Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

General => General Fox T-Bird/Cougar Discussion => Topic started by: Cougarcruisin on February 18, 2005, 08:32:19 AM

Title: serpentine belt question for 88 cougar 5.0
Post by: Cougarcruisin on February 18, 2005, 08:32:19 AM
If I buy a belt w/o a/c  would I be able to just by pass the a/c compressor to save on HP?

Or do I have to do other mods to use a NON AC belt??

car is 88 cougar 5.0
Title: Re: serpentine belt question for 88 cougar 5.0
Post by: MasterBlaster on February 18, 2005, 08:45:08 AM
I use the A/C belt, and have 0 (zero) lost HP. (A/C never worked, so the compressor is unplugged).
Title: Re: serpentine belt question for 88 cougar 5.0
Post by: Nate on February 18, 2005, 08:51:08 AM
mine never worked eather (i never used ac in any car) so i removed everything from compressor to tank to the condensor, totaled around 20#s or so. anyway i used a belt i measured for because the non ac belt was a different size. i forget what length it was.
Title: Re: serpentine belt question for 88 cougar 5.0
Post by: V8Demon on February 18, 2005, 11:29:44 AM
No it will not work.  In order to run a short belt without A/C you would have to buy some type of A/C eliminator kit.  I would recomend the Ford racing one as it was a factory option on the 85 Mustang with a serpentine system and has been engineered to work properly with this particular setup.  The reason you would need the kitis due to the fact without it the power steering bracket sits too low and the belt will touch itself and not spin.  Total HP gain might be 2 or 3 HP.  I did it just to drop weight and make the engine compartment look cleaner.  Hey, Manson I thought those compressors by themselves weighed about 20#s.  It felt pretty heavy.
Title: Re: serpentine belt question for 88 cougar 5.0
Post by: Nate on February 18, 2005, 01:48:22 PM
Quote from: Paul Flockhart
Hey, Manson I thought those compressors by themselves weighed about 20#s.  It felt pretty heavy.


maybe your rite, its been over a year now, or better yet maybe im just so outstandingly strong and unbeleavably muscular that i under estimated the weight.  :grinno:  :giggle:

and yeah i forgot about that kit, its a stupid plate that moves your ps pump up a few inches.
Title: Re: serpentine belt question for 88 cougar 5.0
Post by: JeremyB on February 18, 2005, 02:27:11 PM
Quote from: Paul Flockhart
Total HP gain might be 2 or 3 HP.
The horsepower gain is negligible. When the A/C clutch is not engaged, the pulley is spinning freely on a bearing. The A/C eliminator kit is also a freely spinning bearing. The upside is that you'll reduce weight and have a better F/R weight split.
Title: Re: serpentine belt question for 88 cougar 5.0
Post by: cougarman on February 18, 2005, 02:56:28 PM
This is the FRPP a/c delete kit. It uses a Mustang power steering bracket to move the ps up to where the a/c was. :)
Title: Re: serpentine belt question for 88 cougar 5.0
Post by: Ifixyawata on February 18, 2005, 03:09:23 PM
, when I saw that earlier I thought it was for a blower... guess it's on the wrong side for that.
Title: Re: serpentine belt question for 88 cougar 5.0
Post by: cougarman on February 18, 2005, 03:48:38 PM
Quote from: Ifixyawata
, when I saw that earlier I thought it was for a blower... guess it's on the wrong side for that.

Yea, I wish...lol :)
Title: Re: serpentine belt question for 88 cougar 5.0
Post by: jimfulco on February 21, 2005, 10:33:49 PM
I tried short-belting mine when the AC bearing ate itself.  No dice.  One belt was too long, & the next shorter one was too short.
Title: Re: serpentine belt question for 88 cougar 5.0
Post by: TurboCoupe50 on February 22, 2005, 07:35:10 PM
Quote from: JeremyB
The horsepower gain is negligible. When the A/C clutch is not engaged, the pulley is spinning freely on a bearing. The A/C eliminator kit is also a freely spinning bearing. The upside is that you'll reduce weight and have a better F/R weight split.


Listen up kiddies... The man knows what he is talking about...

To Hell with the 20-25lbs, I'm gonna be cool on those hot humid Summer days...
Title: Re: serpentine belt question for 88 cougar 5.0
Post by: mjbtbrd on February 22, 2005, 08:30:22 PM
I agree Tom  being comfy is worth it.
Title: Re: serpentine belt question for 88 cougar 5.0
Post by: CougarSE on February 22, 2005, 10:25:06 PM
If you worried about parastic drag from you ac compressor you should worry about your tensioner as well, there about the same thing when the ac is off.  A pully and a bearing..