74 454 idler pulley

[74 454]

Any better solutions to the extra belt nearest to the block that just goes around the crank and water pump pulleys with the idler to adjust? These idler pulleys just wear out or the belt wears out at high RPM's. Does the pump and fan need the 3rd belt, or will it squeak at high RPM's. The owner before me re-routed the belt from inboard to outboard of the idler pulley, but used a custom pulley. That just wore out! Anyone try using a smaller belt just the right size to go around the water pump and crank pulleys only? Get rid of that idler. The belt will wrap about 50% of each pulley and it might not need to be very tite. All the previous owners had continuous issues with this.

[gmjunkie]

Originally Posted by 74 454

Any better solutions to the extra belt nearest to the block that just goes around the crank and water pump pulleys with the idler to adjust? These idler pulleys just wear out or the belt wears out at high RPM's. Does the pump and fan need the 3rd belt, or will it squeak at high RPM's. The owner before me re-routed the belt from inboard to outboard of the idler pulley, but used a custom pulley. That just wore out! Anyone try using a smaller belt just the right size to go around the water pump and crank pulleys only? Get rid of that idler. The belt will wrap about 50% of each pulley and it might not need to be very tite. All the previous owners had continuous issues with this.

That baring is replaceable!!There just standard alternator bearings,but you need to get the # off the bearing!!! Most of them are about $5.00 a piece,but I had one on a C5 of cruzer99's last week that was a Heavy Truck alt bearing and it was $34.00 at napa!! My usual parts store ($24.00)was out of stock of them and we had his car down!!