Serpentine swap...yay or nay?

[OldIron82]

Hello all. As the thread title states, should I get the serpentine system from my local salvage yard and install it on my 6.9? Or should I stick with the v-belt system that's currently on the 7.3 NA that's in my truck and just transfer it over to the 6.9 before the swap? From reading a lot of threads on the forum here, it appears to be a matter of opinion as far as what is "better" and how you define better. Is the alternative on the serpentine system more powerful than the v belt alternator? It appears to be smaller but I'm guessing since its a later design it's output is higher? $150.00 for the entire setup, components and all. Thanks.

 

[IDIoit]

good price, I hated the flapping alternator belt, some don't care, and some make a v-belt idler for it.
I chose to go serp
all in preference

 

[Macrobb]

I'll probably go the other way myself. Tensioner breaks on a serp setup, you have no water pump. Vacuum pump siezes? No water pump. Alternator? No water pump. Etc.
And yes, I have 2 serp-belt trucks. Tensioner broke on my '93(bolt literally sheared off), and the vacuum pump siezed on my '92.
With a V-belt setup, you have redundancy. Something siezes? Cut the offending belt and drive onward.

Not to mention, serp belts like to squeal. Get it soaked in snow? Listen to it squeal until it dries. Soaked in oil? Throw it away and get another, because it's so obnoxious.

V-belts /can/, but don't usually squeal the same way; usually only if they are slipping.

 

[79jasper]

Sounds like you just get the poop end of the stick.
Can't say I've ever had that many issues with serp setups.
Lost a idler pulley once, that's been it. No squealing ever.

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

 

[Thewespaul]

I’ve also had many issues with serp setup, had a custom pulley made for my tensioner and no more issues, it should be available soon

 

[chris142]

Absolutly nothing wrong with the V belt system.

 

[79jasper]

Oh, to answer the alternator question.
Usually the serp setup will have a 3g alternator. Iirc, slightly higher out put, internal voltage regulator. And more common. Lol
Some that have swapped the 3g or other high output alternator into a v belt truck, see issues with the belt slipping.

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

 

[OldIron82]

Thank you for the replies thus far. I like the sound of the 3g alternator but I don't know if it's enough to sway me that way.

Sent from my LG-H810 using Tapatalk

 

[whiteboyslo]

3g with v belt is no big whoop. I'm running it on mine with no issues.

I used to think v-belt was too Old School, but I just picked up a 1993 Suburban, and it's non-stop comedy trying to get everything quiet. Got it mostly sorted, but only after a new PS pump, new alternator, new idler, new tensioner, and belt. Never had anywhere near this mucj trouble with belts on the truck.

Mike

 

[IDIoit]

its not the 3g that's the kicker, its the fact that its internally regulated, and you can hook it up straight to the battery and clean up your wiring, not to mention one less item to diagnose.

when it comes to serp, most of the issues people have had here comes from the open spring design.
where mis installation is very common due to having to tighten the bolt down with spring dragging on the casting.
and the fact that they are prone to failure.
us avid serp fans switch to the closed spring tensioner, which is actually a completely different drivers side bracket.
we also install the tensioner with the shock.
I have not any issues since I replaced everything and got it on point.
the belt does chirp in the morning when driving it hard, but only till it warms up.

they are more or less problem free.
look at all of the modern cars now a days, you can prolly count on 1 hand which manufacturers still use a v belt, and its usually to drive 1 item.
people say "if you throw a belt, you loose everything...
which is correct. but you know about it immediately.
**** happens. all cars are junk, and they always break.
this is why we are all here in the first place

hay @Clb how many miles were on your truck when the open spring took a dump?

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[Golden Helmet]

I think V-belt vs serpentine is more "What set of problems do you want" than anything. You can have one easy-to-change belt, but if it breaks and you don't have a spare you'll need to be towed; or you can have many belts, but the inner-most one likes to break frequently and when it goes, you lose your brakes, and if you don't have a spare you'll need a tow.

My truck has the V-belt setup, but I personally wouldn't mind it being serpentine. I found a happy middle-ground though, and that was swapping to hydroboost. That puts your brake booster on a MUCH more reliable belt, so when your alternator belt goes missing you can keep on driving. That makes living with V-belts much more tolerable to me, and it's why I haven't done a serpentine swap yet.

 

[Joseph Davis]

I like to go with the serpentine belt because of the easy change of the belt. The build of the engine would make the designation for me. When I see a slapping Alternator V belt I would check for cause of the slap, because most of the time it is rust in the grove of the Harmonic balancer causing belt slap, so clean the grove so smooth 4x4 wheeling. I have Been out on holiday run looking for big present parked under larger than life trees. I am going to stay with stock set up because I am not an engineer. What sounds easy may make a night mare out of a great truck. Happy New Years and I hope for the best on making a decision V belt or Surp.

 

[Macrobb]

I think V-belt vs serpentine is more "What set of problems do you want" than anything. You can have one easy-to-change belt, but if it breaks and you don't have a spare you'll need to be towed; or you can have many belts, but the inner-most one likes to break frequently and when it goes, you lose your brakes, and if you don't have a spare you'll need a tow.

My truck has the V-belt setup, but I personally wouldn't mind it being serpentine. I found a happy middle-ground though, and that was swapping to hydroboost.

Hydroboost is awesome, but wait... lose vacuum assist and you'd get a tow?
I've limped to an autoparts store several times with no power brakes... it's a pain, but totally doable if you can leave a large stopping distance.

Heck, I did that on the '92 - vacuum pump siezed, pulled it, put a shorter belt on and drove it into town(10mi away, mostly highway) for a new pump, installed in the parking lot I think?

 

[Thewespaul]

I tore a tensioner off the the engine and drove home 30 miles...


3 miles at a time

 

[icanfixall]

I changed from belts to serpentine 11 years ago. Behind my rear seat I carry a spare serpentine belt. A spare shock absorber tensioner and an idler. Never have I needed any of these spares. My belts were a different story..