v-belt nightmare

[jubin]

I need help every time I get in my car and I put my foot in it the V belts come off. Does anyone have a solution for this be it with the same V belts or a serpentine belt system that won't break the bank
my car is a 1972 Roadrunner 400 cubic inch with a t56 transmission and 411gears

 

[396 Signet]

Assuming you're using the correct size belts & have the proper pulleys there's really only 2 possibilities. Either your pulleys are misaligned or your belt tension is wrong.

 

[jubin]

I've been buying the belts at the local auto parts store now you have me wondering if they have given me the correct Ones

 

[SUPERSTOCKRACER]

Getting a thinner belt making it sit deeper in the pulley will help but I believe your problem is in the alignment. put a straight edge and see where you are off.

 

[Robliepse]

is your power steering pump connected right with all the brackets? Many years ago I had a 72 RR small block and the rear pump bracket was missing and the pump would flex enough and the belt would come off from time to time. replaced the bracket and no problem

 

[HT413]

I need help every time I get in my car and I put my foot in it the V belts come off. Does anyone have a solution for this be it with the same V belts or a serpentine belt system that won't break the bank
my car is a 1972 Roadrunner 400 cubic inch with a t56 transmission and 411gears

Save yourself the wasted $$ and time and stay with the v-belt. I wasted a lot of time trying to get my POS gilmer belt drive system working simply because it came with my car when I bought it. There is a reason just about every large scale HVAC air handler has a v-belt and not a serpentine - because they work.

It has to be alignment or tension, millions of cars were produced with v belts that never had issues.

 

[dvw]

A long straightedge placed along the alternator and then the PS pulley will show everything. It should be parallel in all planes. The center lines measured from the straightedge should be the same. An old belt that has flipped upside down even once is junk. Many times I've seen the alternator twisted. You may need to shim the bracket or bend it to get it square. This will eliminate your issue.
Doug

 

[HT413]

A long straightedge placed along the alternator and then the PS pulley will show everything. It should be parallel in all planes. The center lines measured from the straightedge should be the same. An old belt that has flipped upside down even once is junk. Many times I've seen the alternator twisted. You may need to shim the bracket or bend it to get it square. This will eliminate your issue.
Doug

Great point about the alternator being twisted. Too much tension will torque the heck out of it and it will spit the belt every time you hit the gas. I learned that the hard way for sure.

 

[383man]

You do know once a belt comes off its junk. I found that out over the years that even if you fix the problem you will need to put a new belt on. I found out the hard way that once I threw a belt it would not stay on anymore when I layed into it even if the problem was fixed. It just seems once they get thrown off the pulleys they will keep doing it with that same belt. So once you fix it you need to use a new belt after its fixed. Ron

 

[lewtot184]

the cure.

 

[MoparMitch]

the cure.

That's actually a great idea. Not that I have the problem, but if I did.

 

[HT413]

the cure.

The friction will rob at least 1/4 - 1/2 horsepower.

 

[lewtot184]

The friction will rob at least 1/4 - 1/2 horsepower.

i've been wondering where all my power went.

 

[rapid transit]

You must have stayed up all night to design that

the cure.

 

[lewtot184]

You must have stayed up all night to design that

back in the late '60's i had a 4spd road runner and i'd flip and toss belts at high rpm. some old mopar guy told me to try this idea. simple and it works.

 

[HT413]

I was only bustin about the 1/2 hp, it looks like a great idea. Hell of a lot easier setting tension on that than yanking on the alternator.

 

[lewtot184]

I was only bustin about the 1/2 hp, it looks like a great idea. Hell of a lot easier setting tension on that than yanking on the alternator.

the contraption sits above the belt. the belt only contacts the thing when it gets distorted at high rpm.

 

[dvw]

the cure.

Corvettes use to have a similar"shoe" from the factory.
Doug

 

[rapom tsaf]

I have had cheap belt come off.
Put good gate's belt's on and no more prob.

 

[mopar 3 B]

Have a friend who also had this problem. 73 RR 400 with A/C and PS we did the aliment and checked all the brackets. Had all original bracket hardware and pulleys, we tried different belts with the same end results. Would throw the power stearing belt on deceleration and always from the water pump pulley. If this is your case check the pulley groove a make sure it has not been bent, a change in belt groove width create slack in the belt every rotation of the pulley causing the belt to bounce. Acceleration and deceleration compounds the situation causing the belt to jump the pulley. And yes then the belt stretches braking the cords in the belt and it becomes junk. Belts can also come off due to different loads on the belt at different locations and a similar bracket as shown above was used by GM to solve the problem. And that is GM engineering.