Issues involved in deleting Power Steering??

[Orangecrush]

It sounds crazy, I know. But this is a 5.8 with a/c (by the way, anyone ever thinkning of adding vintage air to a windsor.....don't try it). The problem was getting all the belted accessories to hook up properly with the right amount of tension on the v-belts. As it turned out, and it's a longer story than I will bother going into, one belt is banjo tight. If I loosen it up, the other belt becomes too loose, and we get a squeal. I've analyzed it 100 times....there's just no good solution, without re-fabricating everything.

So, I now have what is most likely a bad bearing on the water pump (even though it only has 2k miles at most??). I was thinking of simply REMOVING my power steering pump, and swapping the alternator in it's place. This would totally solve the belt thing, as now there would be a separate accessory used to tension each belt. I can totally see a way to move the alternator to the otehr side. However, what's involved in deleting the power steering pump??

Can I just cap off the hoses and be done with it??? Or, is there more to it? Is this even something that you guys would recommend...or?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Bully Bob]

NO...!!

NOT an option at this point.., unless you're look'n for huge biceps ....!!!

Simple solution would be to fab. & install an "idler-pully"., as is seen on so many veh. these days.

Of course, you could "clear the deck" & install all the access. with a serpentine belt system @ about $500., maybe less.

 

[Orangecrush]

NO...!!NOT an option at this point.., unless you're look'n for huge biceps ....!!!

Simple solution would be to fab. & install an "idler-pully"., as is seen on so many veh. these days.

Of course, you could "clear the deck" & install all the access. with a serpentine belt system @ about $500., maybe less.

You know, IDLER PULLY! That's what I've always wanted, but assumed no such thing was made for V-Belts. That's all I need. Where can I find such a thing? What about brackets to mount?

Finally, the ideal idler wheel would mount on top of the v-belt (due to the fact that the contact patch isn't the best already.....so by mounting it on top, it would actually increase the contact patch at the pully where the issue is). Is there such a thing??

 

[Bully Bob]

"....the ideal idler wheel would mount on top of the v-belt."

Yes it would but, I don't think the v-belt design would work with respect to it's "top" surface.

Might google/yahoo it.

I had an idler pully on my '79 280zx that looked like it would adapt to most anything.

I'm sure there's other shape/designs as well.

Seems many of the imports had them., "back in the day" prior to Serp.

 

[Wild Willy]

"....the ideal idler wheel would mount on top of the v-belt." Yes it would but, I don't think the v-belt design would work with respect to it's "top" surface.

Might google/yahoo it.

I had an idler pully on my '79 280zx that looked like it would adapt to most anything.

I'm sure there's other shape/designs as well.

Seems many of the imports had them., "back in the day" prior to Serp.