A/C compressor install question

the trouble iam having is with no idle pulley at all. it is so tight there is no way to even have the idle pulley take up any slack because there is none. i guess i can just get a longer belt but how much longer?

Slotting the holes in the compressor mounting plate is a good idea for two reasons. First, a too-tight belt will either soon break or will badly wear the crank or waterpump bearings, depending on how the belt is routed. Second, the problematic idler pulley is then unnecessary and can be eliminated, as belt tightness can be adjusted by moving the whole compressor. Just be careful to maintain compressor pulley squareness relative to the crank pulley. Mine has been running this way since 1981 when the idler pulley bearing went out (at Laguna Seca racetrack) and at the time, there were no viable replacement bearings.

A/C

Devil -

How do you adjust the water pump tension?

Don't forget your hose clamps!

Looks good!

Here is mine..

SAAC Industries "Amazing" Underdrive Water Pump Pulley

IPSCO Water Pump Pulley Tensioner

W-Wadeco Fabricated Bracket

Sanden Rotary A/C Compressor

Idler Pulley

Stock 3-Wire Alternator Mounted Outboard

I can get you belt lengths if interested - it took me LOTS of trips to the Auto parts store to find the right ones.

Rocky

Rocky, What are you driving that's outboard of the A/C compressor???
Thanks
Jeff

quote:

driving that's outboard of the A/C Compressor???

That's my alternator. It's set back behind the bulkhead, and this configuration allows a "flattened" firewall modification.

The inner bulkhead cover has been narrowed so that the passenger seat can go all the way back (I still have to modify the bulkhead cover and the black upholstery cover).

Mark (Devil) is doing the same thing in the post above. It's all made possible by the Rotary compressor mounting bracket, and the correct 2-pulley Sanden Rotary Compressor.

Regards -

Rocky

Just found a belt that fit tight.

quote:

Originally posted by Rocky:
Devil -

How do you adjust the water pump tension?

Don't forget your hose clamps!

Looks good!

Here is mine..

SAAC Industries "Amazing" Underdrive Water Pump Pulley

IPSCO Water Pump Pulley Tensioner

W-Wadeco Fabricated Bracket

Sanden Rotary A/C Compressor

Idler Pulley

Stock 3-Wire Alternator Mounted Outboard

I can get you belt lengths if interested - it took me LOTS of trips to the Auto parts store to find the right ones.

Rocky

what type idle pulley is on the compressor belt . mine is a push down your is up to adjust

It's the "push-up" kind.

I found it gave me more adjustment capability, and was easier to tension.

The one I got had the bearing already installed.

Check on eBay - there's a lot of 'em. The one I got was made by "Four Seasons".

I am not sure the original application.

Rocky

Belt manufacturers will tell you that putting a reverse bend in the belt will lead to shortened belt life.

Everco and four seasons have a large selection of vee and flat idler pulleys with a bearing mounted. I've used idlers on the inside and outside of belts to make room/alignment for 30+ years in hot rods and racecars. best belts are gates and goodyear, i like to use the ribbed back belts[gatorback]these 'ribs' are for cooling.

quote:

Belt manufacturers will tell you that putting a reverse bend in the belt will lead to shortened belt life.

Grumman said that the LEM (Lunar Excursion Module) couldn't be used as a lifeboat, but it saved the astronauts in the ill-fated Apollo-13 mission.

Actully, the belt is about $8, and I have had my bulkhead off fairly regularly (hopefully this will go down as my car gets dialed in). The ease of maintenance and adjustment with this configuration is worth a regular belt inspection (and maybe a new one every 4-5 years).

I really can't see that there is an issue with it.

Rocky