Here, through a maze of Chevrolet...
Here, through a maze of Chevrolet Performance pulleys, Bill’s Hot Rod Company bracketry, A/C from Vintage Air, and a longer-than-necessary used V-belt is tightly threaded. While pulling out as much slack as possible, hold the ends firmly in place and use your third hand to cut sample belts to the desired lengths.
Like 10 pounds of fertilizer in a 5-pound sack, engine bays of early Fords offer little room to spare. Therefore, accuracy in belt sizing is an absolute necessity. If you don’t get your accessories tucked in tight, you won’t be closing your hood.
While this little trick may seem obvious to some, I’m certain that I never would have thought of it on my own. As suggested by my friend, Guardrail Willie Martin, I now keep a supply of used belts on hand so actual-size samples can be cut from the longer ones. While this makes belt sizing easier, they’re still a handful (it takes about three hands) to hold in place while measuring. Recently, while struggling with a cut-to-fit V-belt sample, a search for staples ensued: “Has anybody seen the T-50s? I know there’s some on this shelf somewhere! Let’s move all these zip-ties outta the way... OK, let’s move all this shrink-tube outta the way ... Shazam! Shrink-tube!”
With samples in hand, we’ve...
With samples in hand, we’ve driven past a few auto parts stores to an unlikely place in order to access this vintage Gates Belt Length Finder. A modern plastic version of this tool is available today, but oddly it’s not used by every parts store. This detour will enable us to sidestep the “application” drill at the next stop.
Then, using shrink-tube, a...
Then, using shrink-tube, a heat gun, and all three hands, reattach the severed ends. Here in the privacy of our own test laboratory, these sample belts were actually tightened enough to check for hood clearance.
Now that accurate measurements...
Now that accurate measurements have been recorded, this nonstandard belt purchase can be made at the neighborhood parts store. So save those old belts and keep some shrink-tube handy. They could make belt sizing a little easier for you too.