The Stovebolt.com Forums Home | Tech Tips | Gallery | FAQ | Events | Features | Search
Help is a click away!

VEHICLE
INFORMATION
KITS


at the

GM Heritage Center
All the details are here.

Searching the Site - a click away
click here to search
New here ??? Where to start?
Click on image for the lowdown. Where do I go around here?
====
Who's Online Now
5 members (Otto Skorzeny, rfs56trk, Buckeye998, Chip O, WICruiser), 121 guests, and 0 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Forum Statistics
Forums66
Topics128,101
Posts1,056,172
Members48,436
Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026
Step-by-step instructions for pictures in the forums
Brad Allen's photos

AD Chevy Trucks

Pictures galore
Over 6,000 pictures

Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips.

Check them out!

Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!

Big Thanks!

THANKS!

For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for

over 30 years!

and not clogged down
with Ads!


Again, thanks!

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 46
K
Wrench Fetcher
Wrench Fetcher
K Offline
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 46
When I put a 261 in my 39 1/2 ton I also upgraded to a alternator. The belts scream at me when I give it gas. If I drive like an old lady it does not make a noise. I put on a new belt and the belt is tight. The alternator is new but I did not change any pulleys. What have I over looked? The belt noise is driving me nuts.

Scott

Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 29,799
H
Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer)
Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer)
H Offline
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 29,799
Try fitting a larger-diameter pulley to the alternator, if you can find one. Sometimes the belt contact area around the pulley isn't sufficient for the belt to get enough traction. If the crankshaft pulley is very large in relation to the alternator pulley, it might be trying to drive the armature too fast. A glazed belt surface is another possibility, if the squeal has been going on for some time.

How much of the belt is wrapped around the alternator pulley? If you install a longer belt and a longer adjuster bracket, there will be more belt wrapped around the pulley, which translates to more traction.
Jerry



"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 238
S
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
S Offline
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 238
Had the same problem on my truck after starting from cold right from when I bought it.

I checked all the usual stuff, belt not bottoming in any of the pulley vees etc.

I could only get rid of it by running the belt very tight, wasn't happy with this as I didn't think the water pump or alternator bearings would last. I changed to this twin vee belt setup and that cured the problem straight away. perhaps you could get twin belt pulleys for your straight six if all else fails.

Stuart.

Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 29,799
H
Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer)
Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer)
H Offline
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 29,799
Finding a 2-belt crankshaft damper for a 235/261 engine is going to be a challenge. You'd also need a water pump with a second pulley groove to take that approach to solving the problem.
Jerry


"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,094
T
'Bolter
'Bolter
T Offline
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,094
Scott, the 261 may have a wider belt than the alt. pulley. If you have the generator look at the width of the pulley. I think you can just swap the pulley.


Tommy
59 apache 1/2t
261 short stepside
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 194
1
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
1 Offline
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 194
It sounds to me like a bearing needs to be re-greased or has gone out on one of the pulleys which makes it squeal. You can buy bearings at your local Tractor Supply or auto supply store. Good luck, and let us know what happens!

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,644
P
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
P Offline
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,644
Jim Carter sells the wide pulley for the alt.I put one on mine.


Pete

Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,750
J
'Bolter
'Bolter
J Offline
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,750
Mine were OK until I painted the pulleys,then the screeching started.
I scuffed up the contact area where the belts go with a Scotchbrite pad,problem sorted......


1950 Chevy Advance Design 3100 in Scotland
In the Stovebolt Gallery
More pix on Flickr.
I've definately got this truck thing in my blood ... my DNA sequence has torque settings
"Of all the small nations of this earth,perhaps only the ancient Greeks surpass the Scots in their contribution to mankind" Winston Churchill.
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 319
S
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
S Offline
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 319
A little belt dressing would help.

cm


If you can't fix it with a hammer and screwdriver, you need a bigger hammer.
1965 Chevy C10
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 201
B
'Bolter
'Bolter
B Offline
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 201
Do all the pullys line up? is the altinator off?


1955.1 Chevy 3600 NAPCO Truck
In the Gallery
1957 Chevy 6400 US FOREST SERVICE
Here's a long list of all my STUFF!

Moderated by  Phak1, Woogeroo 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Home | FAQ | Gallery | Tech Tips | Events | Features | Search | Hoo-Ya Shop
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 8.0.0