Serpentine Belt System - Vintage Air's Serpentine System

Once the crankshaft seal is properly in place, the front plate can be prepared to be bolted to the front of the engine block.

We completely cleaned the mating surface on the machined front runner main bracket.

Once we inspected the main bracket gasket, we applied a bead liquid gasket seal to the gasket's backside. You might notice a bit of extra material near the water passage (on the right). Do not trim this material, as it helps strengthen the gasket.

With the engine still on the hoist, we noticed the round metal cam bolted to the front of the engine. After a preliminary examination of the front main plate, we remembered that the Vintage Air Front Runner System requires an electric fuel pump.

We removed the fuel pump cam from the front of the Ford engine block. (You will discover that the front main bracket will not clear the fuel pump cam if it's bolted to the engine block.)

Remember to clean off any old gasket material from the front of the engine block before installing the front main bracket.

Four (51/416x211/42) stainless steel bolts secure the front main bracket to the engine block. All are located below the water pump mounting area. You may replace the oil pan at this time. Make sure it is properly aligned and install the plastic gasket that fits under the round portion of the front main bracket. We chose to wait until later in order to obtain a new gasket.

The Front Runner System's water pump is a special item from Stewart Water Pumps. It is mounted with nine stainless steel bolts. Several longer bolts pass through the front main bracket into the engine block.

The Ford 351W's water pump has a stepped face plate with a stepped water pump pulley to match.