Belt question for omitting smug pump

[kfellers]

Hey guys, anybody have any experience with buying a smaller size belt that would enable me to bypass the smog pump pulley altogether? It's an '88GT. Thanks in advance.

 

[5.0 con-vert]

http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=524638&highlight=belt+routing

HERE YOU GO!!!

5th one down...

 

[Michael Yount]

If it has a/c and p/s, it will likely take something in the 84" range; but all of these are a bit different. I bought 3 belts - 84.5, 84, and 83.5 and put on the one that fit the best; returned the other two. Parts place had no problems with that approach.

Look closely at the front of the tensioner and you'll see a small arrow with a "range" bar -- the correct length belt will put the arrow in the middle of the range. Put it on the loose end and a slipping belt can be the result; put it on the tight end, and you'll see lots of fine black powder all over the pulley areas -- and likely will break a belt shortly thereafter due to wear.

Good luckk with it!

 

[kfellers]

FRIGGIN' AWESOME!!! Thanks for the info and the diagrams are great. Thanks a million.

 

[kfellers]

What good is to be had (if any) in terms of HP or time is to be had by deleting the smog pump?

 

[Michael Yount]

I doubt you'll notice a performance gain; marginal if any. If you have to pass emissions tests, it could be a problem with no pump. The pumps themselves usually lock up if not used regularly - so you likely will have to replace it if you put it back on. Lastly, the cats require the excess O2 provided by the air pump to do what they do -- the lack of excess air will make them run hotter, and some people complain of clogged cats sooner with no air pump since they're not working as designed.

So - little gain; potential downsides.