3.8L A/C Delete serpentine belt info.

[RedneckinaRAV4]

For those of you that want to get rid of the A/C on your 3.8 with or without removing the compressor and didn't want to have a random pulley sitting off to the side. I deleted everything. Soo I did my diligence and have searched other forums with only one answer. Supposedly a 60.5" or 61" belt would work if routed correctly. I tried a 60.75" belt and a 62.125" belt and nothing worked. Soo I did some more thinking and found that if I could find a 80" belt I would be set unfortunately I couldn't find that but I did find a 81" belt Duralast 810K6. Unfortunately the belt was still too loose under load. So I found the DAYCO 89001 pulley to swap withy tensioner pulley the DAYCO is 1/2 bigger and has sides to help keep the belt in place. I did have to use a washer as a spacer behind it to keep from rubbing but it worked well. I also had to cut the plastic tab that helped keep the wires from rubbing the belt. These cars are Soo old those wires won't move anyway. I also haven't had any problems as of yet. I will post more if something changes.

[ssms5411]

Nice, I’m just going to run a ribbed idler. But I’ll keep this in mind for when I add my turbo. Don’t know if the idler can be run with the turbo pipes. Your way definitely makes more room.

[LETZRIDE]

I went with a shorter belt similar setup, but I had zzp’s underdriven water pump pulley. Pretty sure I threw out my short belt when I parted the car out so I can’t measure what I used. It’s a nice setup without A/C - lots more room to move lol

[v6buick]

I tried that for a little while, and I don't recommend it. Even if the tensioner is tight, it's not putting direct enough pressure on the belt where it needs to be. I was slinging belts off left and right. That was when I came up with this. The belt is much tighter now and a lot easier to replace.

The belt is a Dayco 5060800 which should be stocked at every parts store, and the tensioner pulley is a Dayco 89015.

[RedneckinaRAV4]

I tried that for a little while, and I don't recommend it. Even if the tensioner is tight, it's not putting direct enough pressure on the belt where it needs to be. I was slinging belts off left and right. That was when I came up with this. The belt is much tighter now and a lot easier to replace.

The belt is a Dayco 5060800 which should be stocked at every parts store, and the tensioner pulley is a Dayco 89015.

That is why I increased the size of the tensioner pulley from the stock size of 3" to a 3.5" rimmed pulley to get the belt tight.

[LETZRIDE]

I tried that for a little while, and I don't recommend it. Even if the tensioner is tight, it's not putting direct enough pressure on the belt where it needs to be. I was slinging belts off left and right. That was when I came up with this. The belt is much tighter now and a lot easier to replace.

The belt is a Dayco 5060800 which should be stocked at every parts store, and the tensioner pulley is a Dayco 89015.

Interesting. Did that reverse the direction of your water pump? (looks like it did). I didn't know they could be reversed without having issues? I need to look at the fins on a water pump now lol

[v6buick]

That is why I increased the size of the tensioner pulley from the stock size of 3" to a 3.5" rimmed pulley to get the belt tight.

I tried that but it still slung belts. I had the biggest pulley I could install without running into water pump clearance issues.

[v6buick]

Interesting. Did that reverse the direction of your water pump? (looks like it did). I didn't know they could be reversed without having issues? I need to look at the fins on a water pump now lol

It's not reversed. If you don't change the pulley, and the belt is still riding on the correct surface then that pulley will always spin in the same direction. The only pulley I changed was the tensioner. It's ribbed now.

[v6buick]

That is why I increased the size of the tensioner pulley from the stock size of 3" to a 3.5" rimmed pulley to get the belt tight.

I just noticed that your pulley also has guides on it so it should work okay. Mine were unguided so the belt would always jump teeth on the alternator.

[Lightspeed]

What about adding a small idler pulley somewhere near where your AC was? That could help get around some belt sizes and still help you follow the same routing to get the belt around the tensioner?

[ssms5411]

What about adding a small idler pulley somewhere near where your AC was? That could help get around some belt sizes and still help you follow the same routing to get the belt around the tensioner?

Yeah, they make a ribbed pulley to go where the idler pulley goes and it’s just like they came from the factory, bypassing it just makes It easier to run turbo pipes. I’ll find out soon when I install my turbo.

[RedneckinaRAV4]

I tried that but it still slung belts. I had the biggest pulley I could install without running into water pump clearance issues.

I have my belt routed different than your belt is. I tried to route my belt that way and came to the same result that I couldn't fit a larger pulley that's why I routed it this way image widuget

[LETZRIDE]

I have my belt routed different than your belt is. I tried to route my belt that way and came to the same result that I couldn't fit a larger pulley that's why I routed it this way image widuget

Your image didn't show up. Maybe try using the upload attachment button if you didn't try that. If you did maybe just try again and it should work.

[ssms5411]

Almost forgot this post going to try v6buicks method. Will post pics when done.

[ssms5411]

Got the ribbed tensioner pulley and belt on , removed the idler pulley. Works great, will remove the A/C tomorrow or this weekend.