71 454 belts,pulleys

[Mike S.]

my 71 454 has no air or power steering.but has 3 groove pulley on crank and 2 groove pulley on water pump 1 groove on alt.the belt goes around alt. and 2nd groove on crank.I been told that another belt should go around the rear groove on crank and water pump pulley .that this is a high per. set up for all hp. vettes

[Joe L.]

Re: 71 454 belts,pulleys

Mike-----

First of all, you should not have a 3 groove pulley arrangement on the crank. You should have a 2 groove pulley on the crankshaft ballancer of GM #3921923. You should have a 3 groove pulley on the waterpump of GM #3992071. Lastly, there should be a 1 groove pulley on the alternator.

The innermost pulley grooves on the waterpump pulley and crank pulley should run a captive belt. This is a belt which runs only between those two pullies and requires an exact-length belt since there is no adjustment.

The middle groove on the waterpump pulley, the outer groove on the crank pulley, and the alternator pulley are connected by a belt which adjusts at the alternator.

The outermost pulley on the waterpump pulley drives the AIR pump and is adjusted at the AIR pump. ALL 1974 Corvettes with 454 (i.e. LS-4) were originally equipped with AIR.

[Mike S.]

Re: 71 454 belts,pulleys

thanks joe your right . the 3 groove is on waterpump.do you know of a part number for the captive belt.I could not find a parts listing .thanks mike

[Joe L.]

Re: 71 454 belts,pulleys

Mike-----

GM #3952336 is what you need. It's a special belt of 18/32" width and 31-7/8" length. Of course, this belt was GM-discontinued a long time ago. I think that Quanta sells a reproduction of it, though.

[Mike S.]

Re: 71 454 belts,pulleys

thanks joe. my 71 454 has a dual snorkel air cleaner. but the bottom is chrome. is this orig.

[Warren F.]

Re: 71 454 belts,pulleys

Mike:

No. Only the lid is chrome.

[Harold #43147]

Belt

Joe whats the install procedure for this belt?

[Joe L.]

Re: Belt

Harold-----

That belt is one of GM's "dirty little secrets". You have to remove either the water pump pulley or the crank pulley, install the belt in the groove of BOTH pullies and then "stretch" the pulley with belt onto the hub or balancer. GM says to remove the crank pulley, but that's harder for me. I usually remove the waterpump pulley, install 2 studs in the waterpump flange and then "muscle" the pulley up onto the studs. There's no easy way that I know of. This captured belt arrangement is used on quite a few Corvette engines.

[Harold #43147]

Belt

I have a 70 454 no options just alt. Assembley manual shows a belt there. I talked to guy said he puts them on with a belt railer and derailer tool he bought from JC Whitney years ago did you ever here of it?

[Joe L.]

Re: Belt

Harold-----

No, I have not. If it works, though, I need to get one.

[Dale S.]

Re: Belt

Joe ,I just lied to you, I found mine. It is a "Thexton, PART NO 332" clever little gadget I don't suppose they sell many at the dealers anymore. It may have been packaged by K-D tool. Dale

[Mike S.]

Re: thanks guys mike *NM*