I have had an on going problem with breaking alternator belts. The
promblem is that they are slipping and getting hot. I have installed
quality belts and problem still persists. Belts will slip at only rpms
above 2500. Alternator belts do not slip if the power steering belt is
removed. I am at my wits end trying to solve this problem. Engine in
question is a 88 454 with alpha drive.
Thanks for any help.

Pulley's are bad. I had that problem, not breaking but lots of wear and
slipping on a 351W Ford motor. Get a new set of pulleys. There should be a
number some where on the pulley. Ford, they are industrial engine parts.

wrote in message
oups.com...
I have had an on going problem with breaking alternator belts. The
promblem is that they are slipping and getting hot. I have installed
quality belts and problem still persists. Belts will slip at only rpms
above 2500. Alternator belts do not slip if the power steering belt is
removed. I am at my wits end trying to solve this problem. Engine in
question is a 88 454 with alpha drive.
Thanks for any help.

has this been going on dince day one? GM (and some Ford) had a bad
problem with this. due to the fact that they used two different sizes
of pulleys on the crank, yet used looped the two belts over the water
pump. One two the Alt, the other to the Power steering. the PS is a 1/2
in belt, and the alt. is a 3/8. That's standard, but on the harmonic
balancer the two different size pulleys would naturally make a
grotesque mismatch, and one belt will win, the other will lose. and it
just so happens to be the smaller alt. belt.

See if the lower pulleys are mismatched.

Two possiblities come to mind. First, ensure the power steering pump is
functioning properly. Make sure the pump fluid reservoir is full and that
the pulley turns with virtually no resistance with the belt removed. Also
check pump function with the engine running by observing the pump while the
steering wheel is rapidly turned from center to full port and full starboard
a few times. Second, ensure the belt pulleys are perfectly aligned. Use a
long straight edge to check pully alignment with the engine off (of course).

Alighment problems are particularly possible if a component has been removed
and reinstalled. Alternators can be troublesome if the adjutment arm is
installed on the wrong side of the screw boss. Alternators can also be
troublesome if the mounting bost securing it to the block is loose....
especially at higher RPM.

Good luck.

Butch
"Tim" wrote in message
ups.com...
has this been going on dince day one? GM (and some Ford) had a bad
problem with this. due to the fact that they used two different sizes
of pulleys on the crank, yet used looped the two belts over the water
pump. One two the Alt, the other to the Power steering. the PS is a 1/2
in belt, and the alt. is a 3/8. That's standard, but on the harmonic
balancer the two different size pulleys would naturally make a
grotesque mismatch, and one belt will win, the other will lose. and it
just so happens to be the smaller alt. belt.

See if the lower pulleys are mismatched.