We want to pose a question that might very well pertain to a real situation for you. When you park your hooptie at a cruise night or car show, do you open the hood? If you do open the hood, do you get a nice, warm and fuzzy feeling? Are you proud of the way the engine in your hot rod looks under the night time lights, or would you prefer it be dark outside? Let’s face it, you can have the coolest looking ride at a show or cruise night, but if you are ashamed of how your car’s underhood area looks, maybe it’s time do something about it.

The main purpose of your engine’s accessory-drive system is to supply the rotating motion needed to operate your power steering pump, air conditioning, and the alternator. That being said, there is no reason that drive system shouldn’t look impressive. The folks at March Performance feel the same way, and they have been addressing this situation for more than four decades.

Most engines can be dressed up with the help of a rattle can and some chrome, but what about those pulleys and belts perched at the very front of the engine? The stock parts might work okay, but this is hot rodding, and parts that simply “work okay” are not acceptable.

Blue Skies And Billet Parts

It was way back in 1974 when Edward March and his sons, Kim and Craig, founded March Performance. Initially, the day-to-day activities revolved around machining aircraft parts. But, the March men have oil running through their veins, so when the work day was complete, the parts being made favored more hot rod applications. When the late ‘80s rolled around, the aircraft parts business was not as busy as it once was, and the patriarch of the March family decided it was time to retire.

This is when the March family’s stick-to-itiveness kicked in, and the brothers shifted their focus to their true passion, the aforementioned hot rod parts. Like when any business transitions, things were not always easy for Kim and Craig. According to Kim March, “We would make parts all week, and then we would load them into a trailer and go to car shows on the weekend.”

That was then, and now the company supports the hobby on a much larger scale with a full line of individual pulleys, complete accessory-drive systems, and other engine components like brackets and air cleaners. “We have more than 20 different small-block Chevy accessory-drive kits that range from our entry-level Small-Block Long Water Pump All Inclusive Kits to our high-end Ultra Drives for the small-block and big-block engines,” Kim March stated.

If you are interested in seeing how some of their kits are installed on an engine, you can find that information anywhere. We wanted to dig a little deeper into the world of March Performance, and see what it actually takes to deliver a top-notch accessory drive system for classic cars. We first asked Cody March what separates them from other manufacturers, and he said, “We carry products that other companies don’t, including items for rare and hard to find engines like Buick, Cadillac, and AMC. We also have parts for older engines such as the Ford flathead.” March continued, “We have hundreds of options available, and different product styles and pricing points that meet any builder’s desire. I would also like to note that we have the most product/kit options available for the Chevy LS engine, which is quickly becoming the future of the aftermarket hot rod/musclecar industry.”

Around For The Long Haul

Another feature of March products is the longevity of their parts’ good looks. It is no secret that billet aluminum pieces need constant maintenance (polishing) to keep the parts from tarnishing or oxidizing. March Performance solved this problem and keeps the time you spend polishing and maintaining your parts to a minimum. March continued, “All our products are American-made from billet 6061-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum, and after each piece is polished, they are clear-powdercoated to eliminate the need for frequent buffing or polishing.” It’s this clear coating that combats the tarnishing or oxidizing of the aluminum.

Get The Look You Want

Another great feature the March delivers, is your choice of finishes.

Clear:

This is their standard, signature finish. It is a clear powdercoating over a machine-finished billet aluminum. It delivers a great shine with no polishing required.

Black:

This simple, black powdercoat finish, gives enthusiasts a more modern look.

Black Onyx:

A new take on their black finish, each bracket piece is powdercoated black, and the edges of each part are then machine etched. The pieces are then powdercoated clear, creating a glossy black finish with aluminum edges. The kit comes with clear-powdercoated pulleys.

Chrome:

Triple chrome-plated parts deliver a highly reflective, deep chrome finish.

We have gotten the skinny about March’s broad range of products and how they manufacture those products to reduce the required maintenance, but we really wanted to find out about the process of how a product is designed and ultimately manufactured.

Processing Perfection

To get the inside scoop, we asked March about what is involved in regards to the design and manufacturing process. “Our products are all designed on CAD CNC-machine software, which is then used to make the prototype parts. After that, we mock up the prototype parts for fitment on an engine block to make sure everything is correct. When we are sure that we have a properly-fitting part, we then process the parts through our powdercoat paint system.” March continued, “After that is done, our parts are assembled and shipped out the door. We are constantly making new products for all the different engines available, and it usually takes about a week for our engineering department to finish a new product or kit.”

Some key points to remember about the March Performance kits:

* They have some of the lowest prices available, as well as a wide variety of options, depending on the needs and wants of the enthusiast.

* American-made high-quality products

* Largest selection available

Knowledge Means Great Customer Service

If you’re not sure what you need for your application, Cody March wants you to know, “Our Sales/Tech crew is available to walk every customer through the entire process of acquiring and fitting their engine with exactly what they need. They literally develop a one-on-one relationship with the customer.”

The sales and tech crew at March is not comprised of just a couple of guys that answer the phone and give generalized answers, these people know their stuff and how to help the customer. We were impressed as March told us, “Our sales team handles all the tech needs for their customers, and all of our Sales/Tech crew have been working in the automotive tech-service and sales field for many years. In fact, Summit Racing has rated our tech team number one when dealing with any serpentine or pulley/bracket related questions or needs.”

We asked March if their kits are only available in as-shown configurations, or do consumers have options? He was quick to tell us, “The majority of our kits come in different designs, but they share all the same parts. We design our products this way to offer many different looks for the customer, based on their personal taste and preference.” When it comes to kits, the Style Track system is complete with alternator, an alternator pulley with fan and nose cover, a polished A/C compressor and nose cover, a water pump with pulley and cover, a crankshaft pulley, and an alternator and A/C bracket. If your kit includes power steering, it comes with a GM Type-2 remote power steering pump and pump pulley with nose cover (remote reservoir required). The Style Track also makes use of an easy-to-use belt tension adjustment tool. Once the belt tension has been set, the adjustment tool is removed and put away until needed.

If you are looking for the ultimate in show quality, the Ultra Drive system is the right choice for you. This system is designed to mount engine accessories low and in between the measured width of the cylinder heads. The Ultra Drive comes with a chrome Sanden A/C compressor, 140-amp chrome alternator, a short, reverse-flow aluminum water pump, GM Type-2 power steering pump (remote reservoir required), belt tensioner with cover, and the necessary brackets and pulleys.

We also know that there are some car owners out there that might not be looking for the ultimate in a show-stopping accessory-drive system. The Mid-Mount Ultra Pulley and Bracket Kit uses an alternator bracket that mounts the mobile battery charger at the 9 o’clock position. An optional power steering bracket and A/C compressor bracket mounts these items low for a compact and clean appearance. These kits replace the V-belt pulleys, and are also available with a larger-than-stock crankshaft pulley for better cooling and improved charging during low speed driving.

With all of these available choices, we asked March how consumers can be sure they order the right kit for their ride. March reiterated, “It always helps to contact our Sales/Tech team. We can help make sure your kit will have proper fitment before purchasing, and we can also lead you in the right direction if you need any help.”

As easy as they make finding and purchasing the perfect kit or parts for your budget and application, there’s no reason to not call March Performance and make the underhood of your ride make people stop and notice.