454 Engine alternator belt alignment.

**Tom L.** · July 25, 2009, 07:45 AM

Re: 454 Engine alternator belt alignment.

Is the captive belt, the one that is tough to put on, on the car? I didn't have mine on the car and had the same problem. Finally I wrestled the belt on and no more squeel. Have fun!

**Kim F.** · July 31, 2009, 07:38 AM

Re: 454 Engine alternator belt alignment.

Lynn,

I do not know what the captive belt is on the car. can you explain?

Thanks

**Jack C.** · July 31, 2009, 07:49 AM

Re: 454 Engine alternator belt alignment.

It is the one that goes on the crank pulley and the water pump pulley that does not have an adjustment.

**Peter G.** · July 31, 2009, 07:53 AM

Re: 454 Engine alternator belt alignment.

Kim..

I use Quanta belts on my LS4. No problems and they look correct for NCRS judging.

www.QuantaProducts.com

**Jack C.** · July 31, 2009, 08:03 AM

Re: 454 Engine alternator belt alignment.

I second that, have all four on my 427 for over five years.

**Kim F.** · July 31, 2009, 09:08 AM

Re: 454 Engine alternator belt alignment.

Thanks for the name and information for the belts. I will look into getting the Quanta belts from the web address that you sent.

Kim

**Joe L.** · July 31, 2009, 01:48 PM

Re: 454 Engine alternator belt alignment.

Originally posted by Kim Forster (50605)

The belt for the alternator on the 454 engine in a 74 squeals when accelerating from a stop. There is a lot of belt wear too. The local corvette mechanic said that the belt and pulley need to be replaced. He also said that he could not find a belt to match that he could tighten. I bought a new engine to alternator replacement bracket and installed it on the engine. The squeal continues is this something that can be cured?

Kim-----

I'd say the belt needs to be replaced. I'm not so sure about the pulley, though. The FIRST thing that needs to be done is to check that the pullies align properly. If not, that MUST be corrected or you're going to have problems like you describe.

**Lee S.** · September 21, 2009, 12:09 PM

Re: 454 Engine alternator belt alignment.

I know this was posted some time ago however, I just came across it. I too have a '74 with 454 and belt squeal. This has been the subject of several posts over the years. Mine also has PS, AC, and A.I.R. Pump.

My question is how do you check pulley alignment on this car. The engine compartment is extremely tight and the components are confined into a small space.

The belt noise I have is very loud and comes on at about 2500 RPM with AC on and higher RPM without. I have a collection of belts that would make an auto parts store jealous. This includes Goodyear, Dayco, Autozone, Quanta, and others.

I apologize for seemingly highjacking this thread. I would be happy to share further war stories on this subject in pursuit of a solution.

Lee

**Tom L.** · September 21, 2009, 12:53 PM

Re: 454 Engine alternator belt alignment.

Lee, I have been going through this for a while myself. The solution for me has been the captive belt.

Is yours on the car or did you, like myself at first, leave it off because it is a PIA to get on?

I am in the middle of this battle. I was able to get the captive belt on this past spring, basically had to force it on but that's another story. I ran it about 1800 miles this summer with but had to adjust it every 3-400 miles and had no squeel (Mine came in at about 2000RPM by the way). Finally the belt wore out and I am back at the battle.

I took the pulleys off to glassbead them to be sure they are clean, made a post this morning to be sure the pulleys are correct and bought a new Quanta belt which initially looks like it will fit better than the Gates 7315 I got at the auto store.

I'll let you know how I made out.

Have fun!!!

**Lee S.** · September 21, 2009, 01:25 PM

Re: 454 Engine alternator belt alignment.

Thanks for you prompt response.

The captive belt is installed and has also been replace a number of times. What a MAJOR PITA. In particular since the power steering belt has to be removed.

I found the easiest way to replace the captive belt is to remove the fan and fan clutch and remove the water pump pulley. With the water pump pulley removed, you can position the belt on the correct groove, and sllde the pulley in place to the water pump. I use an appropriate size drift pin to align the holes. My fan clutch is a service replacement and has the notches cut into it where the bolt holes are. This way you can get the fan clutch into the right position and back out the bolt to slide the fan in. Next tighten the fan/clutch bolts.

Now you get to the worst part, which is adjusting the power steering.

I have also replaced the idler pulley which had a definite bad bearing. In addition, the front of the idler pulley rubbed the rear of the power steering pulley when the AC was turned on. The compressor load must bend the crankshaft a very tiny bit when it engages. It also has a lot of leverage as it is on the pulley furthest away from the engine. I'm guessing this about 3 ".

**Joe L.** · September 21, 2009, 01:27 PM

Re: 454 Engine alternator belt alignment.

Originally posted by Lynn Larsen (46337)

Lee, I have been going through this for a while myself. The solution for me has been the captive belt.

Is yours on the car or did you, like myself at first, leave it off because it is a PIA to get on?

I am in the middle of this battle. I was able to get the captive belt on this past spring, basically had to force it on but that's another story. I ran it about 1800 miles this summer with but had to adjust it every 3-400 miles and had no squeel (Mine came in at about 2000RPM by the way). Finally the belt wore out and I am back at the battle.

I took the pulleys off to glassbead them to be sure they are clean, made a post this morning to be sure the pulleys are correct and bought a new Quanta belt which initially looks like it will fit better than the Gates 7315 I got at the auto store.

I'll let you know how I made out.

Have fun!!!

Lynn and Lee-----

The captive belt on a big block with C-60 application has an idler pulley in the system, although it's the same belt as non-C-60 applications. I'd look to the idler pulley adjustment as a possible source of the problem. I'd also want to be sure the idler pulley bearing is ok. It could also be the source of a squeal that might sound a lot like belt squeal.

**Joe L.** · September 21, 2009, 01:36 PM

Re: 454 Engine alternator belt alignment.

Originally posted by Lee Snyder (38671)

Thanks for you prompt response.

The captive belt is installed and has also been replace a number of times. What a MAJOR PITA. In particular since the power steering belt has to be removed.

I found the easiest way to replace the captive belt is to remove the fan and fan clutch and remove the water pump pulley. With the water pump pulley removed, you can position the belt on the correct groove, and sllde the pulley in place to the water pump. I use an appropriate size drift pin to align the holes. My fan clutch is a service replacement and has the notches cut into it where the bolt holes are. This way you can get the fan clutch into the right position and back out the bolt to slide the fan in. Next tighten the fan/clutch bolts.

Now you get to the worst part, which is adjusting the power steering.

I have also replaced the idler pulley which had a definite bad bearing. In addition, the front of the idler pulley rubbed the rear of the power steering pulley when the AC was turned on. The compressor load must bend the crankshaft a very tiny bit when it engages. It also has a lot of leverage as it is on the pulley furthest away from the engine. I'm guessing this about 3 ".

Lee----

Well, it sounds like you've got the idler pulley situation under control. As far as the pulley alignment situation is concerned, usually you can "eye ball" them for alignment. If it passes the "eye ball test", it's usually close enough that no problems will ensue. clem has also described using string over the pulley grooves to aid in alignment check. This works real well, especially to check the alignment of the waterpump and crank pullies, as well as the alternator and p/s pullies on a big block with power steering. Just hang the string over the upper pulley and see where it falls with respect to the centerline of the lower pulley.

**Tom L.** · September 21, 2009, 01:44 PM

Re: 454 Engine alternator belt alignment.

Joe, I am aware of the idler pulley, it is new as I wanted everything to be as mechanically correct as it could be to insure that it was the missing idler belt that caused the second belt to be slipping.

I have concluded that, in my case, the absence of the captive belt along with the heavy duty 7 blade C-60 fan blade was too much load for one belt, simlar to the reasoning that large compressors have multiple belts.

I'll know better after my pulleys are reconditioned and a "correct" reproduction belt is in place.

**Lee S.** · September 21, 2009, 01:44 PM

Re: 454 Engine alternator belt alignment.

Thanks Joe

Kind of the plumb bob effect? What RPM is best... just kidding. I'll take a look and post results. At this point I have been ok with the eyeball test.

It is really difficult to pinpoit the source of the squeal. There is a tremendous amount of fan clutch air rush noise.

454 Engine alternator belt alignment.

454 Engine alternator belt alignment.

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