Hi all,
got a '55 Studebaker coupe into which I've dropped a '63-64 spec R1 (Avanti, high compression) engine. As a part of the engine swap and just general underhood detailing I electrolytically derusted and painted the pulleys. Now I find that with the new engine (which has an aluminum flywheel, which doesn't help) when you rev the engine in neutral the alternator belt slips, and makes an embarassing sscreeching noise. Closely inspecting the pulleys shows that the belt hasn't worn through the paint on the pulleys, but the paint is very smooth, almost polished. Belt doesn't have many miles on it and is as tight as I feel comfortable tensioning it. (don't want to trash the alternator or water pump.) I haven't hooked up the power steering yet, but am fesring that I might run into a similar situation there.
Did I screw up? Would sanding the paint off the belt grooves help? Carefully taking it off with a rag and lacquer thinner? Masking and media blasting? (I would bet that would work well, but is not my favorite option as the only blast cabinet I have access to is my friend's, and it's an exercise in frustration trying to get it to work.) Any other thoughts?
New pulleys are not an option, as the WP pulley is NLA and the crank pulley is built into the harmonic balancer which is also rare and expensive.
thanks,
nate