Accessory Drives - Anyone using the March Performance Pro Track setup

[rocketrod]

I currently have an LS2 with truck accessories. I have the Kwik brackets but I am not real fond of them and I really do not like the mounting location of the A/C. I
have looked at Vintage Air and Wegner, which are very nice, but I came across the March Performance Pro Track setup. Anyone here using this? http://marchperf.com/ls1_protrack.html Scroll to the bottom of the page and they have a black powdercoated version.

[oestek]

No experience with the March setup, but recently discovered this one from Ventura Speed Center. They say it fits a first gen F body frame with the low-mount AC with no issues. Looks pretty cool.

http://venturaspeedcenter.com/?page_id=10

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[absintheisfun]

I've been shopping serp systems as well...don't know how I missed this one. I'm not really happy with what is available through most vendors because of the lack of balancer/crank pully belt wrap. They all seem to only have 30% belt coverage...this one is at least 50%!

[ProdigyCustoms]

The Pro Track has over 180 degrees of belt wrap on the balancer and more then 180 degrees belt wrap on the very most important accessory on a Pro Touring car with wide front tires, the PS Pump. Belt wrap was a big concern for me and March has covered that and then some.

The Pro track is a smokin deal, especially if you already have a balancer as it is one kit that DOES NOT require a ATI balancer which i would not worry about a ATI balancer unless I was routinely spinning more then 7000ROMs. No balancer requirement reduces the cost of the kit.

Also, the March comes in a variety of finishes all for the same price including the ultra cool black components

Pro Track is available in

Polished brackets and pulleys / polished components

Polished brackets and pulleys / black components

Black brackets and pulleys / black components

Black brackets and pulleys / polished components

And the Pro Track kit, with water pump, with crank hub adapter, with PS, 140 amp Alt, and A/C can be bought for under $2K on the sale at the store.

A additional 5% will come off the price in the cart

Black components are on a custom order basis (not available from everyone) and will be a 3 week wait

http://www.protouringsuperstore.com/March_Pro_Track_LS_Drive_WITH_A_C_and_Reservoir_PS _p/mp20035.htm

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[rocketrod]

....No balancer requirement reduces the cost of the kit.

I called March and they no longer offer the hub adapter for motors with truck accessories, which I have so a new balnacer maybe required


....

And the Pro Track kit, with water pump, with crank hub adapter, with PS, 140 amp Alt, and A/C can be bought for under $2K on the sale at the store.
Same phone call they stated it's 105 amp alternator.

The other thing that can be misleading is the cost of for a powdercoated a/c and alternator is an additional $50 for each component. This is not to bash them in anyway, as I still think this is a very good price, but I just wanted to post what I found out....

Now for the positives...the water pump and tensioner are not custom pieces and are available thru your local parts stores. I believe the same is true for the power steering pump, but I don't remember for sure. The a/c compressor is a standard sd-7 and the alternator is a powermaster piece.

[absintheisfun]

I just checked the video on that pageand it sshows the belt routing differently. going from the crank to the PS pump....this totally negates the belt wrap benefits...wonder if it is an either /or kind of a thing?

[rocketrod]

I just checked the video on that pageand it sshows the belt routing differently. going from the crank to the PS pump....this totally negates the belt wrap benefits...wonder if it is an either /or kind of a thing?

Must be an either/or thing since the pic on the main page show it the other way....

[INTMD8]

The March and VA systems look nice but I'm going to need more than a CS130 alternator.

[ProdigyCustoms]

I just checked the video on that pageand it sshows the belt routing differently. going from the crank to the PS pump....this totally negates the belt wrap benefits...wonder if it is an either /or kind of a thing?

The version we are refering to is the one pictured in my post. The part number 20035 which has the idler pulley added between the crank and PS Pulley. This system fits most popular old GM Muscle Cars in our Pro Touring movement like A, F, and X Bodies.

[ProdigyCustoms]

The March and VA systems look nice but I'm going to need more than a CS130 alternator.

Those alternators are 140 Amp and turn on at really low RPMs. How much more alternator do you need?

[ProdigyCustoms]

Must be an either/or thing since the pic on the main page show it the other way....

Not either or, but old and new. The idler is part of all those systems now.

[rocketrod]

Those alternators are 140 Amp and turn on at really low RPMs. How much more alternator do you need?
When I called March a couple weeks ago they said the alternator is 105 amp as listed on their website... :hmm:

[hifi875]

Use a factory gm corvette system

[rocketrod]

Use a factory gm corvette systemI am leaning that way as I can hardly stomach the thought of spending that much on an aftermarket setup. The problem is with the a/c.....you have to install the high mount kwik a/c bracket which isn't the easiest on the eyes.

[INTMD8]

Those alternators are 140 Amp and turn on at really low RPMs. How much more alternator do you need?

Well in my case I think the question is not how much do I need but how much can I get. I won't bore you with a list but it's going to have quite a bit of electronics and a small cam with approx 700rpm idle.

At that idle speed a 140 amp CS130D puts out approx 60 amps.

An AD244 at the same speed puts out approx 100 amps which is what I plan to use.

[hifi875]

I am leaning that way as I can hardly stomach the thought of spending that much on an aftermarket setup. The problem is with the a/c.....you have to install the high mount kwik a/c bracket which isn't the easiest on the eyes.

Just notch the frame. thats what i did. i don't care for the kwik bracket either.

[130fe]

Hifi, which brackets did you use to mount the sanden compressor with? Which compressor number do you have?

[hifi875]

Vintage aire makes a bracket. Sd7 I think I'm not sure the hoses exit out the top not the back if that makes any sense

[absintheisfun]

Must be an either/or thing since the pic on the main page show it the other way....

I just got an email back from march..the video is incorrect the pictures show the correct routing.

[SPi]

I spoke with the guys at Ventura Speed today. I will hopefully be able to give some real feed back on their system in a few weeks. I am going to try it on an LS3 with a Magnacharger we are installing in a customer`s `69 GTO. They were great to speak with on the phone, and were very knowledgeable about their product, hopefully it works as good as it looks.

[ProdigyCustoms]

When I called March a couple weeks ago they said the alternator is 105 amp as listed on their website... :hmm:

Sorry for missing this. I had it listed wrong on our store.

The Po Track includes a 140 amp alternator

[ProdigyCustoms]

About the low mount A/C pump on factory accessories. We will not do a frame notch here in the shop. I think the notch has to be to big severely compromises the integrity of the crossmember and from a liability and good conscious stand point am concerned about the crossmember folding in a accident. So we use the ugly high mount bracket, or a aftermarket system if we are doing the install.

It may never be a problem, but my stomach tells me it is a bad plan.

[ProdigyCustoms]

Same phone call they stated it's 105 amp alternator.

The other thing that can be misleading is the cost of for a powdercoated a/c and alternator is an additional $50 for each component. This is not to bash them in anyway, as I still think this is a very good price, but I just wanted to post what I found out....

Now for the positives...the water pump and tensioner are not custom pieces and are available thru your local parts stores. I believe the same is true for the power steering pump, but I don't remember for sure. The a/c compressor is a standard sd-7 and the alternator is a powermaster piece.

The price is locked in with us, same cost for powder coat of polished. Other dealers may charge more, I do not know, but we are a direct distributor and cut our own deals.

And no matter what you heard from March, our systems WILL include a 140AMP alternator. Not sure weather the guy you talked to was reading from their website but I have a comitment our systems will have 140AMP as all these LS based cars will have electric fan systems and obviously A/C if your buying a A/C drive system.

[ProdigyCustoms]

I called March and they no longer offer the hub adapter for motors with truck accessories, which I have so a new balnacer maybe required

You are correct. If you have a balancer / pulley (all in one) from a truck, you will have to do either a F body or Corvette balancer (add hub adapter) or aftermarket balancer and add hub adapter. To protect the budget the factory balancer will be way less then a Fluiddamper or the likes for sure

[absintheisfun]

You are correct. If you have a balancer / pulley (all in one) from a truck, you will have to do either a F body or Corvette balancer (add hub adapter) or aftermarket balancer and add hub adapter. To protect the budget the factory balancer will be way less then a Fluiddamper or the likes for sure

I have a factory cts-v ls6 and balancer...do you know if that will work or will I need a different balancer?

[joeelutz]

Here's the style track system in chrome. I like it.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/01/resized_DSCN0722JPGpsid1-1.jpg?psid=1

[rocketrod]

Use a factory gm corvette system
I did. I just received it over the weekend!!

[ProdigyCustoms]

I have a factory cts-v ls6 and balancer...do you know if that will work or will I need a different balancer?

Yes you will need to run a F Body or Corvete Balancer

[willj313]

Here's the style track system in chrome. I like it.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/01/resized_DSCN0722JPGpsid1-1.jpg?psid=1

How much is the kit in chrome?

[rocketrod]

How much is the kit in chrome?
Go here and select the setup with the options: power steering, a/c, etc. http://www.protouringsuperstore.com/category_s/1750.htm

[absintheisfun]

is there a way to get the AC adapter line in something other than chrome?

[ProdigyCustoms]

is there a way to get the AC adapter line in something other than chrome?

Actually the chrome adapter line option is a mistake on my store. That system comes with a side exit compressor and we include the compressor adapters with all our kits

[ProdigyCustoms]

How much is the kit in chrome?

Chrome is a Big bucks Option, Add $600! includes Chrome brackets, Pulleys, Compressor and Alternator

[absintheisfun]

I got mine in the mail today and started putting it together:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif



The good news:
I've never seen a car part (parts) sent with such packaging! Pure Awesomeness on the packing!
It went together fairly easy (so long as you don't religiously follow instructions)
It appears to be very stout and sturdy.
Customer service is very good at answering questions and giving you any info you need.


My gripes:
-The instructions are really bad. They jump from metric to standard which is just an annoying tick of mine, and the thread pitch is only mentioned once. May not sound like a big deal but when you have three sets of identical bolts where the only difference is the pitch, I think it is important. The pictures are from what must be a previous rendition of the pro-track kit, because some of the instructions have no relation to the pieces they sent me. There are also modifications that needed to be made to the tensioner that aren't ever mentioned.
-The P/S pump is only bolted to its bracket with two bolts (12 and 6 o'clock). There is plenty of room on the bracket for another mount at 9 o'clock, and I'm thinking that I will probably make one.
-It doesn't ship with a thermostat or serpentine belt. Not a big deal on the thermostat as everyone wants to use a different open temp. I called them about the belt and they said that there are variations of 1/2" in some installs and it was more convenient for the customer to get a belt a an autoparts store, rather than wait for a swap from Florida--makes sense, just annoyed that it wasn't mentioned anywhere.
-Given the routing of the belt, it appears as if the top line on the power steering hose is going to have to be reclocked. Since it is a banjo fitting it should be easy, but will probably require new crush washers...
Here is a close up shot of the fitting and below that a stock photo so you can see where on the pump I'm showing:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

The big question though is, “Would I do it again?”

Hell yeah I would!

My gripes are very minor and shouldn’t be read into too much. I just wanted to lay everything out since this was the original posting for questions about this kit.

My electronic throttle body interfered with the kit. It was mentioned on the website that it might so I guess I’ll have to go ahead and get that Fast 102 and mechanical TB. Aww shucks!