first off id like to know if there is any physical diffrence between the 87 and 88 block. i know the 88 is serpentine and the 87 vbelt. i know its possible to convert the 87 to serpentine. reason for this is becuase im trying to use an 87tpi block and swap it in for my 90tbi. they are both 305s. the problem i came across what the pulleys (trying to use serpentine) everything seemed to line up right or bolt up right except the water and crank. they fit fine but they are way to close to each other. no room at all they contact each other. thats not right is it? could some one enlighten me if perhaps i did something wrong. ive double checked they are the right pulleys. are the cranks in diffrent places? should i just forget this headache and buy a smaller pulley for the water pump? thanks for any help

 

1. Crank is in the same spot.
2. Harmonic balancer is in the same spot.
3. Crank pulley bolts up the same.
4. Water pump is in the same spot.

I dont know what you did. If you bolted up the crank pulley, and the water pump pulley does not clear, its not TBI/TPI 87, 88, 90, motor swap related, theres a problem in your parts assembling. If you use the crank pulley and water pump pulley from the serpentine setup, thats it, it will work fine. Are you sure you have the water pump bolted up correctly? I've never tried it, but I think you can install it too low in the wrong holes. Did you use the pulleys off of the serpentine setup and not try to mix+match 87 and 90 parts? Is the crank pulley seated correctly on the balancer?

 

no mix and matching only serpentine setup. want it to look as close to the 90 tpi. is it really possible to put it to low? im gonna look into that. cus i didnt do it a mechanic did but old age is gettin to him. thanks you have been very informitve if u have any more information i would appreciate it. thank u.

 

come on me needs munchos helps. please anyone else? and id really like to know if its possible to put the pump to low cus if so the mechanic is an idiot. lol

 

Either the water pump was put on too low or you have the wrong pullies like Madmax stated. Does the crank pulley have lots of grooves for the belt to grip? The water pump pulley should have NO grooves; it should be slick.

 

I also hope you noticed that the serp. belt setup has a reverse direction flow waterpump. Don't mix and match them. It does sound like you've got something fubar. Double check your 90tbi setup and take a look at the pictures in a chiltons. Like max said, nothing is changed between the years and they should bot right up. The only thing I could think of is if the waterpump was really strange and just offset.

 

I wonder if the Long versus short waterpump issue would make any difference.. I know using the long waterpump..on my early block...v-belt syatem the pullys just barely clear each other. And they can be put on upside down (waterpump)..just a guess...

 

i know for a fact that the water pump and crank pulleys are the one from my serpentine setup. i knwo this because the wp pulley is still on the old water pump i went and got a new 90wp. perhaps the mechanic is an idiot and put it on to low. thanks for all the input. if u have any more info keep it comings thanks again.