v belt to serpentine belt swap on a budget

[71maroesteban]

hi im new here so dont know if im posting this on the right forum but i have a 1971 camaro with a old school 350 sbc with a short style water pump and just power steering and a alternator of course and wanted to know if i could swap a 80s or early 90s camaros serptine system onto my small block i know the 3rd gens had tpi and the early 4th gens has an lt1 and they had a reverse water pump i think so my question is if i use my same water pump and put the brackets on will it work also i would like to use the ac of the car as well i would love some feedback and info from some more experienced guys im 18 so dont have much knowledge on which swaps would work or not and i know there are billet systems but dont want to drop 2 grand on just bling

[BonzoHansen]

I used an iroc setup. I use 1990 5.7L iroc as a part lookup. Except for the ps high psi hose.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/10/IMG_3126_800-1.jpg

I understand truck setups sit too high to fit under the hood

[astroracer]

Hot Rod Magazine did a "fix it" swap on a street rod from v to serp. Used the brackets off a G van. Pretty compact set up and worked well with few alterations.
Here's a link to the article. I think 4.3 brackets will work as well.
http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/hrdp_1303_1950_chevy_panel_truck_shreds_drivebelts/viewall.html

[BonzoHansen]

Hot Rod Magazine did a "fix it" swap on a street rod from v to serp. Used the brackets off a G van. Pretty compact set up and worked well with few alterations.
Here's a link to the article. I think 4.3 brackets will work as well.
http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/hrdp_1303_1950_chevy_panel_truck_shreds_drivebelts/viewall.html

I'm not sure truck setup will fit under a 2nd gen flat hood. The alternator sits higher. Too bad too, my 93 K1500 has the 4.3L setup and there is no air pump in that setup to contend with.

[BonzoHansen]

Hot Rod Magazine did a "fix it" swap on a street rod from v to serp. Used the brackets off a G van. Pretty compact set up and worked well with few alterations.
Here's a link to the article. I think 4.3 brackets will work as well.
http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/hrdp_1303_1950_chevy_panel_truck_shreds_drivebelts/viewall.html

I'm not sure truck setup will fit under a 2nd gen flat hood. The alternator sits higher. Too bad too, my 93 K1500 has the 4.3L setup and there is no air pump in that setup to contend with. You can run a truck clutch fan too if you like - it spins the right way


To the OP, you need the correct water pump so it spins the correct direction. Use a pump that is for a 1990 5.7L iroc. Stock replacement water pumps are cheap.


also, nothing 4h gen related is applicable. totally different setup.

[71maroesteban]

@bonzoHansen thanks a lot for your input! So a complete 1990 5.7 iroc system is what I'm looking for thank you I have been really confused about how to go about this but now I know what to look for at the junk yard!

[71maroesteban]

Also since I'm using a reverse flow water pump since I'll be using the iroc pump will it cause any problems or does the way it rotates have no effect in the cooling?

[130fe]

FYI, the F-body water pump does not have a provision for the heater hose (it is in the radiator on that application). If you want a heater hose on the water pump, get one off of a 1500 truck that year, like say a 88 5.7. That setup works great on a SBC!

[71maroesteban]

The heater hose isn't a big problem because my intake doesn't have an opening to run it into their

[BonzoHansen]

FYI, the F-body water pump does not have a provision for the heater hose (it is in the radiator on that application). If you want a heater hose on the water pump, get one off of a 1500 truck that year, like say a 88 5.7. That setup works great on a SBC!

good point. iirc the 4.3L in my truck has a port too. but my radiator has a heater hose port so i ran it there.

[71maroesteban]

@bonzohansen so should I use the iroc setup and the truck water pump then?

[BonzoHansen]

if you need the heater hose port

[71maroesteban]

Okay thanks the truck water pump is reverse flow like the iroc one right sorry for all the questions just want to make sure before I go taking everything from the junkyard

[BonzoHansen]

should be. buy a new water pump, they are cheap

[71maroesteban]

I will do thanks man you've helped me a lot!

[130fe]

You can use either water pump with that serp setup.

[BonzoHansen]

what radiator are you using?

[71maroesteban]

A northern radiator for the second gen camaro