kennyvette

I have a '74 T-top with a built 454, dynoed at 500+hp. Since I acquired the car, I've had trouble keeping the alternator/idler belts adjusted so that they won't slip. About a week ago, the water pump shaft broke, thus allowing the fan and pulley assembly to become airborne, taking out the radiator. I felt fortunate to not have any damage to the hood or front fenders of the car. I suspect that the stock set-up is not the way to go with a stepped up motor. SO.......can anyone out there steer me in the right direction on a serpentine belt set-up and a radiator/electric fan arrangement that will work with a big block??

Thanks very much.

Fevre

Might try a junk yard for a late model truck with serp set up, just remember to use a rev rotation pump unless you route the belt diff.

Tom454

I wanted to do this also a few years back...

1970 LS5 with A/C, P/S, no AIR pump.

I found a company who sells a kit, but even with the kit, the P/S pump is a big "issue" because of frame interference. The product they sold also looked like something right out of Dr Frankensteins lab. VERY hokey.

The electric fan setups at that time were all connected through the radiator... something I would never do. For me, it has to be a separate mount that does not threaten the radiator tubes & fins by running hardware through them.

The amount of extra cooling required by a bigblock was also an issue.... nobody would guarantee their system for a BB... most were designed for SB. Things may have changed in that department.

So I backed off.

Try
http://www.marchperf.com

just for a starting point.

markdtn

Do a web search for "Big Block from Hell" they have the radiator and electric fan part for you.

flynhi

GM sells a serp conversion kit for new parts.
Get your alum radiator and Spal fans from DeWitt.

Neither is cheap but very high quality.

white74

Bcool makes an electric fan and radiator combo that is a direct bolt in that will support 600 ci and 1000 horses.

vintage air makes a serpentine setup that does not require the use of the bolt holes in the head. It is very expensive but it looks to be the simplest to install.

Smokehouse69

First for your fans and radiator, the only combo I would recommend is the dual 11" setup for DeWitt's http://www.dewitts.com/pages/product...asp?ProdID=249
They are sort of expensive, but they are the best, Spal's are used on many high dollar European sports cars and are rated in a real world situation. They are rated at 2700 cfm on a radiator, other fans are measured in free air.
Tom DeWitt who owns DeWitt's is a first class guy, forum member and forum supporting vendor, he will always return your calls and freely answer any questions you might have about your setup.
High Recommended! I have 'em and I love 'em!

flynhi

The Vintage Air unit is very nice - well engineered and produced. I decided against it since the accessories (AC compresor and Gen) are custom units only available from VA. If you have a problem in the future, you are at the mercy of VA and UPS.

I opted for March which uses readily available accessories.

aussiejohn

Here's something to ponder. Electric power steering. In Australia, General Motors Holden sell a number of small European built cars with "electric power steering" and I wonder if these pumps could be retro-fitted to a Corvette. Has anyone tried? These Holden Barina, Astra and Vectra cars all have rack and pinion, but the pump doesn't know that. If the Steeroids kit uses the same (engine driven) pump that provided the boost to the old worm and sector steering box, then it would appear that both R&P and Worm and Sector need the same amount of hydraulic pressure. If the volume from these electric pumps was sufficient, then why couldn't you use one of them and this would make the serpentine belt a lot easier to fit, with one less pulley to run.
Your thoughts, gentlemen?

Regards from Down Under

aussiejohn :cheers:

aussiejohn

I forgot to add, the pump could then be mounted almost anywhere, but probably on the chassis under the master cylinder, where it could pick up its power from the junction that's in this area. :auto:

Regards from Down Under

aussiejohn

OkeeGuy

March has some really nice serpentine stuff... http://www.marchperf.com/pg49.html

groovyjay

I'm using March perf. serpentine conversion on my 454 BB. Love it! :cheers: