Just when it seems we've dealt with V-belts forever, along comes theserpentine belt. The flat, ribbed serpentine belt is a major improvementover any V-belt. It lasts longer and, when the accessory drive system isequipped with an automatic belt tensioner, it doesn't require periodicadjustment. The serpentine belt allows more belt surface to be appliedto the pulleys. It's also rare for one to come apart and leave youstranded.
If you haven't guessed by now, we like the serpentine-belt system. Itcan be dependable as long as the pulleys are in alignment and square toeach other. This requirement makes it difficult to fabricate a reliableserpentine-belt drive system. The other challenge is to make aserpentine automatic belt tensioner work correctly. If engineeredproperly, the belt gets tighter with engine-rpm torque loading.
A few aftermarket serpentine-belt systems have been available, but thebugs weren't always worked out. Sturdy accessory mounting brackets are amust with proper bracing to avoid harmonic vibrations and resultingbracket failure. Another important consideration is accessory placement.If possible, the accessory pulleys should be close to the centerline ofthe engine. When all the accessories are close together, they look greatand fit in almost any engine compartment.
This is where Vintage Air comes in. The company has a finely craftedserpentine-belt accessory drive system called Front Runner, which hassturdy brackets with an automatic belt tensioner. The system isavailable in plain, chrome, or polished finishes. It works well andlooks great installed.
It's relatively easy to install the Front Runner system. Areverse-rotation short water pump is required and is supplied with thekit. The Sanden A/C compressor and alternator aren't included; forcorrect fitment, they must be purchased separately from Vintage Air.
We're installing the Front Runner system on a GM Ram Jet crate engine inthe Keisler Maximum Overdrive project '65 Corvette. The Ram Jet engine'scomposite timing cover is for one-time use and requires special boltswith a large head that won't allow the water pump to lie flat againstthe engine block. Be careful when fitting the water pump to the engineblock--clearance at the timing-cover bolt heads could be a concern.
We encountered a problem with the heater hose outlet fitting that comesdirectly out of the front of the Ram Jet's intake. The heater outletfitting was covered by the Front Runner's main bracket, leaving11/2-inch clearance between the bracket and manifold. Any traditionalsmall-block intake would work without modification to the Front Runnermain bracket.
The heater-fitting clearance problem wasn't insurmountable. With areciprocating saw, we carefully cut three quarters of an inch off theintake manifold's heater fitting boss. Then we used a half-inch pipethread tap to cut the threads deeper, which allowed us to screw a90-degree fitting approximately half an inch closer to the intakemanifold. Along with the modification of the intake-manifold fitting,slight machining was necessary to the main accessory drive bracket toallow enough clearance for the heater fitting.
The Vintage Air Front Runner system installs easily if you read thedirections first. This is a tried-and-true, automatic adjustmentserpentine belt system that has many miles of proven performance. Afterinstalling the system, the Kiesler Maximum Overdrive '65 Corvette coupeproject car was driven 11,000 miles on the Hot Rod Power Tour, then fromFlorida to Illinois for the Bloomington Gold Corvette Show with noproblems.
We're using a double-nut technique...
We're using a double-nut technique to install the S/S water pump studssupplied in the kit. Tighten two nuts against each other so the studsdon't get marked up and cause scratching of the aluminum pieces duringinstallation. Gouging eventually allows corrosion to form.
Minor machining is necessary...
Minor machining is necessary for water-pump clearance. First remove somematerial from the timing-cover bolt, which is the black-headed boltbelow the water pump to the left. Remove enough of the bolt head so itcan be tightened properly. The machined area in the water pump canbecome thin, so be careful and remove just enough for bolt clearance.
Here is the Stewart high-flow...
Here is the Stewart high-flow water pump, supplied by Vintage Air,installed on the studs with the spacers in their proper locations.Notice the orange plug above the water pump at left; this is theheater-outlet fitting port. The heater return-hose fitting requires anelbow to position it away from the A/C compressor. As the instructionsexplain, a trial fit is required so the fittings are positionedproperly. Follow this information carefully.
We're using a torque wrench...
We're using a torque wrench to tighten the A/C compressor to the mainbracket. Do this before installing the main bracket on the engine. Besure to read the instructions first. The custom-fabricated A/C lines arepart of the compressor package and add a nice touch.
The alternator and A/C compressor...
The alternator and A/C compressor fit close to the cylinder heads, butthere is enough clearance to allow cooling air around each unit. The A/Ccompressor-alternator main bracket slips onto the studs as an assembly.The power-steering bracket is below the alternator. Vintage Air machinedbosses into the brackets where spacers are located, so thepower-steering-bracket spacers are easy to locate properly.
This is the automatic belt-tensioner...
This is the automatic belt-tensioner bracket, which also has a machinedarea for the spacers. There is adequate clearance for the large 8-inchbalancer on both sides. The only concern with the crankshaft pulley isframe clearance when the engine is installed. According to Vintage Air,the crankshaft pulley may be close. We used a torch and a small hammerto place a minor indentation in the frame where the pulley would be.After installation it appeared the indentation was a luxury, not anecessity.
This is the Front Runner installed...
This is the Front Runner installed with all the shiny pieces. Note thebelt tensioner and how close the components are. The alternator does notextend beyond the valve covers or cylinder heads. The Front Runnerallows plenty of clearance for a lot of intake manifolds. Everything isin perfect alignment and requires no shimming.
Vintage Air supplies the power-steering-pump...
Vintage Air supplies the power-steering-pump pulley, but not thepower-steering pump. The pump and reservoir are from Detroit Speed andEngineering. We chose the pump with the custom reservoir. It fits nicelybetween the frame and other engine components. The new pump is availablein iron or aluminum. DSE also has remote reservoirs and P/S hose kitsavailable.
That's a nice fit. The close...
That's a nice fit. The close proximity of engine and accessory piecesrequires a custom-built hose and tube assembly. The tube for thepressure hose is close between the reservoir and pulley. You can see thetube nut going into the pump next to the belt below the alternator.Tightening the line isn't too difficult because of the openings designedinto the pulley.
The A/C lines exit below the...
The A/C lines exit below the compressor, creating a clean appearance. Wewill install the Vintage Air A/C unit in the '65 in a future issue, sothe fittings will be crimped onto the Vintage Air-supplied hoses later.Things got a little close in the area below the compressor due to anadded oil cooler and heater hose, but it all fit without muchaggravation.