I'm gathering all the components I need for the short pump set-up on my 66SS396, it has an LS-6 crate engine in it. Should I really be concerned about the belts flying off? I won't be racing this car, but will probably drive it the way a 500 HP car should be driven (once in a while). The only part I have for the long pump setup, is the pump that came with the crate engine. I would need all the pulleys and brackets. I suppose I could try the short setup first, but I don't want the belts to fly off and dammage anything. What do you think?

I have never heard of the belts flying off on a short water pump setup. As long as your pulleys are propperly lined up you should have no problem.

What does short pump versus long pump have to do with belts flying off? Is there some "information" out there that says short pumps are bad cause they throw belts?????

In 66 the 375HP 396 had short pump equipment from the factory and that worked OK. Lots of those 375/396 engines were wound higher than the average 454 so where is the problem??

As it says in the other post just get the belts lined up OK. I suppose that deep groove pulleys would be a piece of insurance against belt fly off buit they are sooooo expensive from the parts houses

I have the short water pump setup on my '66. Although it is the deep groove L78 setup (except the P/S) with the idler pulley, I have never thrown a belt. The motor has regularly seen over 6000 RPMs ( and the occasional 7000+ when I missed a shift). I totally agree that all the pullies must be in proper alignment, so stick with one complete setup.

I am running a ls6 in my 67 with a short pump and have never lost a belt. I have been known it hammer it at times.CFR.