Serpentine drive belt systems have been standard equipment on new vehicles for quite some time. Much more efficient than multiple V-belt drives due to reduced friction, a single, flat drive belt also allows all the driven accessories to be on the same plane, making the front of the engine much more compact. Serpentine belts can be put under higher tension without stretching, which reduces slippage, and maintenance is simplified as the driven components are solidly mounted and the belt is kept tight by a spring-loaded tensioner.
Our in-house Tech Center wrench twirler, Jason Scudellari, was looking for an accessory drive system for his LS-powered '56 Chevy pickup. V-belts were out of the question and the bulky-looking factory serpentine components wouldn't do, so Jason turned to Eddie Motorsports for one of its S-Drive serpentine pulley kits. Along with the LS kits Eddie Motorsports offers versions for small- and big-block Chevys, small-block Fords and big-block motors. A variety of finishes are available, including fully polished, raw machine, clear anodized, and matte black—Jason opted for the latter.
The S-Drive systems come with a Powermaster CS 140-amp alternator that provides a "clean" output to eliminate interference with computers and other sensitive electronic components. Kits are offered with or without A/C compressors and with or without power steering pumps. For A/C applications a Sanden SD7 compressor is included. Kits for power steering come with a Maval pump specifically valved for either rack and pinion or a recirculating ball gearbox. Power steering pumps can be equipped with an OEM style plastic reservoir, a billet replacement or a remote tank and lines. S-Drive kits for LS engines include a new Tuff Stuff water pump and an ATI Super Damper.
Eddie Motorsports supplies everything needed for installation of an S-Drive kit, and to make things easy the attachment hardware is packaged for the individual components so there is no need to pick through a bag of fasteners to find the right combination. All kits provide the advantages of a serpentine belt; they function properly, look great, and fit as they should so that rattail file can stay in your toolbox. Follow along as we show how easy it is to have a state of the art serpentine system.
01 Eddie Motorsports S-Drive systems come with everything necessary for installation. A variety of finishes are available; we chose matte black.
02 To standardize the placement of accessories and provide proper belt alignment, a new vibration damper hub is included in the LS kits.
03 The included ATI Super Damper bolts to the new hub. It is NHRA and IHRA approved and is fully degreed to aid in tuning.
04 Mounting studs for the new Tuff Stuff water pump are installed with the specified length protruding from the block.
05 As well as securing the pump the studs are used to mount the accessory brackets. This is the rear alternator bracket.
06 Precision machined "stand-offs" serve as nuts to secure the water pump and as spacers and mounts for additional brackets.
07 Here the front alternator bracket has been attached to the water pump via the previously installed "stand-offs."
08 Included in the kit was a Powermaster alternator complete with a billet aluminum pulley and fan.
09 The new Tuff Stuff water pump allows the use of a bolt-on pulley that aligns perfectly with the rest of the belt-driven accessories.
10 Along with the other advantages, the new hub and ATI damper standardize the location of the lower pulley for proper belt alignment in all applications.
11 As we were not installing A/C, this bracket mounts an idler pulley and the belt tensioner.
12 Here the idler pulley has been installed. A/C applications use a different bracket that mounts the compressor.
13 In most cases this boss is already drilled and tapped, on our engine it wasn't. Here a transfer punch is being used to locate the hole.
14 After locating the center the hole is drilled to size…
15 …then tapped.
16 A socket head stud is inserted into the new or existing threaded hole. Anti-seize was used on all fasteners.
17 Another "stand-off" is used on the stud to properly position the power steering bracket.
18 With the bracket bolted in place the power steering pump attaches with the two threaded holes.
19 For ease of installation Eddie Motorsports installs the power steering and alternator pulleys. Access to the power steering pump attachment bolts is through the windows in the pulley.
20 The spring-loaded tensioner is a readily available Gates product making a replacement easy to find if necessary.
21 As all the accessories are solidly mounted, the tensioner keeps the belt tight. The tensioner is pulled away from the belt with a ratchet to install the six-rib Gates belt.
22 For those looking for a system with bling, Eddie Motorsports offers fully polished kits—this LS example includes an A/C compressor.
