Does anyone know what size the belt is if I eliminate the ac compressor on a 3800? The pully on it is dragging so instead of replacing it right now , I figured I'd just go without it,seems how I never use it anyway. Also will it spit out a code if it's not hooked up with the drive belt?

 

Im not sure what it is but you could take a piece of string and route it around the pullys. then take it off and measure it to get an idea.

 

what is an a/c delete pulley? do i need one? the diagram i saw showed nothing about it. also read that there isn't enough tension on the power steering pulley if you delete the a/c. help clearing some of this up please

 

The AC delete pulley replaces the compressor allowing you to still use the standard size belt and belt routing. If you do away with the AC pulley you will need a shorter belt so that the tensioner can provide enough tension. However, without the AC pulley, the belt may not have enough wrap around some of the other pulleys and they will slip regardless of belt tension. Take a good look at the belt routing diagrams before doing.

 

The lower idler pulley is different when the car is not equipped with AC. The lower pulley takes the place of the AC and routes the belt back to the tensioner. Change the idler to the proper pulley and get a belt for a 3800 no AC you should be fine.

Starting from the top and going counterclockwise the belt should go like this
Alternator (grooves down)
Idler (grooves down)
Tensioner (grooves up)
Water pump (grooves up)
Crank (grooves down)
Power Steering (grooves down)
Alternator again.

Massey

 

Im currently doing this. Ive completly removed the ac compressor and piping etc.


(Please forgive the random coloured parts as engine will be fully detailed in black/red/silver when up and running)

The belt size required is around 1580mm i think. The correct belt can be sourced from a lot of VWs and Audi. The 2008 onwards A4 2.0TDi has the required size belt and should be available from any dealership or auto parts store. As you can see ive taken off the ac and extra pulley as it wont be needed hopefully.
I will be trying this in the next few days and will let you know how it works. I bought a 1660mm belt today off a French Peugeot and it was quite a bit too big, so i will be trying the mentioned Audi belt.

 

That extra pulley is needed you will want to put it back on. The only thing is you will need a grooved pulley since it needs to take the grooved side of the belt.

Put a screen back on the MAF you are hurting performance with the screen off. That is not there for filtration and it does not restrict air flow, it directs the airflow so that it crosses the sensor in a uniform fashion. It makes the MAF into a wind tunnel rather than a random mess of swirling air. Removing the screen HURTS performance and will prolly pop you a few MAF codes as well as some Fuel mixture codes like system too rich/lean because the computer cant get the proper intake air measured correctly.

Massey

 

Thats not staying off dont worry. I have a HKS mushroom style air filter going on it in place of original airbox. The car is parked in garden at the min and being stripped and rebuilt. Im intending to sand down and polish the whole intake system or paint it black and polish the writing and raised striping, im unsure yet as i like both options. I just wanted to sort out the belt system and make sure itll run ok first before i pull all the alloy parts off for polishing and paint the block a nice red or black to match. Also the alternator is missing from that pic too. That will be going back on and has a toothed guided pulley so it should be safe and steady enough with the correct belt sizing. 1580mm is to large by the way. Im trying a 1564 tomorrow hopefully as i couldn't get enough tension on the belt for my liking . Thanks for the info though massey. Much appreciated.

 

Unless the belt goes down near where the AC used to be (ie on the idler pulley) you will not be able to get good tension on the belt. it is the angle of the tensioner compaired to the position of the pulleys. So get the idler on there with some grooves and make everything fit and tension properly.

Massey

 

Ok ive got this one sorted now with the perfect belt size and without the need for ac pulley or any other idler.
The belt has near factory tension and works perfectly without slipping or binding in any way.
Ive taken the car out to test under extreme load conditions and its totally fine.
So anyone needing info for AC REMOVAL, here goes:

I removed the AC compressor and the extra little idler next to it.
Like so:


Belt size is 1530mm. It is a tight fit and only just goes over all pulleys required. And once tensioner is released is eactly as it should be.
This can be found on

FORD ESCORT V (GAL) 1.8 16V XR3i 02/92-12/92 77 105 1796 RDA
FORD ESCORT V (GAL) 1.8 16V XR3i 02/92-12/92 96 130 1796 RQB
FORD ESCORT V Cabriolet (ALL) 1.8 16V XR3i 02/92-12/92 77 105 1796 RDA
FORD ESCORT V Cabriolet (ALL) 1.8 16V XR3i 02/92-12/92 96 130 1796 RQB
FORD ESCORT V Kombi (GAL, AVL) 1.8 16V 02/92-12/92 77 105 1796 RDA
FORD ESCORT VI (GAL) 1.6 i 16V 09/92-01/95 66 90 1597 L1E
FORD ESCORT VI (GAL) 1.8 16V XR3i 09/92-01/95 96 130 1796 RQB
FORD ESCORT VI (GAL) 1.8 XR3i 16V 4x4 08/93-01/95 96 130 1796 RQB
FORD ESCORT VI Cabriolet (ALL) 1.6 16V XR3i 12/92-01/95 66 90 1597 L1E
FORD ESCORT VI Cabriolet (ALL) 1.8 16V XR3i 12/92-01/95 77 105 1796 RDA
FORD ESCORT VI Kombi (GAL) 1.6 i 16V 09/92-01/95 66 90 1597 L1E
FORD ESCORT VI Kombi (GAL) 1.8 i 16V 02/93-01/95 96 130 1796 RQB
FORD FIESTA III (GFJ) 1.8 16V 02/92-12/95 77 105 1796 RDB
FORD FIESTA III (GFJ) 1.8 XR2i 16V 02/92-12/95 96 130 1796 RQC
FORD ORION III (GAL) 1.6 i 16V 07/92-12/93 66 90 1597 L1E, L1K
FORD ORION III (GAL) 1.8 i 16V 01/92-12/93 96 130 1796 RQB
FORD ORION III (GAL) 1.8 i 16V 02/92-12/93 77 105 1796 RDA
KIA CERATO Stufenheck (LD) 1.6 05/06- 90 122 1591 G4FC
OPEL ASTRA F (56_, 57_) 1.4 i 16V 02/96-09/98 66 90 1389 X14XE
OPEL ASTRA F (56_, 57_) 1.6 i 16V 08/94-09/98 74 100 1598 X16XEL
OPEL ASTRA F Cabriolet (53_B) 1.4 i 16V 01/96-03/01 66 90 1389 X14XE
OPEL ASTRA F Cabriolet (53_B) 1.6 i 03/93-08/96 52 71 1598 X16SZ
OPEL ASTRA F Caravan (51_, 52_) 1.4 i 16V 02/96-01/98 66 90 1389 X14XE
OPEL ASTRA F Caravan (51_, 52_) 1.6 i 16V 08/94-01/98 74 100 1598 X16XEL
OPEL ASTRA F CC (53_, 54_, 58_, 59_) 1.4 i 16V 01/96-01/98 66 90 1389 X14XE
OPEL ASTRA F CC (53_, 54_, 58_, 59_) 1.6 i 16V 08/94-01/98 74 100 1598 X16XEL
OPEL ASTRA F CLASSIC Caravan 1.6 i 16V 01/98-01/05 74 101 1598 X16XEL
OPEL ASTRA F CLASSIC CC 1.4 i 03/98-08/00 66 90 1389 X14XE
OPEL ASTRA F CLASSIC CC 1.6 i 16V 01/98-08/02 74 101 1598 X16XEL
OPEL ASTRA F CLASSIC Stufenheck 1.6 i 16V 01/98-08/02 74 101 1598 X16XEL
OPEL COMBO (71_) 1.4 16V 08/99-10/01 66 90 1389 X14XE
OPEL CORSA B (73_, 78_, 79_) 1.4 04/93-08/94 54 73 1389 C14SE
OPEL CORSA B (73_, 78_, 79_) 1.4 i 16V 08/97-09/00 63 86 1389 C14SEL
OPEL CORSA B (73_, 78_, 79_) 1.4 i 16V 09/94-09/00 66 90 1389 X14XE
OPEL CORSA B (73_, 78_, 79_) 1.6 GSI 16V 03/93-09/00 80 109 1598 C16XE
OPEL CORSA B (73_, 78_, 79_) 1.6 i 16V 09/94-09/00 78 106 1598 X16XE
OPEL TIGRA (95_) 1.4 16V 07/94-12/00 66 90 1389 X14XE
OPEL TIGRA (95_) 1.4 16V 08/97-12/00 63 86 1389 X14XE
OPEL TIGRA (95_) 1.6 16V 07/94-08/98 78 106 1598 X16XE
OPEL VECTRA B (36_) 1.6 i 16V 10/95-04/02 74 100 1598 X16XEL, Y16XE, Z16XE
OPEL VECTRA B (36_) 1.8 i 16V 10/95-09/00 85 115 1796 X18XE1
OPEL VECTRA B Caravan (31_) 1.6 i 16V 11/96-07/02 74 100 1598 X16XEL, Y16XE, Z16XE
OPEL VECTRA B Caravan (31_) 1.8 i 16V 11/96-09/00 85 115 1796 X18XE1
OPEL VECTRA B CC (38_) 1.6 i 16V 10/95-07/02 74 101 1598 X16XEL, Y16XE, Z16XE
OPEL VECTRA B CC (38_) 1.8 i 16V 10/95-09/00 85 116 1796 X18XE1

These are obviously all European cars as im in England but you may have other cars that have a 1530mm (60 1/4 inches) belt.

Here is a little vid of the tension it has

Camaro :: SDC10664.mp4 video by spongebobfenn - Photobucket

And here is the car running with no problems.

Camaro :: SDC10665.mp4 video by spongebobfenn - Photobucket

Hope this helps anyone wanting to delete the AC compressor.