Shredded another PS/fan belt today. Can anybody recommend a good one?

-
Chris Nicholson

Chris Nicholson

FABO Gold Member
FABO Gold Member
Joined
Apr 2, 2020
Messages
85
Reaction score
135
Location
Nashville, TN
Took my '74 Swinger to the Music City Mopar Club show today. Longest trip I've taken it on since getting it out of storage a couple of months ago. While doing the pre-flight this morning, I noticed the PS/fan belt had come loose, so I tightened it. Made it from west Nashville to Lebanon no problem. Checked the belt before I left the show and it was still tight, looked fine. Got almost all the way home when I realized I didn't have power steering any more. So you know what happened right after that!

What was left of the belt looked it had kept stretching and stretching until it failed. I can't remember if I got it from NAPA or Rock Auto, as it's been 4-5 years. I got one from my neighborhood AutoZone to get me home but want to find the best one I can get. And buy 2-3 just to be on the safe side.
 
gates gator backs are pretty darn durable, as are the bando premium units.

however, i'd be checking your pulleys and pulley alignment if you're wasting belts in short order.
 
Quanta products in Rising Sun MD
www.GasTanks.com

They make original style molded belts for Mopars. Never had one fail yet. No inside with divits because they are too cheap to make belts that are actually a smaller diameter on the inside than the outside.
 

Get us a picture of that belt eater. I had the same issue with shoe strings and kept blaming the cheap shoe strings. After I was down to only enough for a couple of eyelets I found the problem.

100_0059.JPG
 
I've been using Dayco from our local Advance and am happy with the quality. If I need something Mopar specific none of the big box stores stock anymore, I contact @lemondana. For example, slant 6 alternator belts were largly 13/32 width. The industry, in their infinite wisdom has chosen to drop that width from all of the big box stores. They sell you the "15" series (15/32) belt like it's the correct one and it's not. It doesn't sit down in grooves in the pulleys far enough and can wear prematurely, squeal and even be thrown off.
 
RustyRatRod said:
I've been using Dayco from our local Advance and am happy with the quality. If I need something Mopar specific none of the big box stores stock anymore, I contact @lemondana. For example, slant 6 alternator belts were largly 13/32 width. The industry, in their infinite wisdom has chosen to drop that width from all of the big box stores. They sell you the "15" series (15/32) belt like it's the correct one and it's not. It doesn't sit down in grooves in the pulleys far enough and can wear prematurely, squeal and even be thrown off.
Click to expand...
Yeah I have a 15 series alternator belt and it does not sit all way in any of the pulley groves. It squeals some on cold start up but seems to be quiet otherwise. Would really like to get a belt that fits in pulleys correctly....
 
Oldmanmopar said:
Get us a picture of that belt eater. I had the same issue with shoe strings and kept blaming the cheap shoe strings. After I was down to only enough for a couple of eyelets I found the problem.

View attachment 1716460683
Click to expand...

The last year my fat *** has been a belt eater! Had to get a whole new wardrobe because my clothes are getting to small. I tell my wife to stop shrinking my clothes in the wash.
 
Chris Nicholson said:
Took my '74 Swinger to the Music City Mopar Club show today. Longest trip I've taken it on since getting it out of storage a couple of months ago. While doing the pre-flight this morning, I noticed the PS/fan belt had come loose, so I tightened it. Made it from west Nashville to Lebanon no problem. Checked the belt before I left the show and it was still tight, looked fine. Got almost all the way home when I realized I didn't have power steering any more. So you know what happened right after that!

What was left of the belt looked it had kept stretching and stretching until it failed. I can't remember if I got it from NAPA or Rock Auto, as it's been 4-5 years. I got one from my neighborhood AutoZone to get me home but want to find the best one I can get. And buy 2-3 just to be on the safe side.
Click to expand...
Back in their day the maintenance schedule for belts and hoses every 3 or 4 years. You might buy a belt with a 10 year warranty but will it last that long? Gates brand always has made quality belts and hoses. Meets or exceeds OEM is 3 or 4 years. Store brands barely meet OEM. They will cut a radiator hose as short as still usable.
 
Chris Nicholson said:
Took my '74 Swinger to the Music City Mopar Club show today. Longest trip I've taken it on since getting it out of storage a couple of months ago. While doing the pre-flight this morning, I noticed the PS/fan belt had come loose, so I tightened it. Made it from west Nashville to Lebanon no problem. Checked the belt before I left the show and it was still tight, looked fine. Got almost all the way home when I realized I didn't have power steering any more. So you know what happened right after that!

What was left of the belt looked it had kept stretching and stretching until it failed. I can't remember if I got it from NAPA or Rock Auto, as it's been 4-5 years. I got one from my neighborhood AutoZone to get me home but want to find the best one I can get. And buy 2-3 just to be on the safe side.
Click to expand...
Ging PS.JPG


NAPA Auto Parts.
 
RustyRatRod said:
I've been using Dayco from our local Advance and am happy with the quality. If I need something Mopar specific none of the big box stores stock anymore, I contact @lemondana. For example, slant 6 alternator belts were largly 13/32 width. The industry, in their infinite wisdom has chosen to drop that width from all of the big box stores. They sell you the "15" series (15/32) belt like it's the correct one and it's not. It doesn't sit down in grooves in the pulleys far enough and can wear prematurely, squeal and even be thrown off.
Click to expand...
I have the 15 series belts as well. (Goodyear) I am concerned about pulley seating. I have spares in the 15 wide belts already. Is there any source for 13/32 wide belts besides the odd NOS ebag sellers? So far haven't seen any problems other than a slight chirp at start up. I have the CVF pulley/bracket system so stock lengths don't work. Mine are 50 and 60 inches. Crappy shared PS setup I know, but it is what it is. I am mostly concerned with the AC belt being problematic at a later date when I have the system operational as it is a single belt.
 
Solid mount fan?

My '74 Dart Swinger had a 7 blade solid mount fan, noisy like an airplane prop.

Clutch fan setup will probably be easier on the fan belt.

Slant 6 or small block setup?


☆☆☆☆☆
 
grjammer said:
I have the 15 series belts as well. (Goodyear) I am concerned about pulley seating. I have spares in the 15 wide belts already. Is there any source for 13/32 wide belts besides the odd NOS ebag sellers? So far haven't seen any problems other than a slight chirp at start up. I have the CVF pulley/bracket system so stock lengths don't work. Mine are 50 and 60 inches. Crappy shared PS setup I know, but it is what it is. I am mostly concerned with the AC belt being problematic at a later date when I have the system operational as it is a single belt.
Click to expand...
The alternator belt is the only one I'm aware of that uses (or is supposed to use) the 13/32" belt width. I "don't think" the P/S belt uses that width. I could be wrong, so it's probably best to see what the factory service manual says. In that picture up there that @Kern Dog posted for example, to ME it doesn't appear that the belt is riding deep enough in the pulley. Again, I could be wrong, but it somehow doesn't look right. IF that belt is indeed too wide, it's not making good contact on the sides of the "V".
 
grjammer said:
Thanks for manufacturers info. Too bad Amazon doesn't list lengths and widths for all of them. I have to use the Gates site, seems to be reasonably priced and the correct width.
Click to expand...
That’s what I do. Go to Gates site and find the right length, then order it on Amazon
 
RustyRatRod said:
The alternator belt is the only one I'm aware of that uses (or is supposed to use) the 13/32" belt width. I "don't think" the P/S belt uses that width. I could be wrong, so it's probably best to see what the factory service manual says. In that picture up there that @Kern Dog posted for example, to ME it doesn't appear that the belt is riding deep enough in the pulley. Again, I could be wrong, but it somehow doesn't look right. IF that belt is indeed too wide, it's not making good contact on the sides of the "V".
Click to expand...
On my car its just the alternator belt that needs the thinner 13/32 belt. The AC belt is around 1/2 inch and PS belt it thick too.

PXL_20250928_173754661.jpg


PXL_20250928_174224095.jpg
 
And see......here's the thing. YOUR Gates belt above shows to be 3/8" wide. So it should fit better. It doesn't.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Similar threads

gdizzle
Strut bushings on 66 dart SHREDDED
Replies
13
Views
1K
RedFish
RedFish
pntastar69
Started Another One - Revell Anglia
Replies
1
Views
164
1969cuda
1969cuda
9secRR
Another higher HP SB build
2
Replies
26
Views
806
9secRR
9secRR
robsimmons
Interest in another Group Buy: Wiseco "Big Bore" pistons up to 3.504"
Replies
2
Views
150
Badvert65
Badvert65
robsimmons
Interest in another Group Buy: Molnar 7" Connecting rods for CAST crank
Replies
7
Views
310
robsimmons
robsimmons
Back
Top Bottom