Author Topic: Serpentine Drive Kit  (Read 2634 times)

Offline Archialfa

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Serpentine Drive Kit
« on: December 11, 2017 - 03:23:53 AM »
What does this do? Is it only for looks or it's worth 2K+ $$$?

http://www.jegs.com/i/March-Performance/655/40725/10002/-1

1970 Challenger 440 Magnum

Build thread: http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=113902




Offline 70chall440

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Re: Serpentine Drive Kit
« Reply #1 on: December 11, 2017 - 01:04:54 PM »
It drives all of the accessories with 1 drive belt like modern cars. One drive belt is seemingly more efficient and reliable than old school V belts (so it is said).

But more to what I think you are actually asking (why does this cost $2K); because people will pay for it I guess. they do look nice and having one serpentine belt verses 2 or 3 V belts would be nice but not at $2K (or even close). I have thought about it a number of times that there must be a low cost way to do this but have never pursued it.
Current Mopar
70 Challenger RT 440-6 EFI, 73 Cuda 416-6 EFI
05 Hemi Durango, 01 Ram 4x4, 14 Ram 2500 4X4, 10 PCP Challenger 6 spd RT, 01 Viper GTS ACR, 52 B3B w/330 Desoto Hemi, 70 Hemi RR (under const)
Past Mopars
9 x Challengers. AAR Cuda, 4 RR, 2 GTX, 4 Chargers, etc... (too many to list)

Offline cudabob496

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Re: Serpentine Drive Kit
« Reply #2 on: December 12, 2017 - 01:22:28 AM »
IMO, waste of money, unless building a show car.
Little if any hp gain.
$2000 will get you new alum heads!!
72 Cuda, owned 25 years. 496, with ported Stage VI heads, .625 in solid roller, 254/258 at .050, 3500 stall, 3.91 rear. 850 Holley DP, Reverse manual valve body.

1999 Trans Am, LS1, heads, cam, headers, stall, etc! Love to surprise the rice rockets with this one. They seem so confident, then it's "what the heck just happened?"

2011 Kawasaki Z1000

Offline 70chall440

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Re: Serpentine Drive Kit
« Reply #3 on: December 12, 2017 - 02:46:22 PM »
IMO, waste of money, unless building a show car.
Little if any hp gain.
$2000 will get you new alum heads!!

 :2thumbs:
Current Mopar
70 Challenger RT 440-6 EFI, 73 Cuda 416-6 EFI
05 Hemi Durango, 01 Ram 4x4, 14 Ram 2500 4X4, 10 PCP Challenger 6 spd RT, 01 Viper GTS ACR, 52 B3B w/330 Desoto Hemi, 70 Hemi RR (under const)
Past Mopars
9 x Challengers. AAR Cuda, 4 RR, 2 GTX, 4 Chargers, etc... (too many to list)

Offline Archialfa

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Re: Serpentine Drive Kit
« Reply #4 on: December 12, 2017 - 02:47:25 PM »
Thanks guys, that's what I thought - all show, no go.


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1970 Challenger 440 Magnum

Build thread: http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=113902

Offline 1 Wild R/T

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Re: Serpentine Drive Kit
« Reply #5 on: December 12, 2017 - 03:17:46 PM »
Back in the day it was if it don't go chrome it...Modern version, if it don't got no sting it had better have bling....  You can keep your chrome and your bling....
JS27N0B 70 Challenger R/T Convertible  FJ5 Sublime, Show Poodle w/90,000 miles since resto
WS27L8G 68 Coronet R/T Convertible  PP1 Bright Red, Project
RM21H9E 69 Road Runner Coupe R4 Performance Red, Sold...
5H21C  65 Falcon 2 dr Wagon... Dog Hauler...

Offline cudabob496

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Re: Serpentine Drive Kit
« Reply #6 on: December 13, 2017 - 10:41:56 PM »
chrome don't bring ya home
72 Cuda, owned 25 years. 496, with ported Stage VI heads, .625 in solid roller, 254/258 at .050, 3500 stall, 3.91 rear. 850 Holley DP, Reverse manual valve body.

1999 Trans Am, LS1, heads, cam, headers, stall, etc! Love to surprise the rice rockets with this one. They seem so confident, then it's "what the heck just happened?"

2011 Kawasaki Z1000

Offline challenger4404spd

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Re: Serpentine Drive Kit
« Reply #7 on: December 27, 2017 - 02:15:14 PM »
sdconcepts.com  makes a serpentine belt kit that is also a single belt using modern accessories.  and while it doesn't add power,  it does make sure your belts don't fly off while your driving.  and this kits uses a sanden ac compressor, a 120 amp alternator, and modern zf power steering pump all tied together with a spring loaded tensioner

Offline cudabob496

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Re: Serpentine Drive Kit
« Reply #8 on: December 27, 2017 - 08:24:03 PM »
sdconcepts.com  makes a serpentine belt kit that is also a single belt using modern accessories.  and while it doesn't add power,  it does make sure your belts don't fly off while your driving.  and this kits uses a sanden ac compressor, a 120 amp alternator, and modern zf power steering pump all tied together with a spring loaded tensioner

does look nice, but have not had a belt fly off in 27 yrs of hard driving
72 Cuda, owned 25 years. 496, with ported Stage VI heads, .625 in solid roller, 254/258 at .050, 3500 stall, 3.91 rear. 850 Holley DP, Reverse manual valve body.

1999 Trans Am, LS1, heads, cam, headers, stall, etc! Love to surprise the rice rockets with this one. They seem so confident, then it's "what the heck just happened?"

2011 Kawasaki Z1000

Offline 70chall440

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Re: Serpentine Drive Kit
« Reply #9 on: December 27, 2017 - 11:14:35 PM »
Still $800... I like the look but I don't think enough to spend that much. Not that I am cheap per se, its just that I don.t think it should cost that much to have a serpentine system for a car since every modern car has one, I would think someone would have figured out how to do it cheaply (as in $100...)
Current Mopar
70 Challenger RT 440-6 EFI, 73 Cuda 416-6 EFI
05 Hemi Durango, 01 Ram 4x4, 14 Ram 2500 4X4, 10 PCP Challenger 6 spd RT, 01 Viper GTS ACR, 52 B3B w/330 Desoto Hemi, 70 Hemi RR (under const)
Past Mopars
9 x Challengers. AAR Cuda, 4 RR, 2 GTX, 4 Chargers, etc... (too many to list)

Offline challenger4404spd

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Re: Serpentine Drive Kit
« Reply #10 on: December 28, 2017 - 12:21:41 AM »
I think I saw a guy on facebook, hacksawing and welding some brackets together out of steel with pipe piece sawed for spacers.  he might sell a kit for $100.  LOL!   or at least the plans so you can DIY it.  since when has anything for a mopar cost $100? 

Offline 70chall440

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Re: Serpentine Drive Kit
« Reply #11 on: December 28, 2017 - 02:25:55 PM »
Very true, the "$100" wasn't meant literally, more like less than $800. My point being that since the magnum engines have been around for some time, I would have thought that someone would have determined a way to use some of those components (and perhaps others) to arrive at a reliable serpentine system using readily available parts for far less than $800. the fact that this hasn't happened indicates that there isn't huge interest in it and that the old Vee belt system is just fine as it is (which I subscribe to). I think the serpentine system is cool but not $800 cool, not $500 cool either.
Current Mopar
70 Challenger RT 440-6 EFI, 73 Cuda 416-6 EFI
05 Hemi Durango, 01 Ram 4x4, 14 Ram 2500 4X4, 10 PCP Challenger 6 spd RT, 01 Viper GTS ACR, 52 B3B w/330 Desoto Hemi, 70 Hemi RR (under const)
Past Mopars
9 x Challengers. AAR Cuda, 4 RR, 2 GTX, 4 Chargers, etc... (too many to list)

Offline challenger4404spd

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Re: Serpentine Drive Kit
« Reply #12 on: December 28, 2017 - 10:18:15 PM »
I guess, everyone should run on oil filled shocks, skinny torsion bars and bias ply tires too.  who needs rear disc brakes and efi for that matter.  if these things didn't have modern replacements that were "better"  then they wouldn't be needed by anyone.  the sdc kit uses all the modern accessories, but it takes time to develop and test and market these products.  maybe no one should make anything for our cars that was modern since they were great as is back from the 60s and 70s.  I guess to each his own.  probably not doing a new gen 3 hemi swap either huh?  I personally hated trying to find matching belts for the alternator and ac compressor on my car.  I could never get them tight enough and then the squeal from one always sounded really tough when revving my engine,  or having a belt a fly off at the drag strip while shifting at 6800 rpm.  that was trying to turn the car to get onto pit road with a missing power steering belt. 

march makes a nice kit,  but i'm not a fan of the chevy accessories,  cvf racing makes a decent kit and their two belt version is dirt cheap. 

Offline 70chall440

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Re: Serpentine Drive Kit
« Reply #13 on: December 28, 2017 - 10:36:57 PM »
Well this has taken a left turn... Ok, for the record I am not at all against the serpentine systems, nor am I against all of the other modern advancements (I currently have EFI on all my vintage cars). Rather my point was that given the development and subsequent sales of the magnum motors (which are very close to the LA engines) I would have thought that there would have been someone who had figured out how to make a serpentine system on older vehicles using existing parts. Since this really hasn't happened, then it would seem that either it is near impossible or that there isn't enough interest. Hence the aftermarket systems; not hating on them or their products, just the price. That said, I just looked at CVF Racing and I agree with you, they are cheap in comparison to the others and they look good. $500 is much better than $800 up and something I could see using.

I am all for a Gen II Hemi transplant and a huge fan of resto mods; I am definitely not of the "resto" crowd as I was around when we could still buy them off lots and then hot rod the crap out of them.

Air Cleared...  :bigsmile:
Current Mopar
70 Challenger RT 440-6 EFI, 73 Cuda 416-6 EFI
05 Hemi Durango, 01 Ram 4x4, 14 Ram 2500 4X4, 10 PCP Challenger 6 spd RT, 01 Viper GTS ACR, 52 B3B w/330 Desoto Hemi, 70 Hemi RR (under const)
Past Mopars
9 x Challengers. AAR Cuda, 4 RR, 2 GTX, 4 Chargers, etc... (too many to list)