AC compressor removal

timothyhampton · 03-06-2008, 08:07 AM

Hi Guys, I have an '86 B150 Ram van with a 318 in it. The AC compressor is going bad and I would like to just eliminate it. It looks like I can't just get a shorter belt to run the alternator alone as the water pump seems to be in the way. Do I need to get an Idler pulley in place of the AC compressor to keep the belt routing the same? Thanks, Tim

alloro · 03-06-2008, 10:01 AM

For non-A/C engines the alternator belt is also supposed to go around the water pump pulley. If your water pump pulley is only a single then it needs to be changed to a double. After that, go into any auto parts store and get an alternator belt for an 86, B150, 318 without A/C.

timothyhampton · 03-06-2008, 10:37 AM

Thanks for your reply! I do have a double pulley on my waterpump and a vacant groove on the crankshaft that lines up with that but, the alternator is mounted back farther from where it needs to be to line up with them. I'm guessing I need to figure out how to move the alt further out from where it is now? Any ideas on that? Thanks, Tim

alloro · 03-06-2008, 12:17 PM

How much does the alternator have to move forward to line up?

There are spacers that the main alternator mounting bolt goes through. There might be different length ones for A/C and non-A/C equipped vehicles which will adjust the front to back position of the alternator. I'd try the dealer or a junkyard for those spacers and or mounting brackets.

timothyhampton · 03-06-2008, 04:25 PM

The Alt needs to move almost 1 1/2" forward to line up with the second belt groove on the waterpump and crank pulley! The first groove on the water pump runs the PS pump and is also further out from the Alt. I've called all the local junk yards around me and nobody has a bracket for a non AC 318. I guess I would have to get some spacer stock and also longer bolts to move the existing bracket I have on there now to get it to line up. There's got to be a "stock" solution to this. Also, the only spacer that is there is the one that goes in between the Alt "ears" that the main bolt goes through. I've looked all over the internet for a picture or diagram of the correct belt routing and bracket for this application with no luck. Not even the repair book I have for the van has anything useful. Thanks again for all your help, Tim

alloro · 03-06-2008, 05:54 PM

Here's a picture of the non-A/C brackets and spacers. See how they compare to yours.
http://www.bouchillonperformance.com/BPE5251.asp

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