The APE Kit is way overpriced IMO. When my pump went I thought of buying the BPP kit. That kit cost $160! Instead I went w/ a reman. pump from the auto parts store for $90. It's overpricing like that, that starts topics like this.

-John

 

I paid 45 dollars for my air pump from autozone 2 years ago(rebuilt unit) and that one crapped out on me so I went with the eliminator.If you paid 90 thats a very high price..sorry to say.Most of them just install new bearings and clean it up.The bearings in them are what, 2 bucks?

Ya know, for the money I spent,the eliminator is by far better quality and build then any other stuff i have bought for over 100 dollars for the vette.
Its very rigid,it was highly polished and was machined to precision.it even fit perfect out of the box the first time.

I think the cost reflects the size of the market and the type of machining involved.

Im sure one could make their own pulley kit and can probably do so if they have all the tools and machines at home.
Another benefit of the elimiantor it really cleans up the engine bay(If you remove the other air pipes too) and either way you do it, build your own or buy one will do just that.
It also has not broken, rusted or failed yet...and i doubt it willunless it ever needs a new pulley bearing down the road.

I cant say that for some reman air pumps, etc ive bought in the past.
Ive spent more money on parts that failed and were of bad quality.

 

To tell you the truth Bill I think it was the ALT. that was $90. I cannot find the reciept for it (had to buy a few things at the same time) but I said $90 to be on the safe side. I believe my pump was as cheap as the one you bought. I do not boubt that this thing will fail soon. I just got that feelin'.

I've seen the APE Kit (A member had one installed at the Spring Cruise In) and I think it looks great and liked the way it uncluttered the front of the engine but $160 is wayyyy too much for a bracket and pulley. I can honestly say that I can see myself making one from scratch.

-John

 

Ok guys, we have all decided that the kit is way too much money for all you get. Now who is going to help us all out and give us the measurements. I understand that I could reverse engineer the existing pump, I am a mechanical engineer for cryin out loud. But I also believe in not reinventing the wheel when it's already there. Someone out there has to be a kind soul and help us all out. As for the patend stuff as long as you are not selling it you have nothing to worry about. Its no different than all the wiring diagrams floating around or anything else that describes items in detail. Thanks and I know someone will come to our rescue. :seeya

 

Hey john,
Yeah Im betting it was an alternator ya meant...havent seen smog pumps go that much from the cheapo stores...paid about 95 for my alt as well.:)

I will agree that 160 is a bit much..however was just making a point I spent more on even inferior products in the past.Live and learn eh?

I also look at it this way..some of us dont have the means to fabricate our own stuff.
(like me)
IF we intedned to,im guessing one needs to go buy a milling or lathe tool, perhaps a good swaz all and blades to cut metal and etc?Maybe an air compressor and cut off tools?We also need to buy the metals for it.Maybe some of that stuff isnt cheap depending on what you buy but unless one already has all those tools and equipment to make a hmemade set up,it will cost more in the long run to buy everything you need to make a cheap 30 dollar home bracket and pulley.

Wouldnt it be great to have a "friend" with everythingone needs?
:)

The tools alone to cut something may or may not be cheap..im just guessing.

If one has access to a cnc machine at work or school thats a plus...think of how nice a piece could come out.

Tohe person who made this post, I cant get measurements right now for you since my car isnt here..its getting prepped to go into the paint shop..since youre an engineeryou can use your knowldge and build one from the brackets now on the car.The measurements are right there.
From what I remember, the lower bracket holes go into the heads and you can build one from that size with a metal long bar to attach the pulley on top and another long bracket to attach the alternator on the other side.
Ill email you if I get a chance to go get the measurements though..but you really dont need the kit to get started.
Good Luck!
:)

 

Bill I will send you an email. Thanks for the help it is greatly appreciated!

 

OIk sounds like we need lawyers for all this stuff. Can I just eliminate the air pump pulley altogether and get a shorter belt? What size belt do I need to get and will I be doing any harm to my water pump or alternator? Patent pending on the shorter belt of course.

 

As mentioned in post #13, simply removing the pump and installing a shorter belt will not work. The PS pump pulley sits too high and the belt will rub on itself.

IIRC, there was a diagram posted some years ago with measurements for homemade brackets and the measurements were suitable for CAD use. It was an embedded pic so the chances are it's gone by now.

 

You cant just run a shorter belt. This thread is 9 YEARS OLD. You should start a new thread.

 

Agreed. Ed, many/most posters could have moved on to other cars/sites. The problem could have been answered since then, etc... More importantly, I'm sure there's newer threads on the topic. Plus, I'm pretty sure there's a rule against dredging up old threads (probably cause of what I said above.)

So, I agree a new thread should be started by Ed, unless the design UltraViolet70 used in his build answers your question about a simpler way to accomplish the AIR delete.

Look on the last page (page 4) of his build thread by clicking here. Note the use of a single, adjustable bar to setup his new routing. (Forgot what those bars are called.)

 

Geez, I made one a few years ago. used a ruler to measure, flat bar stock, and aluminum dowel that I cut and drilled lengthwise, and a ford idler pulley.
$19 bucks total.

 

I took advice from QWS on the air pump eliminator.

I am in the process of a TPI conversion on my 84 but I took the air pump off and went with an 85" belt. Fits perfect without any interference.

Go to #75

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...-to-hsr-4.html

 

You can just run a shorter belt if you tip the alternator up and use it's pulley there instead of a silly delete pulley. That would require making a bottom bracket for the alternator. Which is an easier design then the delete pulley bracket.

'84 is an easy year for this, just a shorter belt is needed.

 

Try looking at at reply #9 of this thread.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...ifference.html
I made one that looks similar to that.

 

Well I am in the same boat as this guy. If I can find a way to save money by building my own version, I will. And I know I found my measuments on this forum, weather it was a link to another forum or not, they were here. I will find them for you and email you the blueprints I had for mine. Site Vendor or not I will be sending a private email of a cheeper way I did anything, to anyone who would like it. I understand everyone needs to make money, but come on everyone likes to save money too.

http://www.mamotorworks.com/corvette...1-371-842.html

Mine looks exactly like this and cost me 25 bucks. Why spend 149.99.

 

OK you all are not going to believe this!! I went out to my car and took the advice of one of you "reverse the bracket" I did and did some other alterations, all minor drilled a couple of holes and got some bigger bolts, shorter belt cost 39.00 at pep boys bracket rebuild $8.00 total 47.00 including a new belt. looks like krap but it works great.

No need to spend 150.00 or 290.00 on an air pump eliminator bracket (it's just metal, nuts and bolts) just use your own imagination it will work out fine.

 

This is a picture of the main plate from the one I mentioned above.
Check the link for the missing details.
Worked very nicely and is very solid.

 

wow im reading a thread from 2001 !

 

zombie thread is resurrected...

 

Wow, a 10 year old thread. Thats gotta be some kind od record