Hi guys
Another quick and simple question from a newbie
What do the serpentine systems aim to achieve?
Are they easy to install?
and are they worth the money and effort?
Thanks in advance

they look the biz

They really take teh rattle out of a motor

Worth the money and effort??
depends

i was sceptical to Barry,
i always had them pegged as showpony accessories
that was till the first exposure i got to one was Kims oval

if i was staying VW engine one would be next on my list

aside from being easy to adjust and just looking good they alot quieter and much much smoother than the old Vbelt setup

What are they? maybe a pic.

clich here

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=62450&page=1#pid590845 

I've had a scat setup in my 58 since the engine went in - almost 2 years ago. Never had a problem with it. East install and easy to adjust.
Whether they are really worth the money, I don't know, and I have no idea if they suck more power from the engine either.
They look cool though

http://www.off-road.com/offroad/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=299998

Ok, now I think this is what I have been looking for, scat @ $150.00 (US?) looks good but is the Serpentine a different setup, seems simmillar, where would I get a cost on these systems localy? do I need to go os?, the Scat seems to need a new/ different alternator stand, is that correct and does the other system also need the same?
There was a post here recently on a belt tensioner that looked simmilar but as I remember it used the existing type of belt (V) not sure though so I'll look for that one and bump it to the top if neccessary.
thanks for any further info.

Vintage or classic!

Ok, found it and it is a Scat (flat belt, shoulda looked closer before), is there much difference between the two if any?

Serpentine belt systems intrigue me partly because no one seems to have any data on how they affect performance. From what I can gather there are four parts to this argument:

* They help belt retention, are easier to adjust etc etc. No one seems to have mounted a major argument against this point
* They reduce noise and vibration, which most people seem to agree with. (even if they don't want it quieter)
* Most people seem to think they look better, and depending on what you want to achieve, there's nothing wrong with that
* The advertising blurb claims they reduce HP loss, and yet others suggest that you lose HP with them (see badkarmanns thread when he did it)

Has anyone anywhere done any dyno testing to determine the change in HP? I couldn't find anything from a quick look around on the web, but thought those wiser than me may know something else. Is someone willing to do a Bill Fisher and do a dyno test one with the V belt, one with the serpentine? Is this something someone could do at one the dyno days? How easy is it to refit a v belt to a serpentine for the test?

Cheers
Craig

The limiting factor in the stock system is the belt, the fan will only spin so fast before it starts to slip, so when the force required to turn the fan exceeds the grip of the belt, the fan wont spin any faster, decrease the slippage factor (which you do with the serp micro V belt) and you spin the fan faster which sucks more HP. Also it decelerates faster putting more stress on the fan and the keyways in the alt/gen - Ive seen some photos of some cool fan explosions using the serps - taking out heads, fan shrouds and cases... I wouldnt use one without a welded fan.

Hmm, so I know a heluva lot more tonight than I did last night, it's one system not two, spose the rest of you knew that, got a price today and while they seem expensive to me it may just be what i need as I get a vibration through my pully guard from the belt vibrating and I've ried to tighten it, loosen it and all between, only thing I can't find for sure is if the small tensioner pulley is spring loaded, I had a Renault once that had a spring loaded tensioner on the timing chain, worked well.

Ive got a BMD one here, tensioner is not spring loaded.

hmm, hear I go again, BMD.....Bill Me Direct?

Is there one that works on typeIV motors? From what I can understand touching the pulley on the fan assembly can cause horrible balance issues. But how I would like to get one.
It'd be nice to be able to add extras like an AC pump, another alternator or a supercharger.

here you go... $229.00 AU on ebay. Cheapest I've seen in australia....

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/BMD-VW-Serpentine-Belt-Pulley-Kit-Santana-Design_W0QQitemZ300308048566QQihZ020QQcategoryZ161423QQssPageNameZW DVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I have these kits in stock from 4 different manufactures and in 5 different styles and 6 different colours priced from $ 248 , ROD 02-42729920 .

On a 73 L bug (generator not alt) will this fit straight on? Eg no need to change gen mount?

Joe, the tensioner just bolts up to the 2 genny stand studs, no need to change anything else

you may need to fit some longer ones tho