v-belt or serpentine?

[Tony Raine]

i have a late 70's 302 with no front accessories. just this

as you can see, i have a pretty blank canvas to work with. i'm debating between scrounging the junkyards and backyards for v-belt brackets and pulleys for PS and alternator, or swapping over to a fox body mustang-style serpentine.

is the serpentine swap even possible on this old of a motor? i figure i'll have to swap out the water pump and/or the timing cover.

my goals are simplicity and easy to find replacement parts

thanks!

 

[Teddyzee]

You can use whatever you think looks best. New aluminum "March" style brackets are available around $100 for both alt and PS.

You'll need to change the balancer to 4bolt, 28oz.

 

[red85]

It'll work with whatever you put on there Tony. I use a serp setup from a FSB on my 306. I see you have a mechanical fuel pump. You will have to get an early 70's pump for a van to clear the steering gear. Either that or block it off and run an electric pump.

 

[AllanD]

"Serpentine", more properly known as "Multi-V" belts
offer several advantages.

a)longer belt life
b)Only ONE belt to keep a spare for
c)Easier replacement (compared to fighting with three belts)
d)lower operating friction
e)Superior power transmission

And finally:

a multiV belt will allow a shorter "Front dress" on the engine, particularly if you
use the pulley/bracket setup off a 5.0 MN12 (IRS) Thunderbird/Cougar

AD

 

[Tony Raine]

Thanks everyone!

march stuff looks awesome, but stock stuff is cheaper

debating the mech fuel pump. i can either run the AA one, or go electric. i would prefer an inverted mech. pump from a van, but i keep finding conflicting info on what year/model to ask for.

and it looks like if i get a timing cover from jegs, it has the provision for a dipstick in the timing cover. that would solve my issue of having a fox pan on a motor that originally had the stick in the pan. (either that or have the stick from the old pan welded to the new pan)

so basically i just buy a new water pump for whatever model i pull the brackets off?

the balancer is what is confusing me the most. is it just as simple as unbolting this one, and bolting on the one from whatever i get the other stuff from? how do i know which is which?

i can get a "one wire" alternator from jegs that will bolt on mustang brackets, and i should be able to figure out the power steering pump.


dang, i know where i can get a whole FS bronco for cheap, but i think my wife would murder me if i brought home another bronco (have 3 B2's, working on 4)

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

If your balancer and flywheel (flex plate) came with that engine USE THEM!
You have to match them with your year engine,different years came with different balance.
Water pump will have to match the brackets.I used the brackets and pump,with the serp belt,off the crown vic donor.
I believe it was a 84 or 85.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

and it looks like if i get a timing cover from jegs, it has the provision for a dipstick in the timing cover. that would solve my issue of having a fox pan on a motor that originally had the stick in the pan. (either that or have the stick from the old pan welded to the new pan)

Using the dipstick in the timing cover in anything but a front sump pan will get you in trouble.

The only oil in the front sump is what hasn't rolled to the back sump yet... the back sump is what matters. A stick in the front sump will read full with only enough oil in the system to fill that tiny front sump, from the looks of it about half a quart.

 

[Tony Raine]

If your balancer and flywheel (flex plate) came with that engine USE THEM!
You have to match them with your year engine,different years came with different balance.
Water pump will have to match the brackets.I used the brackets and pump,with the serp belt,off the crown vic donor.
I believe it was a 84 or 85.

as far as i know, the balancer is stock.

Using the dipstick in the timing cover in anything but a front sump pan will get you in trouble.

The only oil in the front sump is what hasn't rolled to the back sump yet... the back sump is what matters. A stick in the front sump will read full with only enough oil in the system to fill that tiny front sump, from the looks of it about half a quart.

hadn't thought about that, makes sense. thanks

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

The balancer and plate are a matched weight for the year block and crank shaft.

 

[Teddyzee]

The 302/5.0 changed from 28oz balance for flywheel/flexplate/balancer in 1980 to 50oz balance. Just check any pieces for the part number to verify year. (example, a Ford balancer will have a part number)

Dual sump Mustang style pans are available with a dipstick in the side. |These were available on ;'79 Mustangs and many other models.

Also, against popular opinion/belief, a guy on here (sdjr, maybe? Might be on RPS...) is using a standard mechanical fuel pump with no issues. It's tight, but it clears the steering box.

 

[Toms01PSD]

March serpentine system on my engine:

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

BTW, here are what the factory brackets look like on my '78. I have since bead blasted them and gave them a fresh coat of paint and they are waiting in my toolbox drawer for my engine to get back together.