When it comes time to putting the finishing touches on any motor, one of the most important aspects is how to mount all those accessories off the block. In the past, that meant scouring the wrecking yards for OEM brackets and guessing at the alignment of the V-belts and the clearance of each accessory. But like most aspects of a classic truck build, today there are a myriad of companies that provide solutions to the guessing games of the past. One such company is Concept One, purveyors of some of the nicest accessory mounting kits available for small and big-block Chevys as well as their common Ford brethren.
We recently contacted Concept One about dialing in a small-block Chevy engine that had received a fairly tame dress up kit to the top end, but needed the accessory drive sorted out. They turned us on to their Victory Series pulley system that contains everything needed to mount the three most common accessories, power steering pump, A/C compressor, and alternator, using a single serpentine belt.
The first step to installing...
The first step to installing the Concept One Serpentine Pulley System is to install the A/C compressor and alternator / power steering pump main brackets to the block.
Designed to keep the A/C compressor, alternator and power steering pump tucked within the boundary of the engine block, their kits are intended to fit a wide variety of applications from street rods to late-model trucks, as long as there is sufficient room between the engine and the radiator. These easy-to-install systems are supplied with all the necessary components, including Goodyear Gatorback belts and chrome hardware. We opted to include their power steering kit, which includes a lightweight aluminum power steering pump with their exclusive pump-mounted billet aluminum mini-reservoir.
The end result was a kit that tucks the three accessories nice and tight against the block using a simple bracket system and the tried and true serpentine belt design that has become the industry standard on all modern cars and trucks. Anyone who was had to deal with clunky brackets and misaligned pulleys knows the headache caused and the money that can be spent on components that don't work together.
Four 3/8-inch studs screw...
Four 3/8-inch studs screw into the water pump mounting holes approximately 7/8 of an inch and need to be affixed using blue Loctite to prevent them from spinning and to seal the threads. Note the O-rings that seal up the water pump inlets. Four 3/8-inch flat head bolts secure the lower portion of each bracket as well.
A true, all-encompassing setup, the Concept One pulley system installed in a couple of hours and didn't require the modifications so many other setups do. And the added benefit of providing the Sanden SD-7 A/C compressor, 105-amp Powermaster alternator, Edelbrock water pump, and Delphi power steering pump with their exclusive billet aluminum mini-reservoir took the guesswork out of the equation completely. So, next time you find yourself scratching your head when it comes time to figure out how to hang all those components off your engine, give Concept One a call, they'll sort you out!
Concept One's kit requires...
Concept One's kit requires a reverse rotation Edelbrock water pump, so that's what we'll be using on our setup. Four hex standoff nuts retain the water pump to the brackets via the 3/8-inch studs.
Next, the power steering pump...
Next, the power steering pump is bolted into place using a provided adapter behind the pump and a pair of 5/16-inch hex bolts. Note the compact nature of the unit and the integrated reservoir.
Above the power steering pump,...
Above the power steering pump, an alternator adapter has been installed on the main bracket using the provided 3/8-inch socket head fasteners.
Now's a good time to install...
Now's a good time to install the power steering pump pulley using 1/4-inch socket head fasteners.
The alternator arm bracket...
The alternator arm bracket bolts to a pair of round stock standoffs mated to the aforementioned adapter as well as the two water pump hex standoffs using 3/8-inch socket head fasteners.
With the bracket in place,...
With the bracket in place, a one-wire Powermaster alternator can then be installed using the provided hardware. Note that the lower bolt is standard 3/8-inch while the top is metric, M8-1.25. A good way to ensure that the alternator pulley is seated and mounted with enough torque without damaging any parts is to install it using an air impact gun set at 60 to 70 lb-ft.
Next, the water pump and crank...
Next, the water pump and crank pulley can be installed. Don't forget to install the main crank hub bolt as well!
Our attention is now turned...
Our attention is now turned to the passenger side of the engine to install the A/C compressor arm bracket. This bracket uses only one round standoff and three 3/8-inch socket head fasteners to mount to the bracket and water pump.
The belt tensioner mounts...
The belt tensioner mounts to the compressor arm bracket using a single 3/8-inch flange bolt. The tensioner is the heart of the serpentine system and the reason why the components can be mounted in such a precise and compact manner.
Concept One has devised an...
Concept One has devised an ingenious adapter to make routing the A/C lines easier and in a much cleaner manner to the Sanden SD-7 compressor.
A pair of M8-1.25 socket head...
A pair of M8-1.25 socket head fasteners attaches the compressor arm bracket to the SD-7 compressor at the front, while a 7/16-inch socket head fastener attaches at the bottom rear ear to the compressor main bracket.
Here's the kit, fully installed,...
Here's the kit, fully installed, awaiting the last step...
...which is to install the...
...which is to install the serpentine belt. Using a long-handle ratchet to slacken the tensioner, the belt is routed as per the instructions and then the spring action of the tensioner keeps the belt nice and tight.