FAQ: Serpentine Belts - Brands and Types

great find!!

ewolfe0050 wrote:

Is the ZZP balancer oversized?

It's not an overdrive like the SFI.

You're getting me nervous with all your new mods... might have to invest in a set of Tischler heads and a bigger cam this winter to stay ahead of you!

I have Gatorbacks on the Regal and they've been awesome for over 40,000. Whirring sound but they don't squeak one bit. Perhaps the Riv could learn a thing or two from its w-body brethren. lol

Sorry, I prefer silence... unless I have a 400+ cubic inch V8 under there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWBUl7oT9sA

just had to

And that's exactly what those Gatorbacks do...

they fart in your general direction?!? lmao

DEMonte1997 wrote:

they fart in your general direction?!? lmao

Precisely - if I'm on the RF side of the car...

"But seriously folks", the belt noise is bad enough, but the 3" downpipe truly does sound like farting in your general direction!

DEMonte1997 wrote:

I have Gatorbacks on the Regal and they've been awesome for over 40,000. Whirring sound but they don't squeak one bit. Perhaps the Riv could learn a thing or two from its w-body brethren. lol

I have used both Gatorbacks and Dayco PolyCog belts. Both make a not-unpleasant sound in operation. If the hood's clsoed and you have not removed any sound deadening they're inaudible unless maybe you're running a well tuned/balanced engine in a very quiet area - and even theyh they only sound off when you rev the lump. The Daycos are a bit higher pitch than the Gatorbacks. I have had the Daycos on for several years now and have to admit, I have no idea whether/when they will ever wear out. I just put the Gatorback on a different car so too early to tell.

I am not unhappy with the OE belts but they don't last as long as the Daycos, they are quieter but not quieter enough to make up for the chunking/cracking (takes several years for that to happen however).

Albertj

I have Gatorbacks, no issues with excessive noise at all.

On the Regal, I removed the weatherstrip from the back part of the engine bay so I get to hear just about everything. My car sounds like it has a heavy duty cog belt on it now. I like the sound it makes. Turns a lot of heads. The Dayco poly belt on the Riv makes a little noise but not too much.

1998 Riv wrote:

I have Gatorbacks, no issues with excessive noise at all.

Same here.

I've been searching but I just can't seem to find a clear answer to satisfy my query. I'm going to be changing the belts on my 95, what has anybody found to be a good choice for the 95?

Mine are Dayco I think.... from Autozone. I plan to change mine annually, since I put 20-25k miles on every year. So I think they'll hold up fine for that duration. I don't have any slipping or noise.

al_roethlisberger wrote:

Mine are Dayco I think.... from Autozone.  I plan to change mine annually, since I put 20-25k miles on every year.  So I think they'll hold up fine for that duration. I don't have any slipping or noise.

No need for an annual change. They are good for at least 80K with regular inspection.

Mine is a Gates belt I bought from NAPA. Its the size for the 1993 SC Bonneville and other Series 1s that came with a 2.55 SC pulley. Fits very well with the 2.5" pulley.

I'd think the same brand belts the Series II people are using would also work for Series I. Different sizes, of course.

OK. Time for my two cents on the belt debate. Replace my belts back in late 2013. One gatorback and one gates. Gatorback is coming apart on the edges. Gates ribs are cracking but otherwise solid. Car has had it share of sitting for months and then being driven like the rocketship it is...
Just my two cents....

Kustom Kreationz wrote:

OK. Time for my two cents on the belt debate. Replace my belts back in late 2013. One gatorback and one gates.  Gatorback is coming apart on the edges. Gates ribs are  cracking but otherwise solid. Car has had it share of sitting for months and then being driven like the rocketship it is...  
Just my two cents....

If the Gatorback is coming apart on the edges, check the pullies for alignment and damage. Misaligned pullies usually due to weak tensioner and or failing pulley bearing - in either event replace asap - when they fail they fail suddenly and the broken belt does a little damage.

Thanks, I will check that out. The rubber on the goodyear is crumbly as well. Also, my wife found the receipts and says it was oct. 2010, not 2013.