hope this hasn't been posted before. On the 383 swap on my 92 rs, I am using the pulley brackets from the 305. But now it looks like my serpentine belt is much too short. Even if I remove the smog pump pulley it is still too short. What size belt do I need?

 

You could try a few belts for 350s and see if that works for you, if you have some good relations with a parts store you could test fit a few belts. And this will sound stupid but make sure you've got your belt routed right. I've had a time with serpentine belts before that's why I say that

 

There should be no difference from 305 to 383 for the accessories. Are you sure you bolted them up in the correct spot when removed from the 305?

 

I agree. there shouldn't be any difference.

for the belt, any good part store should just be able to measure the width and length and style and match you for what ever you need. so if you need it x amount shorter...... it should be a breeze... if not, your at the wrong part store. I friggen hate when you go to a part store now and they ask for a vin# ridiculous. what a joke.

anyways, make sure the belt is on the right way... if the pulley is flat, the back of the belt rides there. if the pulley has grooves, the inside of the belt rides there.

 

There is a "long" belt routing and a "short" one. The 89-92 use the "short" routing with a 94.5" belt, and I suspect you installed the belt for the longer 98" belt... Try installing using the later method, and I bet it works. Afterall, the belt worked before.

Here I posted this:

 

If you route it wrong the water pump will spin the wrong way.

 

Wrong.
- A V-belt water pump turns the same direction as the crank, and is a "normal" rotation pump.
- Both serpentine belt routings turn the water pump the same way, which is opposite of the crank, and is called a "reverse rotation" pump. The only difference in the routings is the length of belt.

 

if you have a flat pulley, then the flat part of the belt rides against it... if it has grooves, the grooved side rides against it... as long as you do this, it will turn the proper direction regardless of what kind of screwy belt routing scheme you come up with..

 

First, verify belt routing.

 

Thanks all. I was getting really frustrated trying to put on a short belt in the long belt pattern. I'll be saving that picture.