1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Fat Fendered and Classic Ford Trucks

flathead alt conversion belt help

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  #46  
Old 02-06-2010, 12:04 AM
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Originally Posted by ALBUQ F-1
Harley's right, the correct measurement would be from the back of the bracket; that is, the front surface of the intake manifold in the "slot". On mine, with narrow belts, "X" = 3.5". (This is looking down on the bracket from the top) PS, mine has 1-3/8" long spacers like shown on the ad. Y think you would want to make them longer, not shorter, for wide belts?

One thing never discussed is that these really need a brace back to the manifold IMO.
Ross,
Did you see Bobs post where he measured 3.25 inches from intake to center pulley? Hes suppose to have the same bracket as you from CAE, but he has the 5/8's pulleys. I get the same 3.25 on my original set up with the gen. Thats good news, except how does that make any sense? Yours measures longer with more narrow pulleys? If everything is constant except the pulley, then it would seem like ours should be the longer measurement. Then, I just had an another idea. Maybe the center of the pulley was designed to stay constant on either size. But I guess in that case we would all get the same measurement and those co's wouldn't be warning that the bracket wouldn't fit the trucks. I think I'm going to measure one more time.

M Joiner

Update: Just for future reference the correct numbers are: Intake to center orig. pulley is 3 5/16 inches.
 
  #47  
Old 02-06-2010, 06:05 AM
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all the pulleys would have the same offset all thin or all wide
 
  #48  
Old 04-22-2010, 12:43 AM
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Just wanted to say love the chat guys, and Iam in the same boat, but havent bought bracket or anything but the 10si alt.
 
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Old 04-22-2010, 09:29 AM
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Originally Posted by remhaust
Just wanted to say love the chat guys, and Iam in the same boat, but havent bought bracket or anything but the 10si alt.
I posted on one of the other discussions about this, but I ended up having the back of the bracket machined off where it mounts to the engine. 1/8 inch all the way from the bottom up both legs to the top of the adjustment slot. Kinda of got busy with other stuff, so I have not put any belts on yet.

Mitch J
 
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Old 04-26-2010, 07:30 PM
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if you know the length of the belt you want i find tthe hardware store to be cheaper place to buy them
 
  #51  
Old 06-06-2011, 02:03 PM
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I finally had a chance to install the slingshot on my '49 and am finding the same problem with the belt...too short to go over the pulley. I would like to keep the height as low as possible and stick with the stock belt, did anyone have luck trimming the mount? In the absence of that, what belt size ultimately worked? I'm using the Speedway version.

Ross-you mentioned that the intake "slot" can be fixed. That turned out to be broken on mine too. What is the fix? I still have part of the driver side one holding it in place for now.

Ryan
 
  #52  
Old 06-06-2011, 03:00 PM
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Is your manifold aluminum or cast iron? I don't recall where I said it could be fixed, but it would be an aluminum manifold I presume. What reallyt matters is the big bolt, the slot is not that important IMO, as long as there is enough to keep the bracket from turning while you're adjusting. ONce that big nut is cranked down, it takes a lot to rotate the bracket. If yours is really bad and is cast iron, and you have the pieces, you could get it brazed back together. By far the easiest thing for a stock cast iron manifold is to just buy another one, they rarely sell for more than $10 (shipping is another matter).

As far as the belt, are you trying to slip the belt over with the alt in place (raised up)? Try putting it in the pulley with the alt as low as it will go, then raising the alt.
 
  #53  
Old 06-07-2011, 04:42 PM
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Yes, the intake is cast...didn't realize they were so cheap! I'll look to replace it at some point, but there seems to be enough to hold it while tightening. I wonder how it broke in the first place?

The alternator mount is as far down as it goes in the slot. I think the stock belt is 52" and it appears to be about 2" short. My setup may be a hybrid too as the pulleys on the water pumps seem to be narrow--belt rides pretty high compared to the crank pulley. I will pick up a couple of belts to try I guess...just wondered if anyone had the magic number. It's looking like maybe 55" based on the other posts here.
 
  #54  
Old 06-07-2011, 06:49 PM
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They can break from having the shoe cocked in the slot, when tightening the big nut. Especially with fat-fender trucks with generators, it's hard to keep everything in place while leaning way over the fenders. Also from being dropped!
 
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Old 06-07-2011, 06:56 PM
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Thanks for all the help! I'll post my "belt size" this weekend when I get it back together.
 
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Old 06-07-2011, 11:17 PM
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Originally Posted by mclaughlinrp
I think the stock belt is 52" and it appears to be about 2" short. My setup may be a hybrid too as the pulleys on the water pumps seem to be narrow--belt rides pretty high compared to the crank pulley.
That could be the answer to your problem/question. If you have narrow belt pullies on the water pumps and wide belt pullies on the crank and generator, that will not allow the belt to sit right in the w/p pullies and "use up" potentially a couple of inches. You also won't get good contact at the water pumps, causing possible slipping problems and undue belt wear. If this is the situation, you may want to look into changing water pumps/pullies to the correct, matching type.
 
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Old 06-07-2011, 11:45 PM
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Originally Posted by 52 Merc
That could be the answer to your problem/question. If you have narrow belt pullies on the water pumps and wide belt pullies on the crank and generator, that will not allow the belt to sit right in the w/p pullies and "use up" potentially a couple of inches. You also won't get good contact at the water pumps, causing possible slipping problems and undue belt wear. If this is the situation, you may want to look into changing water pumps/pullies to the correct, matching type.
Good catch, I missed that! That means the engine is from a car, and has hybrid water pumps (truck pumps with car pulleys mounted). That is my setup, too. Your water pump pulleys should not be aligned with each other, if that is the case. That is because one WP shares a belt with the alternator, and one shares with the fan. But the crank pulley needs to match. Long term you're best off converting all to the truck configuration, all wide.
 
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Old 06-14-2011, 03:13 PM
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Ok, this is actually a car motor, but it looks like I have the correct truck water pumps and pulleys per the PO installation. I did, however, need a longer belt to make it work. It appears anything from 55" to 57" works safely within the range of the Speedway bracket. I used a 57" because that is all the local parts house had in stock. Next time I'll order one a bit shorter so the alternator wiring harness isn't stretched to the limit. Now I just hope I don't have the "harmonic" vibration issue with it up so high...

Thank you everyone for the help!

Ryan
 
  #59  
Old 06-20-2011, 09:56 PM
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Alternator Conversion - belt issues

I ran into this discussion this evening, and I know that you have found a solution, but I was having the same problem with my truck (1950 F-1 Flathead V-8). I found a 12V neg ground alternator conversion kit at MAC's Antique Auto Parts (New York), bracket, wide pulley and alternator fit like a charm, but the stock belt didn't fit. I was able to find a longer belt at NAPA (25-22553) that did the trick. Now I just have to find an easy way of tightening the fan belt.

Lester
----------------------------
1950 Ford F-1 Pickup
(Getting a makeover to 12V)
 
  #60  
Old 06-20-2011, 11:11 PM
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Originally Posted by LesSjo
....Now I just have to find an easy way of tightening the fan belt.

Lester
----------------------------
It sure isn't fun... If you take the fenders off, it's much easier! Might even be faster!

PS -- welcome to the forum!
 


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