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How to change fan belt on a 1940 LaSalle 5019

Started by z3skybolt, May 21, 2021, 05:00:48 PM

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z3skybolt

Folks,

I've changed fan belts from time to time since I was 16 years old.  But the one on my LaSalle looks like a challenge. Does the radiator have to be removed first?  The current belt is old but appears solid.  I like to carry a spare just in case and be prepared to change should it break.

Anyone know the process?

Bob R.
1940 LaSalle 5227 Coupe(purchased May 2016)
1985 Lincoln Town Car Signature Series. Bought New.

Ohjai

I think I may have some info I got off the Forum.  Your fan belt is 1429050 that crosses to a Gates 632.  See attached info.  Gates 632 is 36 inches long and has a top width of 1.063" and an angle of 40 degrees.
I will try and find what I used on my 38 Sixty S tomorrow.
Jim
'38 Cadillac Series 60 S
'41 Cadillac Series 60 S
2017 Cadillac CT6
'62 Buick Skyhawk Conv
'49 Bentley MK-VI  Sold
'53 Bentley R-Type  Sold
'66 Ford Thunderbird
'64 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III
'75 Rolls-Royce Silver Shad Sold
'78 Rolls-Royce Silver Shad II
'80 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith II  Sold
'81 Rolls-Royce Camargue  Sold
'88 Rolls-Royce Corniche II
'89 Rolls-Royce Silver Spur
2020 Ford Escape

z3skybolt

Thanks,

I have the proper replacement belts.  Just not sure the mechanical process.  Looking for guidance.

Bob R.
1940 LaSalle 5227 Coupe(purchased May 2016)
1985 Lincoln Town Car Signature Series. Bought New.

Tom Boehm

Hello Bob, There is one bolt that attaches the fan pulley mounting bracket to the engine block. Loosen that with a straight wrench. A socket wrench will not fit in there. The hole in the bracket is slotted so push it down after you loosen the bolt. This takes tension off the belt. Slip the belt off. There is a notch in the right side of the bracket to retension the new belt. Use a pry bar between the notch and the block to put tension on the belt and tighten the mounting bolt. It would be easier to have a helper hold tension on the pry bar while you tighten the bolt. It is not necessary to remove the radiator. I don't remember but it may be helpful to remove the fan to remove and install the belt.

z3skybolt

Thanks Tom and Jim,

I understand now how it is done.  Sounds like a bit difficult to get to but I will know how to get started. The belt has been on there since 1983. The car has been driven a bit over 4,000 miles since then.  Age may be more of a factor than usage.

Bob R.
1940 LaSalle 5227 Coupe(purchased May 2016)
1985 Lincoln Town Car Signature Series. Bought New.

The Tassie Devil(le)

I am pretty sure that removing and replacing any fan bely will not require the removal of anything from any engine, as if this was the case, the designers would get the sack.

Bruce. >:D
'72 Eldorado Convertible (LHD)
'70 Ranchero Squire (RHD)
'74 Chris Craft Gull Wing (SH)
'02 VX Series II Holden Commodore SS Sedan
(Past President Modified Chapter)

Past Cars of significance - to me
1935 Ford 3 Window Coupe
1936 Ford 5 Window Coupe
1937 Chevrolet Sports Coupe
1955 Chevrolet Convertible
1959 Ford Fairlane Ranch Wagon
1960 Cadillac CDV
1972 Cadillac Eldorado Coupe

Brad Ipsen CLC #737

Bruce is right.  You don't have to remove any parts to put on new belts.  The other belt driving the water pump and  generator is tightened by moving (rotating) the generator
Brad Ipsen
1940 Cadillac 60S
1938 Cadillac 9039
1940 Cadillac 6267
1940 LaSalle 5227
1949 Cadillac 6237X
1940 Cadillac 60S Limo

z3skybolt

#7
Bruce and Brad,

Thanks for being gentle with a dummy.  Had I looked a little closer I could have seen how to remove/replace.  The belt looks good but I want to carry a spare. I had bought one from Rock Auto 3 or 4 years ago that was supposed to be a direct replacement.  The replacement belt that I have is Gates PL30905 Size marked is 897x24.3x30. 

It is only 30" and appears to be too short as the chart Joe referenced calls for 36 inches.  I cannot find a Gates 632.  Will keep looking.


Bob
1940 LaSalle 5227 Coupe(purchased May 2016)
1985 Lincoln Town Car Signature Series. Bought New.

LaSalle5019

Bob,
You may want to review this thread
http://forums.cadillaclasalleclub.org/index.php?topic=164080.0

Fan belts are not easy to find- short and fat have not been in style for a long time.
Scott

tripwire

Bob,
I doubt you'll find a Gates 632. I looked high and low a couple years ago and had no luck finding any. If you do find an old one it will not last long once you get it on the car. These belts don't age well.  I ended up shopping by the sizes I needed and found some golf cart belts that work. The dimensions are not exact but were close enough.
You can read more about it here:

http://forums.cadillaclasalleclub.org/index.php?topic=150856.msg400599#msg400599

I've also attached a copy of John Washburn's Self-Starter article where he discusses flathead fanbelts.

Let us know how it works out for you.

Wes in VT
Driving now:
2013 CTS4 Performance Coupe
1940 LaSalle 5229 C4D

A few I used to drive:
1976 Cadillac Ambulance
1969 Cadillac Hearse, Superior Body
1966 Buick Wildcat Hearse
1957 Ford Thunderbird x 3, 1 E code, 2 D code
1956 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 Sedan
1949 Mercury Convertible
1949 Mercury Coupe, Mild Custom
1936 Buick Special Sedan

z3skybolt

Wes,

Thanks for the information. I recall much of this discussion from the past. Like everyone else I will continue to search.  Would you please let me know what belt you found that worked even though not exactly?  If so I will buy one as a spare.  My belt seems to be solid for now. But it would be a disaster should it break far from home.  I'd like something that would work at least long enough to get me home.

Bob R.
1940 LaSalle 5227 Coupe(purchased May 2016)
1985 Lincoln Town Car Signature Series. Bought New.

39LaSalleDriver

#11
Bob and all concerned parties --

About three years ago I too engaged in this very quest. My fear was that a belt might break on the road and I'd be in really bad shape. The belts that came on the car seemed to be, and have proven to be okay, but you never know.

To begin with, while John Washburn's article in the Self Starter from years ago was valuable at the time...today, not so much. It's great to have a reference as to what was originally on these cars and their dimensions, but none of the belts he recommended are available today.

Here are some alternatives that I came up with that appear to be still available (or can be found).


Generator/Water Pump Belt (Original specs: 49.125 x .781" 46 degree):

GATES TR30484  48.97 x  .875
From Rock Auto -- looks like they might only have 1 or 2 still left and are being discontinued. I have not had a reason to install this belt yet, so I cannot speak to how well it does or doesn't work.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=102490&cc=952941&jsn=287

ACDELCO T30484   48.97 IN x 0.94 IN
Rock Auto looks to be offering this alternative to the TR30484. Have not purchased it myself.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=672852&cc=952941&jsn=288&jsn=288

D&D GLOBAL C46 Wrapped V-Belt C 7/8 x 50in OC
Purchased from ATF Fasteners. I installed this belt two years ago, and I have had no problems with fitment, squeals, or indicators that durability is an issue.
https://www.aftfasteners.com/products/c46-wrapped-v-belt-c-7-8-x-50in-oc-1-pkg.html


Fan Belt (Original Specs: 36 x 1.063" 40 degree):

Gates PL30905 15/16" x 35 15/16"
I got one from Amazon, but appears to be currently unavailable from them. Might be available from other sources. I have not yet installed this belt so cannot speak to fitment, durability, or any other issues.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013LDKQQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Gates 6013 SportLine 29/32" x 36-3/4"
This belt may possibly work, but in all fairness, I have not purchased it to find out for sure.
https://www.amazon.com/Gates-6013-Sportline-Special-Application/dp/B000CRDLNY

D&D Global C32 Wrapped V-Belt C 7/8 x 36in OC
Purchased from AFT Fasteners. Have not installed to see if it works for sure, so cannot comment on fitment or durability. However, based on the good experience I have had with their C46 belt above, I feel pretty confident it will work well.
https://www.aftfasteners.com/products/c32-wrapped-v-belt-c-7-8-x-36in-oc-1-pkg.html



Correction: I went out and checked, and I replaced the Generator/Water Pump belt with the D&D Global C46 belt and it has performed admirably thus far. So, it DOES fit. I have edited post to reflect this information.
Jon Isaacson

1939 LaSalle 5019

Ohjai

Here are the two belts I recently put on my '38 60S.  I believe my 41 has slightly different sizes, but going on the Gates site using these numbers you should be able to find one that fits, then do a google search for who has them in stock.


Generator belt Gates 20A1225
Fan Belt 25A1105
'38 Cadillac Series 60 S
'41 Cadillac Series 60 S
2017 Cadillac CT6
'62 Buick Skyhawk Conv
'49 Bentley MK-VI  Sold
'53 Bentley R-Type  Sold
'66 Ford Thunderbird
'64 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III
'75 Rolls-Royce Silver Shad Sold
'78 Rolls-Royce Silver Shad II
'80 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith II  Sold
'81 Rolls-Royce Camargue  Sold
'88 Rolls-Royce Corniche II
'89 Rolls-Royce Silver Spur
2020 Ford Escape

39LaSalleDriver

Quote from: Ohjai on May 24, 2021, 05:00:05 PM
Here are the two belts I recently put on my '38 60S.  I believe my 41 has slightly different sizes, but going on the Gates site using these numbers you should be able to find one that fits, then do a google search for who has them in stock.


Generator belt Gates 20A1225
Fan Belt 25A1105

Careful...looks to me like the 38 60 has a 43" x 1" belt for the fan. The 39 and 40 5019 LaSalles (like myself and Bob have respectively) use a 36" x 1.063" belt for the fan. The generator belt looks like it might work though.
Jon Isaacson

1939 LaSalle 5019

tripwire

Here you go, Bob.
I mentioned these belts in the link I posted above but it's easy to miss.

The ones I used for the fan are:  Gates 6013 SportLine; 29/32" x 36-3/4" & Gates PL30905 PowerLink; 15/16" x 35 15/16"
Both of these were originally intended for Golf cars and scooters.

These belts have been on my 5229 for a couple of years now and they operate just fine, no noises or slipping. They don't look original because of the cogs on the inner surface. 

Good luck,

Wes in VT

Driving now:
2013 CTS4 Performance Coupe
1940 LaSalle 5229 C4D

A few I used to drive:
1976 Cadillac Ambulance
1969 Cadillac Hearse, Superior Body
1966 Buick Wildcat Hearse
1957 Ford Thunderbird x 3, 1 E code, 2 D code
1956 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 Sedan
1949 Mercury Convertible
1949 Mercury Coupe, Mild Custom
1936 Buick Special Sedan

z3skybolt

#15
Thanks to everyone,

I think that all is well now.  Ignorance is my greatest enemy.  Earlier I had mentioned that I had a Gates PL 30905.   The measurement were give as metric and I thought that it was too short.  Finally I measured it outside to outside and in fact the length is the right size.  So I am in good shape if I need to replace the original one.  Just as a back up I ordered the other one from AFT.

By the way I already have the correct replacement for the generator belt and a good one already on the engine. I bought one that Rock Auto had 2 years ago. Again thanks to a tip from Bobby B. on this forum.

Bob R.
1940 LaSalle 5227 Coupe(purchased May 2016)
1985 Lincoln Town Car Signature Series. Bought New.