serpentine conversion - worth it in a 454?

[r67northern]

Hi All, anyone want to weigh in on this idea of the serpentine conversion on an '88 454?

I'm thinking about picking up the brackets and parts from a 350tbi and then using the KwikPerformance kit:

http://www.kwikperf.com/bbc_serp_kit.html

But ... is it worth the trouble? I haven't played a lot with v-belts so I don't really know what I'm getting rid of and what I can expect from it vs. the serpentine.

 

[CSFJ]

I guess it depends on what your definition of worth the trouble is. I've had several vehicles of each, and really don't have a preference either way. On one hand it is nice to only have 1 belt to replace, held by a spring tensioner, on the other if that one belt breaks due to belt fatigue or other component failure, then all the driven accessories quit spinning.

 

[yevgenievich]

To me it would be worth it for swap of newer brackets to use newer sanden air compressor.

 

[bucket]

I guess it depends on what your definition of worth the trouble is. I've had several vehicles of each, and really don't have a preference either way. On one hand it is nice to only have 1 belt to replace, held by a spring tensioner, on the other if that one belt breaks due to belt fatigue or other component failure, then all the driven accessories quit spinning.

X2

If I have a v-belt setup, I leave it alone. If I have a serpentine setup, I leave it alone. If I'm sticking a motor in something, I'll use whatever style I have on hand or what looks "correct" if the vehicle has a specific period look.

 

[74propu]

I used the kwik bracket adaptors you are looking at and they were grate on my big block and all the parts are gm stock and very clean look over the later bb brackets

 

[r67northern]

Thanks guys, I won't do anything too heroic then. Doesn't sound like there's enough up side. I've also heard that the standard pancake ac compressors aren't as good as this larger v-belt driven one that's on the R20 right now (somSanden would be a good idea in a swap I guess).

 

[r67northern]

I used the kwik bracket adaptors you are looking at and they were grate on my big block and all the parts are gm stock and very clean look over the later bb brackets

That's good to know too. I'll probably do it when the truck gives me a reason like a blown compressor, so I can throw a Sanden in at the same time. You had to move the ac lines to the passenger side right? I was thinking that the standard 5.7 line would match everything well.

 

[NOPHO84K30]

I put 92 bb serpintine on mine works great newer accessories

 

[r67northern]

I put 92 bb serpintine on mine works great newer accessories

Looks great. I'll keep an eye out for that setup. Was that a JY find?

 

[NOPHO84K30]

No it was getting parted out at my brother's work and i pulled it off had everything i nedded i just bought all new acc ..rev water pump ...alt ac then the conversation plugs

 

[samuel]

Im putting a tbi motor in my 76 crewcab. As far as AC compressor goes should i just a one from a 1987?

 

[Swims350]

how much are you guys paying for serp. setups? I got one for sale in the classifieds section on here, for a sbc 4.3 or you guy smight make it fit bbc with above parts.

 

[r67northern]

Im putting a tbi motor in my 76 crewcab. As far as AC compressor goes should i just a one from a 1987?

If you've got the serpentine setup on the tbi, then I'd recommend just doing it the easy way and getting one of the R4 pancake compressors that those came with. You could work with a Sanden replacement though and some modified brackets. Some folks have recommended that in the past.