if any modifications can be made to run newer style belts.
You probably do not need "newer style".
If you are fortunate, there are standard "A" section Vee belt pulleys hiding under that tribe of escapees from a hippie doormat weaving commune.
Great news if so, is that "A" section belts, any given size, are MADE to match with no need of picking and choosing out of a big pile of belts. Still works best, same maker, bought at the same time, of course.
PS: I
detest "classical Vee blts. Long habit of designing in toothed Gilmer's even when I didn't need their synchronization. PolyVee and MicroVee finally got their act together after a dodgy start lo these many years ago, I prefer those now.
I make an exception for "A" section. Those are about as good as classical Vee ever got, partly because they are the easiest to just keep adding more rows to when more power must be conveyed.
Nothing much to gain from changing to anything else on this machine.
