vette gator

I was in the parts store yesterday to pick up a new alternator, water pump and belts for my 85 Z28. The guy handed me a set of V-belts and an alternator with a V-belt pulley. I told him that my alternator used a 5-rib belt, but the rest of them were V-belts. He couldn't find anything like that listed for an 85 (Carquest). Do I have the factory setup or did a PO change my pulleys?

topduarte

iTrader: (8)

I can check that tomorrow as one of my belts is squelling when I start it up. I was planning on changin them this weekend.

Dont know if it is different for your 305 TPI vs. my 305 4 barrel carb.

I will let you know tomorrow.

8t2 z-chev

The belt style was changed sometime during the 1985
model year-early '85s are all v-belt while later '85s
have the 5-rib for the alternator.
If the parts store cannot identify the belt,just ask for a
belt for an '86 or '87-they have the same setup.
BTW i noticed the'85 iroc with 4.3 mi. had the
early all-v belt setup.

Apeiron

You've got the 1-year-only 87 setup.

Drew

iTrader: (58)

To the best of my knowledge 82-85 are all pretty much the same, V-belts. 86 uses the same accessories with V-belts for everything except the alternator which uses a serpentine. 87 switched from the SI alternator to the CS alternator, but kept the mixed V-serpentine belts. 88-up have the serpentine setup with a single belt for everything. If the V-belt/serpentine setup with the SI alternator was used on some 85's I wouldn't be surprised.

Guest

They used the 5 rib belt on higher amp alternators, that would cover the TPI cars in 85 for the entire year. I bought my 85 from the original owner (who did not modify anything at all on the car) and it had the 5 rib, also was looking at an 8k mile 85 about 10 or so years ago and same story, TPI, high amp alt, 5 rib belt.

vette gator

Thanks very much for the quick replies. It helps a lot. One last question, what's the rating for a "high-amp" alternator for an 85?

topduarte

iTrader: (8)

All of my belts have the v-belt. My last 6 in the VIN 416403 so mine was one of the early production Z's off the line (#16403 out of 180,018 camaros built that year).

Dont know any info on the amp rating

Guest

IIRC 108A.

8t2 z-chev

for the alternator ratings on v8 '85s with original
alternators that i have examined,this is what i have seen
-carb v8s with a/c and belt drive fan:66 or 78 amp 12SI
-carb v8 with electric fan(L69) 94 amp 12SI
-TPI v8-108 amp 15 SI

Never examined one,but base model,non-A/C v8s might
have a 42 12SI

RedneckNo4

I've got the 5 rib belt on my alt/crank/water pump too, mine squeals aswell even though its a newer belt and as tight as i can make it... I blame Napa :P

Drew

iTrader: (58)

As tight as possible isn't always correct... Try loosening the tension a little.

DAVEY420

yeah all 85 tpi's had a 5 rib alt belt and 108amp alt.

8t2 z-chev

I have seen a few very early '85 TPIs,probably made in
sept.or oct.of 1984,that had the v-belts-the same deep
-groove alternator pulley that was used on the LU5 and
L69 was used on this app too

86blackiroc

iTrader: (12)

I don't believe the belt was the same length in '87. The newer style alt also used a different upper mounting bracket that tucked the alt in closer to the motor.