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Old 09-28-2025, 08:15 PM   #1
azlkk
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Default “Correct” fan belt doesn’t fit

The listed 78-8620-B fan belt doesn’t even come close to fitting over the second water pump on my ‘37 21 stud engine. Generator is fully down. Water pumps are listed as correct for a ‘37, though you never quite know with Chinese parts.

Am I missing something?
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Old 09-28-2025, 08:17 PM   #2
petehoovie
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Default Re: “Correct” fan belt doesn’t fit

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Originally Posted by azlkk View Post
The listed 78-8620-B fan belt doesn’t even come close to fitting over the second water pump on my ‘37 21 stud engine. Generator is fully down. Water pumps are listed as correct for a ‘37, though you never quite know with Chinese parts.

Am I missing something?
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Old 09-28-2025, 09:06 PM   #3
tubman
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Default Re: “Correct” fan belt doesn’t fit

I think this a known bad part number. I believe there are several posts on the "Early V8 General Forum" addressing this. If no answers appear, a search of the forum should yield the information you need.
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Old 09-28-2025, 09:10 PM   #4
Bruce_MO
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Default Re: “Correct” fan belt doesn’t fit

Did you buy them from Bob Drake? They looked pretty and came in nice packaging, but neither belt on my ‘46 Mercury would fit. I figured that I’d break a chunk out of a pulley if I tried some force, so I threw the belts on a shelf and bought belts from Dennis Carpenter. They fit fine. Very frustrating when the simple stuff isn’t right and they have a very short duration for their return policy.
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Old 09-28-2025, 09:25 PM   #5
Flathead Fever
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Default Re: “Correct” fan belt doesn’t fit

Could it be it's made to fit a 21 stud with the water pumps up on the heads and not the late '37 21 studs with the water pumps on the block.
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Old 09-29-2025, 12:46 AM   #6
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Default Re: “Correct” fan belt doesn’t fit

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Could it be it's made to fit a 21 stud with the water pumps up on the heads and not the late '37 21 studs with the water pumps on the block.


not with a 78 prefix!
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Old 09-29-2025, 01:42 AM   #7
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Default Re: “Correct” fan belt doesn’t fit

I think they use the same belt.
Brian I will be over in NZ in a couple of weeks, with the gauges and stuff.
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Old 09-29-2025, 07:02 AM   #8
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Default Re: “Correct” fan belt doesn’t fit

IS it me or does it look like he has an early intake manifold and the generator is up higher than where the 37 "normally" would be??? It SURE looks like it.........Especially IF the avatar picture is the actual car...1935...maybe they used the 35 intake on the 37 block??? Looks like the distributor and coil were swapped too.


Maybe post a picture of the intake and especially the front part of it

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Old 09-29-2025, 08:05 AM   #9
Terry,OH
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Default Re: “Correct” fan belt doesn’t fit

Lets see the intake manifold and the generator. Generator does not appear to be down maybe due to incorrect intake.
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Old 09-29-2025, 08:20 AM   #10
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Default Re: “Correct” fan belt doesn’t fit

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Lets see the intake manifold and the generator. Generator does not appear to be down maybe due to incorrect intake.
My bet is on this Terry.
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Old 09-29-2025, 08:26 AM   #11
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Default Re: “Correct” fan belt doesn’t fit

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My bet is on this Terry.
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Old 09-29-2025, 08:46 AM   #12
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Default Re: “Correct” fan belt doesn’t fit

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Originally Posted by rockfla View Post
IS it me or does it look like he has an early intake manifold and the generator is up higher than where the 37 "normally" would be??? It SURE looks like it.........Especially IF the avatar picture is the actual car...1935...maybe they used the 35 intake on the 37 block??? Looks like the distributor and coil were swapped too.


Maybe post a picture of the intake and especially the front part of it
That’s likely it. The ‘37 was a factory exchange block back in the day when the dealers did that.
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Old 09-29-2025, 08:48 AM   #13
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Default Re: “Correct” fan belt doesn’t fit

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Originally Posted by azlkk View Post
That’s likely it. The ‘37 was a factory exchange block back in the day when the dealers did that.
Yes

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Old 09-29-2025, 09:11 AM   #14
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Default Re: “Correct” fan belt doesn’t fit

Found this table of NAPA belts on the HAMB

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Old 09-29-2025, 09:32 AM   #15
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Default Re: “Correct” fan belt doesn’t fit

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Originally Posted by azlkk View Post
That’s likely it. The ‘37 was a factory exchange block back in the day when the dealers did that.
The intake you have is a correct 1935 intake.....SO you will more than likely need the correct belt for 1935.....I am not sure IF the water pumps being in the block and the water pumps being in the head will make "that" much difference BUT it will be a darn bit closer than what you have....as the 1937 intake mounts your generator lower on the front of the engine, hence why it is too short now. OR you can swap intakes and get a 1937 intake, then your belt will work.
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Old 09-29-2025, 09:36 AM   #16
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Default Re: “Correct” fan belt doesn’t fit

azlkk


IF you didn't see in my post above, your distributor and coil are ALSO 1935 correct so keep that in the back of your mind as well!!! NOT 1937
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Old 09-29-2025, 03:23 PM   #17
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Default Re: “Correct” fan belt doesn’t fit

Unless you find a 1937 intake you will need to source a belt on your own. As stated that is a 35 intake but a 35 belt won't work, as 35's had the pumps in the heads.
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Old 09-29-2025, 04:04 PM   #18
Flathead Fever
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Default Re: “Correct” fan belt doesn’t fit

Just posted on YouTube one-hour ago, late 21 stud motor and the guy is complaining about how everything is different.

Normally I keep a bunch of different "cut" width and length belts in the shop. I never throw old belts away I put the generator/alternator on at its lowest point and wrap the "correct" width belt and cut belt around the pulleys and make a measurement of the belt, then I go and get one that length. Make sure the belt you choose is the correct width, that the belt rides on the beveled sides of the pulley and not the bottom of the pulley's grooves. The parts stores usually have the belts arranged by the width size and length so it's easy to find the one you're looking for, and they will exchange it if you need one a little shorter or longer. I have Gates and Dayco catalogs that list the belts in order of their lengths which helps. I kept all the old parts catalogs from work; they come in handy.

Looks like the same engine we have been talking about.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNx1dxmuNVg

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Old 09-29-2025, 06:20 PM   #19
azlkk
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Default Re: “Correct” fan belt doesn’t fit

It is the same engine, Ed Smith rebuilt it for me.
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Old 09-29-2025, 07:55 PM   #20
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Default Re: “Correct” fan belt doesn’t fit

Did K R Wilson make a fan belt stretcher?
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