ONE side issue with v-belts, their WIDTH and how it relates to the LENGTH of the belt. IF what's on there works well, MATCH THAT LENGTH AND WIDTH specifically, rather than going into a parts catalog by application--period. USA or European belts should not matter, I suspect. Might need to convert the USA measurements into Metric dimensions, I suspect.
Here's why it's important to do that. Many of the USA manufacturers would specify a .375" belt width "in production". That relates to how low the belt rides in the groove while maintaining the length needed for adjustments and such to ensure no slippage. In the case of GM belts back then, the replacements in the parts books generally were .440" wide belts, which made them ride higher in the groove, but at the same length as the .375" wide belts, they usually didn't work well. The general rule of thumb I developed when trying to make a .440" wide belt fit where a .375" wide belt originally came, was to take the length of the .375" wide belt and add 1" to the length. THEN it fit as desired! Because the higher in the groove the belt rides, the slightly longer it needs to be to have the adjustments happen in the same place on the bracket.
The belt size specs should be marked on the belt itself, in ink or imprinted, usually. If not, just physically match it. Use the catalogs for a cross-ref, but DO stretch the old and new belts out to make sure they are the same WIDTH and LENGTH before installing.
A quality belt is important. Many of the less expensive once (even from a name-brand company) can stretch and not last as well as their premium products. The Gates Green-Stripe belts rather than their less-expensive Charter line, for example. Strength of the innards plus the rubber compound itself are different. Yet they will work fine for a while. Key words, "a while".
It sued to be that the a/c belts were "matched" and sold only in a "matched pair". There are some production codes on the belt which verify that. In later times, it seems that they are now sold in singles.
Allegedly, the "matched pair" was necessary as they both ran together on the same pulleys, so they had to be from the same batch for a better match of characteristics. Their "flex" during certain engine rpm and a/c compressor operation are obvious, so it was felt they should come from the same production batch, rather than being from different batches for best results. That's how it was when the cars were new, for any Chrysler double-belt on the a/c compressor and alternator.
From my experiences,
CBODY67
