INFO: Belts 86 Chevy 454

[MrJ]

I have a 76 Argosy with a 86 Chevy 454. Overall the belts were not to hard to find but I'm going to post the part #s for future reference. My Autozone had only 2 of these. O'Reilly had the AC belt.

These are the Gates part numbers:

GATES 7625 11A1590 - AC
GATES 7465 11A1180 - Alternator
GATES 7405 11A1030 - Power Steering Pump

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by MrJ

I have a 76 Argosy with a 86 Chevy 454. Overall the belts were not to hard to find but I'm going to post the part #s for future reference. My Autozone had only 2 of these. O'Reilly had the AC belt.

These are the Gates part numbers:

GATES 7625 11A1590 - AC
GATES 7465 11A1180 - Alternator
GATES 7405 11A1030 - Power Steering Pump

MrJ,

Just ran across your post. Does your 76 Argosy motor (from 86) have the 86 smog pump or are you running the configuration as used in 1976 which would have been no smog pump.

Thanks!

Brad

[MrJ]

Originally Posted by bkahler

MrJ,

Just ran across your post. Does your 76 Argosy motor (from 86) have the 86 smog pump or are you running the configuration as used in 1976 which would have been no smog pump.

Thanks!

Brad

No smog pump on my motor.

[bkahler]

Sounds good. That means your belt numbers should work on my 74 Argosy MH.

Thanks!

Brad

[MrJ]

Chevy P30 belts in autozone's system were correct I believe. The AC was harder to find. NAPA my be the best bet. Since you have the numbers you

[bkahler]

Since the engine is still not installed in the chassis I definitely have time to source the belts.

Thanks!

Brad

[Robfike]

I always use Gates belts. I change the A/C, and power steering pump every 4 years. The Alternator belt I change every 2. The alternator belt seems to work very hard in this application. I wish it had double belts.
I keep a new set in the storage bay under the sofa also. A broken belt on the road really sucks!!!

[MrJ]

The question is how to change it? I did it with the dog house off and front off the MH. It must take a lot of patience. I don't know how I could ever change the belts with all that crap on there..

[Keyair]

Just for reference...

I am not sure if they did this for the later motorhomes, but I have a 1987 454 TBI Suburban. This year/model has a combo belt system... a wide ribbed serpentine belt driving the alternator, smog pump and water pump, and a normal V belt on the drivers side driving the AC compressor, and PS pump(non hydraboost). The water pump is a std rotation unit.
But I also have the 454 from a 1990 TBI Suburban... and this motor is a single serpentine belt driving it all. As a result of this routing, the water pump is a reverse rotation unit.
Here is a pic of the front of the 1990 motor showing the position of componants and belt routing...



Here are the belts listed for a Federal version of a P30 chassis M/H.

Fan, Alternator, Airpump(single).
Goodyear #15501
Dayco and AC Delco #15495
Gates #7495

If your Smog pump is gone(mine is) or you want it gone...
Gates #7470 should work, as that is what mine has fitted now.

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by MrJ

The question is how to change it? I did it with the dog house off and front off the MH. It must take a lot of patience. I don't know how I could ever change the belts with all that crap on there..

I went through this exercise last April. There is a good reason why you should change your belts regularly because the alternative really sucks.

It really isn't all that difficult to change the belts while laying alternately on top of the engine and then below the engine. I made a bunch of trips inside and out but managed to get the job done. I think all told it took me about an hour and a half to actually change the belts. Not bad for laying on top of a hot engine.

Bottom line is I would highly recommend everyone carry spare belts, a mat to lay on and the proper tools to change the belts. You never know where you'll be when a belt breaks and you're stuck in the middle of nowhere. I doubt I'll be lucky enough the next time to break down right next to an O'Reillys After all, lightening doesn't strike twice in the same place, right?

Brad

[Keyair]

Found this little gem of info in the P30 chassis manual...

[Robfike]

Just as an up-date guys. The last time I responded to this thread, I said that I always used Gates belts. Wrong. I use NAPA Gold belts. The part numbers are:
A/C 25-7585
P/S 25-7410
Alt 25-7455
As I said before, I replace all belts every 4 years (along with all hoses), and the Alternator belt every 2.
At the 4 year point I also get a new second set and keep them in the bay under the couch. If I need an emergency replacement, I don't want my replacement to be over 4 years old.
Coming from an aviation background, I really hate failures!
My engine does not have the smog pump.
Rob

[Keyair]

Originally Posted by Robfike

Just as an up-date guys. The last time I responded to this thread, I said that I always used Gates belts. Wrong. I use NAPA Gold belts. The part numbers are:
A/C 25-7585
P/S 25-7410
Alt 25-7455
As I said before, I replace all belts every 4 years (along with all hoses), and the Alternator belt every 2.
At the 4 year point I also get a new second set and keep them in the bay under the couch. If I need an emergency replacement, I don't want my replacement to be over 4 years old.
Coming from an aviation background, I really hate failures!
My engine does not have the smog pump.
Rob

Thanks Rob, I will add this belt info to the new parts thread!

[MrJ]

Been thinking about doing this but I doubt it would be compatible with an RV's configuration?

Thoughts, ideas?

[J. Morgan]

When the. 76 454 was taken out, and the 86 was put in, your MH Lost a pretty good bit of power.

The pre 78 big valve engines were hosses, the later ones not so much.

[Keyair]

Totally possible.
You would need all of the belts, brackets and components from a 1990+ 454 Suburban or similar truck.
That would include a reverse rotation water pump.
Also worth noting, that in comparison to my '84 Airstream and my '87 454 Suburban, GM decided to swap the positions of the Alternator and AC compressor.
Here is how a 1990 Suburban setup looks.