Vac Pump delete, which belt?

[matuva]

In that case, I ususally use a 99.5" serpentine, and it does fine.

Yesterday, I had the bad surprise to have a 99.5" obviously too short, and impossible to fit. As I believe that 99.5" is the same in Dayco or Good Year, there must be something I missed somewhere...:skep:

I ordered a 100" to see what's going on.

That being said, it seems - but this have to be verified- that the 99.5 will fit on the 1996, and the 1997 and up should need the 100" ?

What do you use in your case, and what's the year of your truck? Or does the difference come from something else, e.g. belt tensioner?

 

[NVW]

IIRC I used the 99.5" on my 95

Maybe the ones with the alt. on the DS use the 99.5" and with the alt on PS use 100"?

 

[Woody35]

its in the stickies somewhere

 

[great white]

I've seen recommendations for everything from the 99.5 to a 101 belt.

My 98 took a 99 inch.

There just seems to be no rhyme or reason to it......

 

[Edzzed]

guess it all depends on how much tension one has on the belt. I believe my 98 is 100 inches

 

[buddy]

My 94 needed 101.5", and since you could get a 93 N/A, same accessories with no vac pump you could look up the length of that for what GM thought.

So the older ones need longer belts with the alternator on the drivers side, AC on the passenger side.

 

[great white]

guess it all depends on how much tension one has on the belt. I believe my 98 is 100 inches

Other things can come into play here;

Decked bloc, non OE pulleys, small manufacturing tolerances in the bracket lengths and mounting holes, etc....

 

[Turbine Doc]

Factory spec for my 98's is 101" but after removing vac pump 99.5" is what I install which is very tight to the end of the travel on the tensioner but very shortly they wind up @ about 101" after stretching putting tensioner at just below middle to too long on the tensioners belt wear indication.

I've given up on trying to find out which is the best belt, as all I have tried seem to me to stretch too far too soon all regardless of mfr now are imported, and rubber used in them who knows what the compounds are, so I start with the 99.5" and let it go until I see wear, or hear a belt squeal.