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- Thread starter Shovelrick
- Start date
Im going to write belt sizes down in my AIM once Im sure everything works right, might even have a sticker made for under hood with correct size for next owner...Or my bad memory lol
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Here's a useful website for Gates automotive V belts. It gives the part # and the width/length so you can order the correct part #.
Are your belts about 7/16" wide at the top (.410") ?
Automotive V-Belts
ates Automotive V-Belts are designed to wear evenly to prevent belt slippage and to extend service life of the most demanding engine drives
www.gates.com
The VA kit says to use 3/8" belts which kind of sucks since Napa has long belts but wider Edit VA estimated 58.5 to 59.5 belts though
Maybe the .410" standard Gates belts are considered to be 3/8" wide ? There's only 1/32" difference (.030").
Autozone says 1/2" wide belts are what came on my BBC. The narrower belts are designed to ride deeper in the pulleys so they don't sling off ?
More research : 3/8" wide belts are designated by 3L , 3V and 3VX. The 3L is the light duty and the only type that comes in 57, 58, 59 and 60" long lengths.
The heavier duty 3V and 3VX only come in 56" and 60" long.
3L light duty :
www.mcmaster.com
3VX heavy duty
www.mcmaster.com
The heavier duty 3V and 3VX only come in 56" and 60" long.
3L light duty :
McMaster-Carr
McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.
3VX heavy duty
McMaster-Carr
McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.
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Im still trying to figure out best belt..?
Guy at Napa said they don't have anything between 61 5/8 to 63 5/8 I think 62" would be the right belt but still checkingMore research : 3/8" wide belts are designated by 3L , 3V and 3VX. The 3L is the light duty and the only type that comes in 57, 58, 59 and 60" long lengths.
The heavier duty 3V and 3VX only come in 56" and 60" long.
3L light duty :
McMaster-Carr
McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.
3VX heavy duty
McMaster-Carr
McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.
Found a heavy-duty one here
Standard duty here
I'm going to go with 3/8" wide belts too
Looking Good ! 
That compressor looks so much better than original; plus it's lighter.
That compressor looks so much better than original; plus it's lighter.
Well the 1st body shop owner came over this morning to remove the Pas side fender so I could use a hole saw and cut for the refrig lines, after looking it over and realizing the front bumper, grill, hood had to be removed I decided I'll cut the holes in the smoothed fire wall since I already have wires for the power seats and stereo going through it, I'm going to try to keep them as far under or behind the hood hinge as possible, no pics yet but will post some as soon as I start this part of to install, been swamped with ac installs & repairs, Oh he did fix the pass window problem I was having with the window falling off track
Had a little time earlier today so was reading evap install instr. says Remove Factory defrost duct by removing dash carrier and dash? Why wouldn't they design these retro systems to use the factory defrost ducts? Sounds a bit dumb to me but guess when I call tomorrow they can explain it to me, really dont matter Im going back this evening to per instr drop steering column and pull carrier out to remove the factory defrost duct thats in perfect condition 
Attachments
Just looked at the instructions; page 7 says to remove and discard the old defrost duct.Had a little time earlier today so was reading evap install instr. says Remove Factory defrost duct by removing dash carrier and dash? Why wouldn't they design these retro systems to use the factory defrost ducts? Sounds a bit dumb to me but guess when I call tomorrow they can explain it to me, really dont matter Im going back this evening to per instr drop steering column and pull carrier out to remove the factory defrost duct thats in perfect condition
Page 9 says to install the new ducts which are much smaller and shorter; they give room for the large evaporator unit under the dash.
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Chevelle_Nut
Shop Foreman
One reason why I like OEM systems.
This would have been much easier if I would've bought an ac car 12 yrs ago lol but Im all in now 
No way. OEM is way more complex and much heavier.This would have been much easier if I would've bought an ac car 12 yrs ago lol but Im all in now
The ac box on an original system makes it impossible to work on a performance engine.
You will love this once it's installed.
I didn't find it very hard , except for the passenger side fender that has to be removed ! LOL
When the body guy that I've known for 35+ yrs (1st shop owner that gave up trying to get the AM parts to fit together) came over to pull the fender he said " OK let's start with the bumper, grill then pull the hood..." I stopped him and said NOPE! I'm not doing all that so I'm going straight through the firewall as close to the kick panel as I can get, if I need to use 90* fittings on all the hoses at Evap. I will, wish I'd of thought about this when the front end was off a few yrs ago, I also have a smoothed firewall so maybe I can move the Evap. mounting location a little more towards the center of the car if needed?
What about just pulling the inner fender ?
Chevelle_Nut
Shop Foreman
I have stock cars, I cruise, no racing. Weight makes for a comfortable ride.