SBC exterior makeover - Help needed
 

Hey guys I have a older SBC 350, firstly is there an easy way to identify exactly what sbc it is and possibly what year it is etc?
I want Gilmer drive belts, Currently its only got an alternator and water pump spinning off the V-belt but I am also wanting to add power steering and air-con pump. this being my first Chev I don't know where to start at all..
will gilmer drives work with that many accessories (alternator, water pump, Power steering pump, and air-con pump).
I believe I have a long water pump as I can fit a finger in behind the water pump and timing cover, although I will no doubt end up getting a short water pump for clearance issues as I will be removing the belt driven fan and installing twin electric fans on the engine bay side of radiator.
I found a local guy that does mounting kits for power steering and aircon pumps but have no Idea where they mount on the motor?
I live in New Zealand so we are RHD. my alternator is currently mounted drivers side.

Cheers
Trent.

A google search for March performance, Billet Specialities, and Alan Grove brackets - then look for Chevy - that should give you some pictures and illustrations for locations/styles/measurements. For example - this from March: http://marchperf.com/instructions/Ch...structions.pdf

There are styles for low hood/wide bay, high hood/narrow bay, and everything in between. Depending on the year of the SBC, some will bolt to the water pump and some to both the heads and the water pump.

Do you mean serpentine belt or toothed blower drive belts. Cause they will eat power like crazy without the super charger.

Even blowers try to avoid using them unless absolutly needed. They use serpintine belts for normal street applications. Gilmore belts will eat power like crazy.

By crome v belt pulley they are dirt cheap and dont use alot of power and also avilable in all sizes.

I have never seen a toothed a/c belt. I dont think anyone makes an ac clutch for the toothed belt but water pump and power steering are fine.

hcompton I mean toothed gilmer drive belts like the one in this link: **GILMER DRIVE NEW SB/BB CHEV** | Trade Me
I want gilmer belts more for the winding sound as a blower is out of my price range and simply wont fit in my application.
is there a noticeable power loss in using toothed belts?
so if I went for toothed gilmer drives then I would have to get a special pulley made that also has v-belt for the A/C and power steering? and drive the alternator and waterpump with the gilmers?

Water pump alternator and power steering pump are all simple pullys stuck on a shaft. These can be replaced with toothed belt with off the shelf pulleys. But i havent seen anything for ac compressor clutch.

The toothed belts will also put a lot of stress on assesories. It is possible to break shafts if the belts get even a little cocked.

I also dont think its cheap. A cheap blower might actually be less money than getting all that stuff running on a gilmore belt system. If its possible to run every thing it will require a well designed setup. Also will probably need to make and idler pully for the blower because no one will make a 1500-3000 Dollar belt kit for a none blower motor.

What kinda of engine and car. Bet there is a turbo or blower solution in the same price range. Or close enough it worth working over time for the real deal.

Cheers for the reply,

The engine is an older chev small block 350Ci but I have no idea what model it is haha is there any easy way to tell?
it is currently in my 1980 Datsun Fairlady 280Z so not a factory car :nono:.

is it possible to use gilmer belt for alt, water pump and crank, get a special crank pulley that also has v-belt splines on it and power the P/S and A/C with v-belt? The Gilmer kits I have been looking at are nowhere near 1500-3000.

I have no clearance top or bottom what so ever to think about blower, and being an older carbed 350 turbo would be too expensive, not the mention if the wee rocket had much more power it would literally fly :D

You can buy serpentine pulleys only, which would be perfect for you. It runs the same routs as the v-belts would, put you use the flat multi-groove belts instead. Works very well on a street car.

Sorry... what? what are the advantages of serpentine belts over V-belts? I wanted gilmer toothed belts and pulleys purely for the visual look and the whining sound of them spinning.

V belts sap power and have been known to get thrown at high rpm.
Go ahead and get the gilmer belt if that's what you want, but forget about running anything other than the water pump and alternator. No power steering or a/c. They are made for race applications for motors that slip or throw v belts. They require constant maintenance and can destroy your alt or water pump bearings is you adjust it wrong. The serpentine pullies are awesome, you will love it. Costs like $200 for all the pullies and belts.
If you want a whine get a gear drive timing set.

whats involved in a gear drive set? will that drive everything? or again only the alt and water pump

Gear drive is your timing. Instead of a chain you put gears and it will whine.
For your accessories do like i said before and get the 7 groove pullies and run the poly belts. It's a cheap way to get away from the v-belts.

I don't know why you want the whining noise so bad though. The noise will make you suicidal in a matter of minutes.

Get a ford taurus or t-bird fan from the junk yard for 25.00. A two speed fan with a build in shroud. Low speed works about as good a high speed. These fans work well on a zcar with a v8 and are cheap, but require lot of power (thick wires and big relays).

Check your engine ID numbers on the block under the alternator.
Pull the valve covers and check the casing numbers.
Look at the block casting numbers at the rear of the block.

If you decide to go with a gear drive try to get a Pete Jackson. They are not that noisey but still have a whine similar to a Supercharger. Also, make sure you use the correct "spacer" I call them, for your cam. Its just a small button type deal that fits over the dowel on the cam. If you buy a new kit it will come with the spacers but if you buy a used set, like off racin junk or something you will probably have to buy the spacer kit. Make sure you know exactly what cam you have and set your geardrive up to correspond with your cam, either advanced, retarded or straight up. Thats what the spacer, or button if you will, does. Depending on what drive you go with you will most likely have to buy an aftermarket cover. I would use an aluminum cam button and also don't forget to check the clearance between your block and idler gear shaft as you will probably have to grind a little off. I'm runnin a PJ gear drive in my '68 Impala and love it. Good luck!!