Serpentine setup

[Mathius]

Prices of serpentine setups for a SBC have jumped in the last 5 years from $50 used to $150 used.

I'm wondering if anyone here has made their own brackets and done it themselves cheaper?

My Silverado parked out front has a 4.3L v6, which is essentially a SBC with 2 cylinders lopped off from what I understand.

I'm seriously considering pickup up an extra tensioner and making up my own brackets using my Silverado as a model.

Thoughts?

Mathius

[T_Raven]

I've been thinking alot about making my own serpentine setup for a pontiac engine. The march ones are nice but expensive and a little too blingy for me. I don't think it would be too hard to make brackets if I find a ac compressor, alternator, ps pump, etc that I would want to use. I'll have to do some junk yard trollin. But I'm interested to hear if anyone one else has done it

[jaybee]

The 4.3L setup bolts right onto a SBC, if you want to use it for a model you shouldn't go too far wrong.

[Karch]

I've been thinking alot about making my own serpentine setup for a pontiac engine. The march ones are nice but expensive and a little too blingy for me. I don't think it would be too hard to make brackets if I find a ac compressor, alternator, ps pump, etc that I would want to use. I'll have to do some junk yard trollin. But I'm interested to hear if anyone one else has done it

Please do it...I'd love to have a setup using modified OEM parts.

[T_Raven]

Please do it...I'd love to have a setup using modified OEM parts.

Well I'll sure try, I have an F body LS1 laying around. I might take the accessories off and see if I can make them work with some custom brakets, and if I do then I can buy a second used accessory setup. But I'll check some junk yards and whatnot to see if I think parts off a different model will work better.

[toxicz28]

My friend's Silverado (89-93ish) Has a stamped steel serpentine setup. Fabbing you own isn't oput of the question.

[Mathius]

Might not get to this one until the summer. The Chevelle is being stored away from my house until then.

But I'm open to ideas or suggestions until then. I'm not sure what the best way to do it will be. IIRC serpentine water pumps spin the other way? So a water pump swap would be necessary... might go ahead and get an aluminum radiator while I'm at it, and build a new radiator support. Get the whole job done at once.

I would think it would make sense to just take measurements off my silverado while the components are in the vehicle, that way I can use the same belt, OR should I just try to make up a jig, and copy the factory parts as closely as possible instead of making up the components to my own design using the measurements off my current setup?

I also have an a/c compressor on the silverado, no a/c on the chevelle. Can I put a compressor in, and not wire it or will that destroy the bearings?

Mathius

[SLAMDIMPALA]

Troy at rad ride has done it before so it can be done. When i watched him he just used cardboard and cut out for his accesories and brackets and then cut it out of aluminum.

[GetMore]

You can install the A/C compressor and not use it. If you never turn on your A/C in a car with it installed it is the same thing.
On the other hand, everything has a limited life. Never engaging the clutch means that the bearings for the pulley will always be used. That mean that the bearings will fail a little bit sooner. The question is when, and I don't think it'll be "sooner" enough to worry about.

[GetMore]

As for making your own brackets, yes, it is possible. The advantage to the OEM setup is that it is sturdy and light weight. If you forgo some of the ribs and reinforcements you might find the belt coming loose due to flex.
Not to say that you can't make something that works, and works well, but it may take more trial and error than you think.

Don't think I'm trying to discourage you. I just wanted to say that this may not be as simple a project as it seems at first glance. Maybe you'll come up with a system that people are willing to buy and you could become a new vendor here and make millions.

[CapSS92]

I've always found it ridiculous that an aftermarket system can run over $1000 dollars for something that you could get from a junkyard that does the same for a tenth of the cost. I've used the 90-up Camaro and Caprice setups and polished,chromed, or powdercoated they look awesome. Plus parts are off the shelf and easily available. For me the biggest thing is the tensioner. Sucks having to adjust the brackets or bars on the aftermarket stuff every so often. Take into account the time needed to fabricate your own and maybe $150 aint so bad. I've spent tons of hours and materials sometimes trying to roll my own and it doesn't always come out as good as the original. That being said, ain't nothing like being able to say "I made this". <g> My .02

[toxicz28]

I also have an a/c compressor on the silverado, no a/c on the chevelle. Can I put a compressor in, and not wire it or will that destroy the bearings?

Mathius

1LE Camaros didn't have a/c. They used an idler pulley that mounted in the location of the compressor. GMPP has 2 versions of the kit. The non a/c version has that idler which is available seperately.
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=NAL%2D10055890&N=700+115&autoview=sku

[Mathius]

I've always found it ridiculous that an aftermarket system can run over $1000 dollars for something that you could get from a junkyard that does the same for a tenth of the cost. I've used the 90-up Camaro and Caprice setups and polished,chromed, or powdercoated they look awesome. Plus parts are off the shelf and easily available. For me the biggest thing is the tensioner. Sucks having to adjust the brackets or bars on the aftermarket stuff every so often. Take into account the time needed to fabricate your own and maybe $150 aint so bad. I've spent tons of hours and materials sometimes trying to roll my own and it doesn't always come out as good as the original. That being said, ain't nothing like being able to say "I made this". <g> My .02

Depends on what kind of a design is necessary. I have some 3/16" plate material in storage that will probably work fine if I gusset it properly. If that works, I'm only out $30 for the tensioner + whatever it costs me to deal with the a/c issue. Might be able to find a junk compressor on Ebay for cheap and just use that until I get a real a/c unit.


1LE Camaros didn't have a/c. They used an idler pulley that mounted in the location of the compressor. GMPP has 2 versions of the kit. The non a/c version has that idler which is available seperately.
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=NAL%2D10055890&N=700+115&autoview=sku

$80 is pretty pricey for a temporary solution. Sortof defeates the purpose of building my own system, when I can get a full setup used for $150. Maybe I can find a used one, or see if the non/ac version of the silverado just used a shorter belt.

Mathius

[MonzaRacer]

You can install the A/C compressor and not use it. If you never turn on your A/C in a car with it installed it is the same thing.
On the other hand, everything has a limited life. Never engaging the clutch means that the bearings for the pulley will always be used. That mean that the bearings will fail a little bit sooner. The question is when, and I don't think it'll be "sooner" enough to worry about.

Um hate to tell ya but the bearings are still used even when the compressor clutch is engaged.
All the clutch does is tie the outer hub to the inner hub which is splined to the compressor shaft.
Oh and if you use the right truck setup they do make ac delete idlers to replace bad compressors.

[CapSS92]

I don't know if this applies to all years but some of the stamped truck serpentine setups I've come across seem to be taller than the Caprice/Camaro ones. Hood clearance may be an issue. FYI

[toxicz28]

$80 is pretty pricey for a temporary solution. Sortof defeates the purpose of building my own system, when I can get a full setup used for $150. Maybe I can find a used one, or see if the non/ac version of the silverado just used a shorter belt.

Mathius
Never realized a/c was planned for the car. I wouldn't recommend trying to use a used ac compressor bought off ebay.
A non a/c setup would still need the idler. The tensioner usually mounts on the pass side and would need something to tension against.




I don't know if this applies to all years but some of the stamped truck serpentine setups I've come across seem to be taller than the Caprice/Camaro ones. Hood clearance may be an issue. FYI



They look it, but I was able to get an aluminum one from a Suburban to fit under the Stock hood of a C-3 Corvette. Never tried a stamped steel one though.

[modular93fox]

I snagged the brackets off of a 90ish trans am.. to me the brackets looked better than that of the 4.3's... the brackets were off of a v8 :)
I modified the back of the brackets to fit the big block, but for small block purposes, no mods will be neccessary. I used the 90ish factory a/c hose and just bent the line where necessary. If factory lines just wont work, check out www.docsblocks.com... awesome people to do business with... after talking with them 5.3 (ls1 motor) into the 87... they made a set of a/c blocks for me... cheap too... real cheap.
heres some pic's

[turbo kid]

Street and performance sells very nice set ups!

[modular93fox]

ive got an extra set of brackets...pm if interested