Fan belts squealing - can’t seem to solve

[AR67GTX]

That would seem to explain where the 15 and 17 come from in the Dayco numbering system, 15/32 and 17/32. Although I’ve just nominally measured and casually discussed them as 3/8” and 1/2” belts, when I’ve found a width reported on the Dayco chart it’s in decimal form but slightly wider than 3/8” and 1/2”. I obviously never gave a lot of thought to the widths as length was the biggest struggle in finding belts that fit. The power steering belt is the only one on my car that is 17/32.

 

[AR67GTX]

First drive with the Quanta restoration belt rubbed down with bar soap went fine. A couple more drives will be necessary to see if it holds up. One thing, the old fabric wrapped belts are not as slick on the sides as most newer belts, which I guess are extruded and cut in some fashion. I also have it tensioned pretty tight right now, but maybe it will work.

 

[lemondana]

So your water pump-fan belt is the one you are having problems with? I have a 13 belt that more than likely will solve your problem. If you say you've had problems with the idler pulley in the past, I also have a solution for that. Give me your address in the PM I sent you and I'll send you this stuff. And you can pay me when it solves the problem. Put your phone number in the PM also.

 

[AR67GTX]

Thanks, but it seems to be working so far with this 15/32 old style cloth wrapped belt (and maybe soaping it up). Let me see how this all plays out first. I need to drive it a few more miles. The only real issue I’ve had with the pulley was squaring the bracket up and shimming it into alignment with the crank a water pump pulleys - but that’s been taken care of. The pulley and bearing are not new but look like low mileage/low use replacements.

Thanks

 

[lemondana]

Sounds good. Years ago, I had a friend that had a 69 SS396 El Camino 4 speed that would throw the alt-fan belt at hi rpm shifts. Everything was lined up perfect, all factory pulleys. Ended up-the alternator was locking up at hi rpm. Got the alt rebuilt and good to go.

 

[PlymouthMakesIt]

The stock pulleys should take an 11/32 belt. Needing anything more is indicative of a worn out pulley and it won't last long. Before writing it off as a bad pulley I'd check the water pump to see if the impeller is rubbing the housing, and if your fan clutch is seized if you haven't already

 

[AR67GTX]

Yes, I have checked those things. Not sure of the sizing on the Quanta restoration belt but it’s supposed to be a duplicate of the OE belt and it looks like it sits pretty close to flush on the pulley, maybe the top down inside by a hair.