phil said to do a serpentine belt setup. So looking into swaps. Our car is still running a LA 318. Our v belt brackets are in sad shape and even with a replacement set we kept having issues. Alignment and tension were checked and we even used some nice Gates belts but nothing seemed to solve the issue. So its time to trash it all and swap it over. What are my options. I look at the Magnum stuff but its out due to the timing cover being wrong. Or can it be made to work with the older LA stuff. One idea was to just throw some money at the problem with this kit.

Small Block Chrysler Serpentine Conversion, Power Steering

Any good options? Any junkyard options?
 
The heads are part of the Magnum deal too. Eddie Motorsports, CVF and some others have decent units using easily sourced service items.
 
96Formula6sp said:
Hey everyone,

We are working on our enduro lemons Coronet. One of our major failures at our last race has been the v-belts on our car. We flung many belts over the weekend. Enough so that even judge Phil said to do a serpentine belt setup. So looking into swaps. Our car is still running a LA 318. Our v belt brackets are in sad shape and even with a replacement set we kept having issues. Alignment and tension were checked and we even used some nice Gates belts but nothing seemed to solve the issue. So its time to trash it all and swap it over. What are my options. I look at the Magnum stuff but its out due to the timing cover being wrong. Or can it be made to work with the older LA stuff. One idea was to just throw some money at the problem with this kit.

Small Block Chrysler Serpentine Conversion, Power Steering

Any good options? Any junkyard options?
Click to expand...
Why not get your problem properly diagnosed and fixed. Its not rocket science. Your spitting belts because something is being over looked. Post some clear pictures of your set up.
 
The CVF kit you linked is not a serpentine belt system - it's a v-belt setup with the pulleys modified to accept 6-rib belts.

Below is a link to the only 'real' serp belt system I'm aware of. Need FB to open the link.

SD Concecpts
 
We looked at a magnum engine but we just rebuilt our LA. Its healthy so not wanting to have to rebuild another engine.

I can snap a picture but its 100 miles away. Ill look at some old pictures to find one.

I guess I want to move to a ribbed belt over the v belt setup. A manual tensioner is fine over an auto unit.

The car has issues one heel toe downshifts. That is usually when it pops the belt. It has had a failure on both the PS one and the Alternator.

Here was it in the rain back in Apirl

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1HZKqYkSYE
 
Picture from 2018. With a missing belt of course.

20181104_161852.jpg
 
96Formula6sp said:
What are we missing?
Click to expand...
Everything. There is not one thing right with any of it. You need all the correct brackets and pulleys for a non-a/c car. Right now you have a hacked mess. I would not drive it around the block let alone try racing it. Here is a pic i stole off the net.

alternator 101.jpg
 
pnora said:
Everything. There is not one thing right with any of it. You need all the correct brackets and pulleys for a non-a/c car. Right now you have a hacked mess. I would not drive it around the block let alone try racing it.
Click to expand...
I agree. You said you got a "replacement" set but of what? That alternator bracket you have is not doing you any favors. It has no lower support so it's probably flexing on the shifts causing momentary misalignment. Get all the correct V-belt accessory brackets (plus the right hardware/spacers) then see if you're still pitching belts.

Also, the fan belt should not be driving the power steering pump like it is in the picture so you need a two-groove crank pulley to start. P.S. belt is only between the crank and P.S. pulley. The "fan" belt goes around the water pump, crank pulley and alternator. Hard to understand what's even going on in that pic without seeing the crank pulley.

Also check your motor mounts to see if they are not shot and maybe look into a torque strap to limit the engine movement.
 
Top left should be you.. PS on front groove (on the crank) WP on the rear groove.. They do make different length water pump pulleys also.. in case yours doesn't line up with the rear.

Guys raced for decades with v-belts.. should be able to fix that up.
1733921646398.jpeg
 
Just took another look at your pic... the alt should be bolted straight into the head, that rear bracket creates a flex point... This front bracket would get you in the right spot, that top alt bracket is more than likely your problem, only takes a bit of flex to send a belt into space.

OR.. you could make a small brace going from the back of alt to a valve cover or exhaust bolt so it cannot move (once you have it in place with the belt tight) That would be the free option...

Alt bracket
 
Last edited:
Also.. mounting the alt to the head will drop it like 2-2.5" which means shorter belt and less chance of flinging it
 
Heres a good shot of it...

BTW... the A-body forum is a bit nicer about helping people and especially small block stuff (just in case you need more help in the future), ... i don't get why people here like to make snarky comments here without offering help.. **** like "That's all wrong" is zero help..

1733923014466.jpeg
 
One last thing (sorry for all the posts) Looking at your pic, the spacer in between the alt mount ears looks short, when you re-do it make sure you have all the spacers setup properly so you can tighten it up good without flexing/breaking anything.. take away any chance it has of flexing/moving :)
 
icetech said:
Just took another look at your pic... the alt should be bolted straight into the head, that rear bracket creates a flex point... This front bracket would get you in the right spot, that top alt bracket is more than likely your problem, only takes a bit of flex to send a belt into space.

OR.. you could make a small brace going from the back of alt to a valve cover or exhaust bolt so it cannot move (once you have it in place with the belt tight) That would be the free option...

Alt bracket
Click to expand...
If you looked at his pics you would see he has the wrong pulleys along with the brackets. I already posted what it should look like.
 
pnora said:
If you looked at his pics you would see he has the wrong pulleys along with the brackets. I already posted what it should look like.
Click to expand...
Yup, and i posted more pics also... it all worked out great :)
 
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