V-Belt to Serpentine Retrofit?

R

Reel Antsy

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I would love to have a single serpentine drive belt for my 1985 Crusader 270s. I am sure I could piece each component, alternator, raw water pump,tensioner, pullies, brackets, etc from Crusader and make it work but the costs would most likely be prohibitive... Does anyone make a retro kit which would let me change over from two v-drive belts to a serpentine with the necessary components in a kit?

Thanks.
 
What benefit do you think you get?
V`s are cheaper, easiest to replace without the diagram.1 for the motor, 1 for the raw water pump
 
Without all new brackets to adjust the position of all the accessories there is no way for a single belt to run everything as they are in two different planes of operation.
 
I know I'd have to update the location of some components. I don't have a problem with belt diagrams...I just like the simplicity of one belt with a tensioner. Seems I'm always crawling down and adjusting the alternator or RW pump belts. The RW pump can be a pain to adjust on my s/b side. Plus the alternator is original and rusting somewhat, knowing I'll have to change it, thought if someone made a retro kit, I'd look into an update.
 
You wont like the noise from one worn belt or some replaced componants.
Stick with the V belts.
 
Summit racing has serpentine drive setups made by March Competition Systems, Billet Specialities, and, they make there own in house as well. However, these are $1200 to $2400 and that is for known set ups in at least some amount of volume. No doubt you could get somebody to custom make one just for your setup, but it would probably end up being a very high priced modification. If you get it done locally by a machine shop to save some $, you want to be absolutely sure of reliability, and it would probably be a prototype. I'm with Sandy on this deal, I'd call Crusader first.
I agree, I'd like one for my Volvo, but it's too much squeeze for the juice.
 
Needless to say you would have to purchase new pulleys and a tensioner. Bracket(s) or custom offset pulley(s) may be required to get everything in the same plane. If all items except one run off one belt, then the accessory driven off the other belt will be the one needing the extra work. All the other items should already be in the correct position. You may have to remove some the items off the engine and have the pulleys pressed off.
 
This sounds like a very expensive and difficult project that is, at best, a lateral move. It won't improve performance, reliability or resale, so why bother? I personally don't care much for serpentine belts. I've had v-belts break and if its not a vital accessory, you can run with the belt off to get home. If the serpentine belt lets go, its bye-bye to everything and you either replace the belt or get a tow.
JMHO
 
Thanks for everyone's input, reality is, it just not worth while. I'll spend the money on more fuel!
 
Or perhaps on a hot day go to a cool watering hole and request a Serpentine Belt which contains everything on the bottom shelf. If you have more than one you may reveal a forked tongue and your tensioner pulley may go into full idle or addle, and next day you are still spinning your wheels but want to shed your skin.

BTW, sepentine belt systems can have their own issues. The idler/tensionor pulley can be affected by belt carbon debris or other friction increasing particles so it no longer allows the spring to overcome friction and auto-adjustment is lost. That is more noticeable when a new belt is installed but does not get tight. But it's fixable with solvent, exercising back and forth and relubing. It is a handy system, but it's hard to see that any conversion could be worth what might take.
 
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