I decided to tap out to the Texas heat and add air conditioning to my 51 3100. The vent windows blew hot air in my face like a drier vent.
As I read the instructions, it seems pretty straight forward. The question that I have is, does anyone who has done this know the belt size of the smaller pictured belt? It goes from alternator to condenser on a Vintage Air System.
If I find out more, I’ll post it! Time for research!
Engine: ‘61 261
Thanks,
Chris
Update: belt is 1/2” wide. Vintage Air can’t find the belt length. Their tech department is also researching.
Last edited by ndkid275; 07/21/20232:37 PM. Reason: Update
Set the alternator to the mid point in its adjustment. Steal your wife's (or mother's or grandmother's) cloth measuring tape. Try not to get grease on it while you are measuring around the belt path and head to FLAPS.
'57 GMC 102, Original 347 V8, HydraMatic, 3.08 rear gear, added A/C, disk front brakes, HEI, AFB carb, '98 Honda Black Currant paint. T-boned and totaled 10/12 '52 GMC 152 Stake Bed, Original 228, SM420, added A/C, HEI, disk front brakes, '67 Chev 3.55 rear gear. Gets used as a real truck.
I was hoping that someone had already put one in and have the length. I have yet to mock it up so I can only guess as to the length. I am installing it early next week and I’m putting extra stuff aside so I don’t have to make 1,000 trips to the local FLAPS.
I have the length for both of those, but not for Vintage Air systems. For Old Air it was 44" and 34" the short one going between alternator and compressor. I used Mitsuboshi belts...not Mitsubishi but a fine old company who specializes in fan belts. You can find them at hardware stores like ACE and I've had excellent luck with them.
Last edited by Jon G; 07/21/20235:42 PM.
~ Jon 1952 1/2 ton with 1959 235 | T5 with 3.07 rear end
Maybe but I'm not certain of the size of the pulleys on your compressor and alternator...and that will have an impact on the length. Should give you a starting point, however. ACE has good prices on them... https://www.acehardware.com/brands/mitsuboshi
Last edited by Jon G; 07/21/20236:29 PM.
~ Jon 1952 1/2 ton with 1959 235 | T5 with 3.07 rear end
Ed, I’ll let you know. I’m guessing around 24” or so. I layed a string out next to the bracket to get a guesstimate. I’ll get the correct belt once I can measure on Tuesday.
The belt will cover over 1/2 of the pulley. The current picture is not tightened, so it will be more. Once it’s fully installed, I will send another picture. It must work as I’ve seen other trucks down here in Texas running the same setup.
It will work...either that one or the Old Air Products (and actually I used an alternator/compressor bracket I got from Patrick Dykes quite a while back). If you think for any reason you need more coverage of any of the pulleys, you can add an adjustable idler pulley but you'll have to get some iron and an idler pulley and make it. I'd check at ACE Hardware for the belts. I got mine there and it was about 5 or 6 years ago.
~ Jon 1952 1/2 ton with 1959 235 | T5 with 3.07 rear end
My 228 GMC has similar bracketry and belts. 40,000+ miles since the A/C was added and no problems with belts yet.
'57 GMC 102, Original 347 V8, HydraMatic, 3.08 rear gear, added A/C, disk front brakes, HEI, AFB carb, '98 Honda Black Currant paint. T-boned and totaled 10/12 '52 GMC 152 Stake Bed, Original 228, SM420, added A/C, HEI, disk front brakes, '67 Chev 3.55 rear gear. Gets used as a real truck.
I’ve only run into one identified issue (so far). Because I have a pusher fan (please don’t judge!), the drier doesn’t fit correctly. I will have to modify position and bend new lines to fit. Otherwise, it hasn’t been too difficult, just time consuming!
