Serpentine Drive Kits

[Foreman72]

so i've been lookin at some serpentine drive kits from March http://www.marchperf.com/pg47.html and i was wondering what the performance advantages were or if it was a strictly cosmetic improvement.  I mean does anyone really have serious belt-creeping issues?    the kit is pretty expensive so unless it provides substantial improvement the money is better spent elsewhere...thanks guys

[Foreman72]

 

[lisiecki1]

from what i've gathered the serpentine kits are set up with underdrive ratios, so you get a nominal improvement in power.  For that reason and for the look I'm planning on putting a set on my 383 when the car is done...

[Foreman72]

from what i've gathered the serpentine kits are set up with underdrive ratios, so you get a nominal improvement in power.  For that reason and for the look I'm planning on putting a set on my 383 when the car is done...

is it worth the 500 bucks tho

[lisiecki1]

from a purely horsepower driven standpoint i'd say no.....you can get a lot more power out of nos for 500 bucks....


the kit i'm after is 1100.....but that's only because i want the whole a/c compressor set up with it....

[firefighter3931]

On a streetcar try to avoid underdrive pulley systems....it only leads to problems. 



Ron

[Belgium R/T -68]

 

[Foreman72]

so just get ahold of the stock pulleys? any other thougths?

[lisiecki1]

i believe march does have a set that is not underdrive....but now you're paying just for the look.......other than that, try to locate the stock stuff....i might have some stuff, what are you looking for?

[defiance]

Well, look, convenience of a (slightly) more reliable belt system, and easier belt swaps.  I've got the march system...  BUT - I don't know that I'd recommend it.  The march system isn't actually a true serpentine - it uses two serpentine belts, but it's configured like a v-belt system (no 'concave' curves, no tensioner pulleys, tension adjustments needed to install/remove).  Plus, the finish on mine started developing corrosion underneath the clear coat after less than a year with minimal exposure to elements.  I ended up having to wire brush all the coating and corrosion off, refinish them, and re-coat them.  Wasn't very happy about that...

There's another one out there that's a bit more expensive, but actually comes with some of the accessories anyway and I believe it's a true serpentine system.  Billet specialties I think is the name of the mfg?

[lisiecki1]

true....glad you posted defiance, i had no idea about corrosion issues with the march system....billet specialties makes a really nice kit, but i think that's getting into the $2500 arena.....i'll probably get the march system and refinish before installation....

[Foreman72]

i believe march does have a set that is not underdrive....but now you're paying just for the look.......other than that, try to locate the stock stuff....i might have some stuff, what are you looking for?

a 318 w ps...i have a/c but i don't think i'll keep it...yeah...thanks 4 the info guys....

[lisiecki1]

i have the factory a/c pump/clutch and brackets and hoses.....i'll have to see what i have in the way of pulleys this evening

[defiance]

true....glad you posted defiance, i had no idea about corrosion issues with the march system....billet specialties makes a really nice kit, but i think that's getting into the $2500 arena.....i'll probably get the march system and refinish before installation....

cool - truth be told, I've heard of other people with march, and never heard anyone else mention corrosion problems, so maybe I did something wrong, or maybe I got a fluke.  It does work fine, and looks good again now.

Yeah, I just looked up the billet specialties one - a/c and ps and you're nearly up to $3k!!!  wow.  On the other hand, it looks like it comes with the entire set of accessories, water pump, basically everything in front of the block, so I guess that's not as bad as just 3k for a set of pulleys...  but it's still insane.

I seem to remember somebody on moparts putting together a non-dressey kit with new OEM components.

[Foreman72]

true....glad you posted defiance, i had no idea about corrosion issues with the march system....billet specialties makes a really nice kit, but i think that's getting into the $2500 arena.....i'll probably get the march system and refinish before installation....

cool - truth be told, I've heard of other people with march, and never heard anyone else mention corrosion problems, so maybe I did something wrong, or maybe I got a fluke.  It does work fine, and looks good again now.

Yeah, I just looked up the billet specialties one - a/c and ps and you're nearly up to $3k!!!  wow.  On the other hand, it looks like it comes with the entire set of accessories, water pump, basically everything in front of the block, so I guess that's not as bad as just 3k for a set of pulleys...  but it's still insane.

I seem to remember somebody on moparts putting together a non-dressey kit with new OEM components.

if you happen 2 find that let me know...i'd love 2 see it...i want something reliable and reasonably attractive...that won't steal power...that sounds like a good bet...thanks a ton man

[defiance]

Actually, found two different ones on moparts -

Here's a thread where a customer talks about a kit he got from moparts member Duster499 -

http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=QuestionAnswer&Number=3506162&Searchpage=3&Main=3499758&Words=%2B440+%2Bserpentine&topic=&Search=true#Post3506162

Another moparts member Jerry makes this one

http://www.superiordesignconcepts.com/bbserpentine.html

I dunno a thing about either of them other than they both appear to be OEM style components.

If you find out more, definitely post - I might be tempted to give up the shiney to switch to something with a true serpentine belt. 

[lisiecki1]

if you do please let me know, i might be interested in your march set

[bill440rt]

I bought one of those kits from Duster499 as well. Everything is VERY high quality. nitrousn is also a member here & told me about them.
The only thing I may do is give the parts another fine polish on a wheel and re-clear coat them. They were originally supposed to be powder coated, but I think (from memory) there was a problem with that so now he just clears the parts.
Instructions are very clear, and all components are very nice. Cheaper than a March set-up too, and I can still run a mechanical fuel pump. AND, the A/C compressor will clear my 6-pack air cleaner!!