Hi guys, all is well here, just been really busy. I have been meaning to post an update but just havent had time.
During a drive around my neighborhood I did have my first issue with the serp system. The front rib of the belt separated from the other 5 ribs behind it. I pulled over and cut away the bad portion, reinstalled it and drove home.
Not sure what caused it but many posts back someone chimed in with info on foriegn pulley pitch vs domestic pulley pitch so I started there. I found an alternator pulley from an 89 el dorado with a 4.5 ltr to replace the volkswagon pulley. This needed to be spaced a little more but still has enough thread for the nut to go all the way on.
Not sure if the pic does justice but the vw pulley has deeper grooves and taller peeks.
I hope this was the problem and I nail it on the first try but if not I will keep diggin till its solved. If anyone else has any theories please chime in.
My thinking is that the taller points on the vw pulley were bottoming out in the grooves of the belt and eventually cut through. I wish I recorded the mileage but Im guessin it happened around 2000-2500 miles on the belt.
This may not have been the problem but I think its the most obvious place to start. Ill keep yas posted but I wont be putting any miles on until the salt is off the roads around here.
Oh and thanks for the concern guys, I held up fine here in the storm but my family on the nj coast got a lil beat up. All is good now though.
Also, Russ, I do have a bunch of stuff I put away in my basement Ill have to check to see what I got. You can PM me with anything you need but you might wanna wait to see how my new alt pulley works out hahaha.
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