Fellow 3rd Gen Caregivers...

I apologize, this has to have been covered before... but, I'm not able to find it. So, I'm probably creating the 100th post on what has to be a common issue. Thanks in advance for your help.

I have a 1984 Camaro Berlinetta with approximately 10,000 miles. everything is factory original except the battery. I was recently going to take it on a long drive, and decided I would replace the original belts... What a goose chase. I went to every name brand auto parts store and the chevy house with no luck. Every belt they had was a cogged belt, and this was even cross-referencing the actual GM part number on the original belt. So, to the internet - again, no luck. Outside of setting up a search on Ebay, is there a place where I can get these V-Belts (that is my name, and it probably isn't correct - so be kind)?

Here are the part numbers -
GM 469584
GM 469582
GM 14037745
GM 14079250

Many thanks,
Tommy

Blue tape has my numbering for ease of me remembering installation sequence

This is a cogged belt replacement I keep coming up with at the part stores / online

 

All The Major Belt Manufactures Have Switched To Notched V-Belts You Might Be Able To Find Some New Old Stock Unnotched Belts On Ebay

 

You could try calling these guys. Maybe they still have something in their inventory?

https://www.vbeltguys.com/search

Belts usually come in 1/2" increments, & it looks like you have the sizes on those.
No need to worry much about application at least.

I am thinking maybe aftermarket reproduction may be the only solution, but the lengths might be an issue & crossing them over.

 

Being an old parts store counter guy, I asked our belt reps the same question way back when they started switching over to the ribbed styles because customers were asking the same thing of me. The Gates rep said they ran cooler thus creating longer life and were less prone to squealing. Uh, OK. That's a good sales pitch we can use from now on.

From the manufacturer's point of view, they probably used 1 or 2 less oz of rubber creating each belt which would equate into how many more belts they could get off the line for the same investment. Cha-Ching!

You take your pick, but I know which one I'm going with.

Although it's not the Camaro model very many of us would seek out, that still a nice -NICE- show winning car you have there, this one about has to be the benchmark for originality. Make sure it gets a proper home.

 

Thanks Pinballer!,
I've set up some automatic searches on ebay, and have managed to get a couple of original belts.

T

 

THIMK about what a belt goes through as it runs over a round pulley.

In addition to transmitting power by friction, and having to slide into the pulley and back out as the belt moves (more friction except this part is useless waste), the INSIDE of the belt has to COMPRESS, and/or the OUTSIDE has to STRETCH. No way around this.

Furthermore, the constant application of those forces to the belt, generates HEAT.

Rubber stands up fairly well to compression, but VERY POORLY to stretching. It responds EVEN MORE POORLY to heat.

Those 2 factors are what the inner "cog" belts are attempting to address. If the inside can compress easily as it goes around a pulley, ESPECIALLY if it doesn't give up much contact area, then it produces FAR LESS force trying to rip the OUTSIDE of the belt to shreds. Less stretching, less heat, less death.

"Original" only matters for car shows wherein the car is graded on EXACT "originality". I've been in lots of car shows over the years but NEVER one where "originality" was carried to that extreme. Not saying "there aren't any" or any such; only, unless your judges are THAT picky, it's a fool's errand. For everything else, such as driving the car around, advancements in technology are mostly a good thing.

 

hmm i just took my originals off also. hope someone start reproducing them. i look at them evertime i judge a car. hell last car show i went everyone couldn't believe everything was still original . first thing they notice are my tires then the belts and hoses

 

I just replaced the very decent looking upper and lower factory GM radiator hoses on my '92 V6 car I'm reviving, solely because of the age factor and for peace of mind. I'm going to start driving the car a lot more now on longer distances and I'd rather not have 32 year old hoses on there and be three states away from home.

If anybody would need these GM numbered hoses for show car purposes and you care enough to pay the shipping, I'll make them a charity case. Appearance factor is still pretty good, they were doing the job just fine, didn't swell up any when operating, and they don't feel spongy to me. Still have the original squeeze clamps holding them on too if you want them. PM me.