Serpentine belt conversion on AMC 360

[Project86]

Has anyone done one here? If so, which kit did you use? Issues? Does changing over to a serpentine create other potential problems?

 

[gert]

this is the only company that I know that makes kits

https://marchperformance.com/amc/304-401.html

 

[CJ]

I have used the Bulltear kit. -->> Bulltear-Online

 

[JeeperChris]

But nothing for the I6.

 

[Belizean]

But nothing for the I6.

Is there a need ?

 

[JeeperChris]

Is there a need ?

It's a good upgrade.

 

[Scout1067]

It's a good upgrade.

Why do you think so? I understand it can be a personal preference thing but I have never understood why people think a serpentine belt is an upgrade. I have the two belt setup on my AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l ; power steering and alternator and if my PS belt were to go out I could still get home although steering would likely be a blast. I carry a spare alternator belt in my tool kit as that is really the only belt I absolutely need.
For some reason my gas engine likes to get spark to keep running. LOL

What are the advantages of serpentine versus traditional belt?

 

[Project86]

Most days I don't come in to look and learn. I'm usually a more turn and burn kinda guy. But I'm still listening and thinking here. I'm thinking a belt upgrade is more a matter of taste/choice. Belt quality is most likely about the same. The appeal/look under the hood is much cleaner. If you keep spare belts with your crash box, then keeping a serp belt wouldn't be much different. I haven't committed to doing this yet but this is the time. I was wondering about how close clearences or maybe power steering hose angles or lengths. Stuff like that.

 

[JeeperChris]

Why do you think so? I understand it can be a personal preference thing but I have never understood why people think a serpentine belt is an upgrade. I have the two belt setup on my 258; power steering and alternator and if my PS belt were to go out I could still get home although steering would likely be a blast. I carry a spare alternator belt in my tool kit as that is really the only belt I absolutely need.
For some reason my gas engine likes to get spark to keep running. LOL

What are the advantages of serpentine versus traditional belt?

For me there are two points that are better with a serpentine belt:
1. The belt has more surface / contact area which reduces the chance of any belt slippage at any given time.
2. They have a tensioner. This means less jumping around of the belt which also means it has less chance of jumping off a pulley, and you don't have to pull on the alt/pwr steering pump so hard to get it tight.

Those are the reasons that I would switch.