Did they mess up belts?

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TruckCo

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Well on top of me trying to figure out a bad idle when warm, I installed a new coolant temperature sensor.

When I went to fire up the truck, I noticed a quick belt squeal (new to me). I just had flow masters 40s and new belts put on. (Serpentine and two V Belts) from a local shop that works on a lot of older vehicles.

Note this...

-I noticed that the new ac compressor is running a belt from the compressor, around the water pump, and the front part of the pulley on the power steering pump.

-On the back part of the powering steering pump, there is another belt running the pump that goes around harmonic balancer.

Is this right? Why would you have two belts running a power steering pump? One belt runs the ac compressor and one runs off the harmonic balancer. Wouldn't this cause fighting between the two belts? I could have sworn I only had one power steering belt running off of the harmonic balancer.

Ugh just my luck. Any responses would be greatly appreciated.

Also I provided the three belts to them that were exact part number off of the old ones and they told me one of em wasn't right and ordered a different one. Is this how it may have gotten messed up. Also the rear powersteering belt doesnt seem to fit down into the pulley very well. Please HELP!
 

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DoubleDingo

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Well on top of me trying to figure out a bad idle when warm, I installed a new coolant temperature sensor.

When I went to fire up the truck, I noticed a quick belt squeal (new to me). I just had flow masters 40s and new belts put on. (Serpentine and two V Belts) from a local shop that works on a lot of older vehicles.

Note this...

-I noticed that the new ac compressor is running a belt from the compressor, around the water pump, and the front part of the pulley on the power steering pump.

-On the back part of the powering steering pump, there is another belt running the pump that goes around harmonic balancer.

Is this right? Why would you have two belts running a power steering pump? One belt runs the ac compressor and one runs off the harmonic balancer. Wouldn't this cause fighting between the two belts? I could have sworn I only had one power steering belt running off of the harmonic balancer.

Ugh just my luck. Any responses would be greatly appreciated.

Also I provided the three belts to them that were exact part number off of the old ones and they told me one of em wasn't right and ordered a different one. Is this how it may have gotten messed up. Please HELP!
Take a pic of this and post it up
 

DoubleDingo

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It doesn't look right to me. Hopefully someone will chime in with more experience and knowledge of the belt routing.
 

Scott91370

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If this is an original setup head to the reference section and look in the service manual for your year, belt routing should be listed.
 

Radiohead

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I can't speak to a small block, but on a big block they have the AC running off the PS dual V groove with the PS running off the crank/WP in the other. Thusly
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This is a '79. I can't imagine it's much different on a SB of a similar vintage and options list. I hope this is helpful.
 

TruckCo

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My neighbor whose a big chevy guy said my setup looks ok. He said the only thing mechanically turning everything is the crank (obviousley) so he said it looks fine? . I just figured the belts would fight eachother but i guess if they were then theyd be making a hell of a a racket or toss one.


Youd think with two grooves on the PS that it would be designed for two belts unless it was for alignment issues.
 

DoubleDingo

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The routing that @Radiohead looks like it's supposed to be. I'd suggest double checking the routing to make sure it is correct before you toss a belt
 

TruckCo

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I can't speak to a small block, but on a big block they have the AC running off the PS dual V groove with the PS running off the crank/WP in the other. Thusly
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This is a '79. I can't imagine it's much different on a SB of a similar vintage and options list. I hope this is helpful.
Thank you. I also have an AC pump
 

Grit dog

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Thank you. I also have an AC pump
Do you mean an air pump?
Have you compared to an OE belt routing diagram for your model?
That’s assuming your setup is still OE configuration.
Surprised shop lets you byop. (Bring your own parts)
 

75gmck25

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Alternator belt looks fine.

For the PS belt there were two OEM solutions
- short belt goes around the PS pulley and the crankshaft pulley. This was the stock non-A/C belt
- or there is a longer belt that goes around the PS, crankshaft and the water pump. This was usually used on A/C or HD cooling. The advantage of this setup is that if you break the alternator belt, the PS belt will keep the water pump turning, so you still have cooling. Yours appears to use that belt.

- routing of the A/C belt depends on the compressor. IIRC, with my original A6 compressor, the compressor pulley was mounted way out to the side, so the belt ran directly from the compressor to the crankshaft, with the bottom of the belt up guided by the PS pulley, and the top running in free air from compressor to crankshaft. I’m not sure how it was routed with the R4 compressor.
 

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The belt routing is correct. Those belts don't fight each other because the crank pulley grooves and the PS pulley grooves are the same diameter.
 

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