Serpentine Belt Conversion

Well my Jeep doesn't quite fit into any of the Tech categories so I'll go O.T.

I'm considering changing my V-belts to a serpentine belt system. My engine is a 1976 Buick V6 231 odd-fire. My plan was to just check the junkyard for any Buick 3.8 engines I come across and see what I might be able to piece together. I've just started researching this, but I've not found much pertaining to a Buick V6.

I know there's a lot involved (pulleys, reverse water pump, etc.), but does this sound doable?

Oops - I meant to post in Off Topic. Mods please relocate as needed.

 

Yes!
Posted via Mobile Device

 

I guess my biggest concern is if a newer model 3.8 water pump that is for a serpentine belt system will bolt up to my engine.

 

Ha, O.K, so I'm not going crazy. I did a search, but wasn't able to find anything on it. Seems like someone has probably done this conversion before.

 

Well it appears I am headed down a lonely road with this idea. I'm going to the junkyard this weekend if I have time.

 

Yeah, I don't know Buick engines well enough to have a good starting point. I'm thinking that I'd have to get into mid-eighties 3.8 engines for a serpentine system. I'm surprised no one has done this as part of a hop up to an old V6. I've also got a post on the Team Buick forum with no results.

4.3 sounds right also. I'm trying to come up with a reverse water pump that will fit.

 

buick thinking skylark maybe park ave, which ever one that had that funky hood system opened from the front and then lifted from the rear some one will know the car i am talking about. it came with a 3800 thinking its a 3.8 had this setup

 

This may be a dumb question, but why do a serpentine? Are you running all kinds of power pull off's as it were?

 

I'm sure it can be done but I didn't have any luck. I really wanted to do this conversion / swap as well. I have a 1983 3.8L even fire in a 1963 CJ5. I spent countless hours at the bone yard, on the Buick forums, measuring pieces from various GM cars and was unable to even locate a viable donor. I even talked to the guys at March Performance without success. I do know that 1986 was the first year that the serpentine system was used on the 3.8L V6 and can be found on the Century, Electra, LeSabre, and Riviera. If you can find a donor you're probably set. That was my biggest problem as I couldn't find the donor. Good luck, and let us all know if you can do it as others I'm sure would like to know.

 

Mcwall, that is at least a start for me..... having some specific vehicles to keep an eye out for. Thanks.

The reason may not sound like a good one, but it's not for show. It's to get better grip on my power steering. I have spent the last couple of years being completely unsatisfied with the performance of my v-belt power steering. It's always squealing like a pig. I've tightened, adjusted, added belt dressing, bleed, etc. I just can't get the belt to grab good enough when I'm crawling through the rocks at low, low tire pressure, low rpm. My tires rarely get above 12 or 15 psi and they grip really good. I have a Chevy truck power steering pump and a Hummer Saginaw power steering box. I should be able to push those tires around a lot better than I can without the belt constantly slipping.

 

the serp belt configurations on a Jeep only give a full wrap to the water pump.
I don't know what the configuration is on a Buick engine but I doubt it's a full wrap
may not solve your problem
what kind of locking diff up front ?

 

ARB. I hardly ever use it; only on the toughest obstacles. I realize I may be chasing a ghost here.... just tired of not having the power steering working properly when I need it the most.

 

Have you seen evidence of the belt slipping? Almost sounds like the pressure relief valve opening up due to too much pressure build up, which is what it's supposed to do. They have different pressure ratings and the relief valve springs do lose their tension over time allowing the valve to open up too early. Does it sound like when someone goes to full lock in a parking lot? A lot of screeching? if so most likely the relief valve opening up. May want to talk to the folks at PSC or West Texas Off Road and see what can be done. Binderbulletin.com years ago had a fix in the way of a shim to tighten up the relief valve as Scout 2's were notorious for similar issues....

 

That's something to investigate. I'll see what I can find out. It did the same thing on an old pump as it does now with a new pump. Yeah, screeching, which I assumed could only be from a slipping belt. I never heard of the relief valve situation before.
Thanks.

The evidence/symptoms has been that it works fine on the street with with full psi in 2wd, when I lower the tire pressure and/or lock it in 4wd (not the ARB locker, just the hubs) it starts to squeal. If I add belt dressing... it not longer squeals and I can feel the power working better, turning easier.

I've seen the West Texas Off Road drill out trick:
http://westtexasoffroad.homestead.com/powersteering.html
but I've never talked to anyone that has personally performed it shown that it was effective for them. I really didn't even consider that it might be a pressure issue.