Del70

I have been looking for the old style solid style V belts (ones without the notches on the top/bottom) for my 70 350 with AC....Have had a difficult time locating a basic automotive solid V belt at local parts suppliers solid V-belt type..… Looking for the Power steering belt (a 45” for the PS) and the alternator belt (55”) Anyone know where I can buy them, brand etc. (and yes I know the usual Olds resto parts suppliers carry them with correct part numbers added..)

thanks

JPMDaddy

I thought GATES made all sizes of V-belts, NAPA or O'Reilly can't get them?

Google GATES, maybe find a non-specialty (read $$$) set online

Good luck... I'll be looking soon for my new 71

MDchanic

2 minutes on NAPA's site shows:

• Power Steering: 45½", NBH 257450 for $14 or PBH 15450 for $7
• Alternator: 56", NBH 257555 for $17 or PBH 155555 for $7
• A/C: 63½", NBH 257630 for $20.

All are 36°, 0.41" width V-belts.

Your local store, whichever company, can interchange easily from these numbers.

- Eric

Del70

thanks - Looking for the belts w/o the notches /grooves on the bottom or top of the belt. These look like they have the notches on the bottom. maybe napa belts have mild grooves on the bottom...

MDchanic

Ohhhhh... Now I understand.

Yeah, that can be tough, if it's important to you. As far as I know, the notched design improves durability, so it'll be tough to find a modern manufacturer that doesn't use it.

If this is a 100-point restoration, then, yeah, those fancy resto companies would be the only source I know if.
If not, then I'd say, don't sweat it, and just use the new-style ones, but, of course, that's a matter of taste, and you may just not like looking at them, which is your right. I do agree that they look a little bit "wrong" in there, but not so much so that I lose sleep over it.

Good luck finding them, post a note for others if you do find any.

- Eric

oldcutlass

Do you have an Industrial Bearing and Belt store in your town or close. Take the belts to them and they can match a set up for you. They should have them in stock.

TheBigBlueBoat

Granted this is going back about 6 years, but I was able to pick up the old style V-belts at my local NAPA when I replaced all of my belts and hoses.

joe_padavano

McMaster Carr.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#v-belts/=nul096

You just need to know the cross section and the length.

MDchanic

Great call, Joe. McMaster has everything.

Dimensions are listed above.

- Eric

joe_padavano

Here's an even better deal on belts (though no guarantee on country of origin):

http://www.vbelts4less.com/Classic-A...Belt_c_24.html

The 1960s-up belts are the "A" cross section. Your 45" belt (P/N A43) is all of $2.66. The 55" belt (A53) is $3.28. In case you can't figure out the pattern, the part number is A(length-2). They also have a very nice listing of every single Olds belt back to the 1950 model year:

http://pixusa.com/Auto%20PDF/Oldsmobile.pdf

That PDF lists the industry part numbers. Simply google the number and the words "v belt" and you'll get links that spell out the length and width of each. Go back to the vbelts4less.com website (or McMaster Carr if you care about COO) and order away.

TexasGunner

Try the valuecraft brand of belts from Autozone. Not trying to be funny.

Del70

Thanks - Yes value craft was the one brand that had them w/o notches when I last bought belts, so I bought them..that was few years ago. The solid type are old style, so they are hard to find at automotive stores (when I looked last summer the value craft appeared to have switched to the notched type) . Still looking, thanks for the tips and ideas.