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I have a 1986 Corvette TPI engine installed in my 1947 Plymouth. Drives the Mopar purists nuts.
Anyway, it still has the A/C mounting bracket installed with some sort of idler pulley instead of the compressor (see picture attached)
I would like to completely eliminate that bracket, since it interferes with the inner fender well, and I won't be needing AC, at least for the near future.
I realize that this would require a different belt, and possible re-location of the belt tensioner. Has anyone else done this before? Can this be done with factory parts?
Any and all information regarding this modification would be greatly appreciated.
Some people have removed the AC and tensioner assembly completely, using a slotted bracket on the alternator as a tensioner.
Interesting...so basically you would use the old v-belt tensioning method on the existing serpentine belt system.
I'd like to hear from anyone who may have done that. Does the serpentine belt care how it tensioned, in other words, would this affect the wear of the belt, or the drive friction against the pulleys?
You have to retain the reverse wrap on the water pump...which requires some kind of pulley to the passenger's side of the WP.
I did what you're doing. I used an '88-'95 Chevy truck/TBI bracket for the alternator, chopped the AC bracket (to minimally support the tensioner), installed the truck crank pulley and spaced the WP pulley to align. WAY cleaner and less "sprawled" out...and it was cheap.
You have to retain the reverse wrap on the water pump...which requires some kind of pulley to the passenger's side of the WP.
I did what you're doing. I used an '88-'95 Chevy truck/TBI bracket for the alternator, chopped the AC bracket (to minimally support the tensioner), installed the truck crank pulley and spaced the WP pulley to align. WAY cleaner and less "sprawled" out...and it was cheap.
Now this I like...what size belt did you end up using?
I modified the upper alternator bracket on my 1984 to function as an old style tensioner.
The water pump is an aftermarket short style with 'V-belt' rotation. The stock pulley works just fine.
I have been running like this for years without any problems.
It is difficult to get a good picture with all the piping in the way.
I modified the upper alternator bracket on my 1984 to function as an old style tensioner.
The water pump is an aftermarket short style with 'V-belt' rotation. The stock pulley works just fine.
I have been running like this for years without any problems.
It is difficult to get a good picture with all the piping in the way.
I like that idea, too, except I'm not keen on replacing my water pump right now...
Since yours isn't in a C4 chassis you might actually be able to adapt a 'complete' accessory drive from a different GM - you might visit some local JY and look at anything GM 4.3, 5.0, 5.7 in most anything that's not passenger car. A non AC I'm quite sure moved the alternator to high and right location for nearly all of those applications. I'm thinking S10, Astro and maybe full-size vans. A non-AC 4.3 tensioner is quite complicated I think.
A 'talented' GM parts guy could easy show you various configurations on paper for most any 4.3, 5.0 or 5.7 for years '88 - '95
Tom's idler varies just a bit from yours - yours is done with a R4 GM compressor and his originally had a 'denso.
I've a couple friends who were big on 'Mayflowers' That's a good bit of 'RED' for sure.What do you have for alternator and power steering pump now? Saginaw from the L98 Corvette and it's reservoir or modified? Steering 'gear box' or steering rack? What brand and part # is the water-pump you're using now? You mentioned not being interested in changing pumps!! Standard Corvette pulley?
I've a couple friends who were big on 'Mayflowers' That's a good bit of 'RED' for sure.What do you have for alternator and power steering pump now? Saginaw from the L98 Corvette and it's reservoir or modified?
The steering pump is the Corvette Saginaw unit with an aftermarket chrome (of course) reservoir.
Steering 'gear box' or steering rack?
Steering gear box. The entire front frame clip is transplanted from a 72 Nova, with a 2.87 10-bolt rear axle from a 70 Monte Carlo, and aftermarket front and rear anti-sway bars. The car drives and handles surprisingly well.
What brand and part # is the water-pump you're using now? You mentioned not being interested in changing pumps!! Standard Corvette pulley?
The water pump is a replacement factory Corvette unit; nothing special, but it only has 2000 miles on it, and I'd hate to replace it if I don't have to...but it is just a water pump and I can be swayed.
Since I made my original post it has dawned on me that I may need AC sooner than expected (relocation to a hotter climate). Nonetheless, If that happens I will utilize a compact Sanden compressor, and probably have to re-do the entire serpentine drive system anyway, so I'd much rather conserve costs - and efforts - right now. I'm more interested in trimming - or eliminating - that AC bracket since it is ugly, and interferes with the inner fenderwell, causing an occasional rattle or buzz.
11-25-2018, 07:31 PM
Eliminating A/C Brackets on a 1986 Corvette
