Technical Fan belt length...

Just installed a new alternator bracket and alternator on my T and am looking for help on belt length numbers. I have an old belt that is close and figure I need one that is about 1 1/2 inches longer... shown is how the old belt fits, and the alternator is up against the valve cover. Is there a way to order a belt length by the numbers? I would rather like to avoid a trip to the auto parts store...

 

I usually deal with dayco belts , but I'm guessing that's a 41" belt , measure the outside length to check that . If call else fails go to the parts store with the old belt and tell them the problem ,they should be able to fix you up.

 

it's a 54.1" belt, try a 7555 belt. Or the next size bigger.

 

From your photo,looks more like only 1/2 in. to 3/4 in longer would work. That is if the photo is with alt placed at smallist place,being other photo shows it out bigger place adjustment wise..?

 

Thanks guys, I have about 2" adjustment on the belt tensioner, and want it off the valve cover of course, but need some adjustment to compensate for belt stretch in the future...

 

Both photos show it up against the valve cover. It only has about half the tensioner available...

 

Just ordered a Gates 7555. I learned from Squirrels post that the number following the 7 is the length as in 55 1/2 inches. Thanks Squirrel!

 

Most of us need a couple more inches!!

 

Dayco has a great site, that's where I found my belt. I took a piece of electrical cord off a broken air compressor, just fat enough to get me a belt size, which was 1/2" too long. I got a smaller one on the car, carry the longer one since it will get me home in an emergency.

 

Installed the Gates 7555 fan belt, fits great!
Thanks Squirrel, you are a veritable fount of mechanical knowledge...

 

So....Last three digits are the length. Does the first number indicate width or pitch?

 

width, sort of. 7 is a normal narrow belt, 9 is a wide belt. By 1960s standards, that is. Roughly 7/16 and 9/16" wide, but not quite.

 

It’s rocket science....

 

One big, one bigger, return one, or throw it in the “ do you need one pile”for a buddy

 

I'll be darned.

 

It's amazing what I've learned on the HAMB...

 

Indeed...Actual useful information. Now if I only knew what that knocking sound was...